Top 5 Hiring Myths Companies Believe

Let’s cut straight to the chase – your search for the “perfect candidate” might be killing your hiring success. Unicorn candidates—those elusive creatures who perfectly tick every box in overly detailed and often outdated job descriptions—simply don’t exist in today’s real-world job market. And by stubbornly chasing this myth, you’re missing out on outstanding talent. Let’s break down the top five myths when hiring talent and why they’re damaging your recruitment success.

Myth 1: “Taking Time Ensures Better Hires”

Fact: Slow decisions lose good candidates. According to Glassdoor, top talent gets snapped up within just 10 days of entering the market. If your hiring process drags on for weeks, you’re practically handing your ideal candidates to competitors. Speed and clarity in decision-making are crucial.

Myth 2: “Always Offer Less to Save Money”

Fact: Low-balling candidates never works out. Offering £45k to a candidate clearly seeking £50k won’t just insult them; it risks losing the candidate entirely. Remember, talent that feels undervalued at the start is likely to decline your offer or jump ship quickly if they accept. Competitive salaries attract and retain quality candidates.

Myth 3: “Career Gaps Mean Red Flags”

Fact: Career gaps are common, understandable, and increasingly acceptable. LinkedIn data shows that 61% of professionals have taken career breaks, whether for family, health, travel, or education. Judging a candidate negatively based solely on gaps means you’re likely missing out on resilient, experienced, and highly capable talent.

Myth 4: “Frequent Job Changes Equal Unreliability”

Fact: Changing jobs often signals ambition and adaptability, not unreliability. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reports younger employees average just over 2 years per job. If you label candidates as ‘jumpy’ for simply advancing their careers, you risk overlooking driven, motivated, and adaptable professionals who could significantly benefit your business.

Myth 5: “Rigid Job Descriptions Attract Better Candidates”

Fact: Overly rigid job descriptions limit your talent pool. Job descriptions often become dull, unrealistic, and overly prescriptive when crafted solely by HR or Legal. Modern talent seeks inspiring, authentic roles that allow growth and flexibility. If your job specs read like a laundry list rather than an invitation, top talent will scroll right past.

Break the Myths and Start Winning

Smart companies recognise these myths for what they are – barriers to finding and hiring great talent. The average UK employer takes around 36 days to fill an engineering role and delays significantly increase the risk of losing top talent . Your competitors are snapping up adaptable talent who can deliver results immediately, leaving you still searching for your mythical unicorn.

By embracing speed, fair compensation, flexible thinking, and realistic expectations, you’ll position your business to attract, engage, and secure the very best candidates.

So if you’re tired of missing out, ditch the unicorn mindset. Be bold, challenge outdated hiring perceptions, and start attracting talent that actually exists—real, skilled, experienced, and eager professionals ready to bring innovation and energy to your company.

Don’t be the last business chasing a fantasy. Wake up, get realistic, and watch how quickly your hiring success transforms.

Further Reading:

• Recruit Smarter in 2025
• The Real Cost of a Bad Hire