My path to starting Hire to Compete was deeply influenced by my career experiences. There were a couple of bumps on the road, but I choose to view them as positive learning experiences.
An Underappreciated Employee
Early in my career, I found myself in a dead-end role where my potential was largely ignored. It was incredibly frustrating to feel underutilized and unappreciated. This experience taught me the critical importance of finding a work environment that values and develops its employees. I waited for the right opportunity and found a company that was a much better fit.
A Fully Engaged Employee
My next company allowed me to truly excel. I took charge of a struggling 300-person sales and customer service department, inheriting a team in disarray—I was the third VP of Sales in five years. The company’s two plants were operating only 10 hours per day, five days a week. Within three years, we hired an additional 200 people, and both plants were running 24/7. This experience underscored for me the incredible impact of an engaged and empowered workforce on a company’s success.
Stress and a Bad Employee Fit
My last corporate role before starting Hire to Compete was a significant learning experience, albeit a challenging one. What initially seemed like a promising opportunity turned into a profound misalignment. While both the company and I were good, the fit simply wasn’t right.
I experienced firsthand the immense stress associated with a poor employee – manager fit —stress that impacted not only me, but also my family and co-workers. Ultimately, I was let go with a severance package and an MBA-level lesson in the tangible and intangible costs of hiring the wrong person.
This experience was a crucial lesson about the intricate relationship between hiring, employee engagement, and overall organizational well-being. Rather than viewing it as a failure, I recognized it as a profound opportunity to learn and grow, ultimately inspiring me to help other businesses avoid similar, costly hiring missteps.
Hiring as a Competitive Advantage
At Hire to Compete, we are passionate about empowering managers to transform their hiring processes into a significant competitive advantage. We firmly believe that by making informed, strategic hiring decisions, companies can avoid costly errors while cultivating high-performing, engaged workforce that drives success.
AI is changing the landscape, but we’re confident we can help you address your hiring needs. Let’s connect for a free 1-hour consultation and sample. Call us today!
John Bishop 314-651-1479