The biggest reason you lose great candidates isn’t salary. It isn’t the job description, it isn’t culture fit, it isn’t your company’s reputation.
It’s the timing.
Has this ever happened to you?
- You interview for months, only to realize you’re not ready to hire
- You line up a stellar interview with a stellar candidate only to have them cancel lastminute.
- You find the perfect candidate, but you’re too slow to act and your competitor hires them.
- You finally make an offer, but the candidate has lost interest or takes a counter instead
Our lives move in rhythm, and so does the hiring process. And after 30 years in executive search, I’ve seen it all. If you move too slowly, you risk losing your candidate. If you move too fast, you pressure them into a rushed decision that leads to regret or rejection. Plus, rushing means you won’t have time to evaluate properly. You’ll overlook the red flags and eat the cost of a bad hire.
What You Can Actually Control
You can’t stop schedules, vacations, illnesses, or counteroffers from blowing up your search. But you can control your readiness and speed. Ask yourself:
- Is this really the right time? If you’re not prepared to devote considerable time to the search and onboard and support a new leader, don’t waste months pretending you are.
- Do you know who you want? I’m not talking about the generic job description, but instead about the real person. Where they come from, what motivates them, why they should join, what will be expected of them, and how you’ll support them.
- Can you move fast when it counts? Once you find someone strong, run them through your process and decide. Waiting for “better” is how you hand talent to the competition.
The Bottom Line
Timing is everything. You’ll never control it completely, but you can plan for it and use it to your advantage. So, the next time you launch a search or consider a new role, remember – success depends not just on who you hire, but when.
