Hartford Business Journal

28 Hartford Business Journal • November 25, 2019 • www.HartfordBusiness.com OPINION & COMMENTARY EXPERTS CORNER Four common hiring mistakes By Jackie Ducci T he challenge of attracting talent has reached a 46-year high, according to a recent poll by the National Federation of Independent Business. Owners, executives and talent- acquisition professionals know too well the struggle to find and retain great employees. When it comes to hiring, everyone has the same best- case scenario: The favorite candidate accepts the position, winds up being a great fit, and ultimately stays with the orga- nization for many years. But how often does that actually happen? Finding and securing the right people is tough in any market, but harder still when unemployment is low and the candidate pool is small and hotly coveted. Don't let mistakes like these cost you the talent you deserve: Moving too slowly When an excellent candidate surfaces, maintain momentum and don't be afraid to extend a formal offer swiftly — even if they are the first person through the door. Em- ployers often say, "He's exactly what we want, but it's too early in our process to decide." This is a terrible strategy that will cost you great hires. While the hiring team thinks they are simply doing due diligence, in the eyes of the candidate they are dragging their feet. When you've got someone im- pressive on the hook, don't leave them questioning your interest. Fixating on the "perfect resume" Candidates with the exact quali- fications you're looking for are few and far between. When someone with fantastic experience does pres- ent, be careful not to be so thrilled about the resume that you overlook other aspects of the person. Just because someone is strong on paper does not mean they'll be a good overall fit. Candidates must be evaluated in 3D, and it's important to investigate culture fit, Jackie Ducci EDITOR'S TAKE Transportation could make Lamont a one-term governor G ov. Ned Lamont is still in the first year of his first term, but I don't think it's too early to say that the issue of transportation could make or break his chances at re-election, if he chooses to pursue a second term. And it won't be easy for him to get a win on the politically charged issue, whether his $21-billion transportation infrastructure plan passes, or not. Lamont is well aware of the political risks he's tak- ing, and shows no signs of backing down, even if it means he only gets four years in office. "What you don't want to do is be so focused on the second term you start trimming your sails and pulling your punches and end up popular but you didn't get a damn thing done," Lamont told me in a recent interview. "I am the oppo- site of that." I think Lamont should be com- mended for going all-in on an issue he and many others view as critical to Connecticut's future. Good lead- ers often have to do and support unpopular things, and Lamont's ap- proval ratings — hovering around a paltry 24 percent — have already taken a beating because of tolls. The biggest problem for Lamont, and what may cost him the most politically, has been his incon- sistency and poor messaging on tolls. We all remember during the 2018 campaign, Lamont supported a trucks-only tolling plan, but changed his mind soon after being sworn into office. In February, he awkwardly rolled out a broader plan to toll all cars and trucks, and install dozens of gantries across the state, without identifying how the billions of dollars in new rev- enue would be specifically used. The flip-flop and lack of clarity cost him dearly, as the plan gained no traction. If Lamont had support- ed a full-blown tolls plan during the campaign, he may not have won. Meantime, his second tolling plan — part of the broader CT2030 initiative to fund improvements to highways, mass transit, airports and ports — was instantly batted back by his own party, as Sen- ate Democrats said they wouldn't support adding "user fees" to the state's roadways. I think Lamont's latest transpor- tation plan is more palatable than the first, but it's a huge miscalcula- tion to unveil such a wide-scale, second-try initiative without sup- port from your own party. The governor is in a tough spot moving forward, but one thing that may help him is his willingness to negotiate. House Democrats and Senate Re- publicans have both offered alter- native plans to fund infrastructure investments, which wouldn't raise as much money as Lamont desires, but could pass as a win, or at least a partial victory. However, the politics are com- plicated. House Majority Leader Matt Ritter (D-Hartford) pitched Lamont's original trucks-only toll plan, though voters may still be un- happy if they view that as the first step to broader highway user fees. Republicans' no-tolls alternative would tap the state's rainy day fund to finance infrastructure improve- ments. However, that plan would force Lamont to break another campaign promise to not raid the rainy day fund unless it was needed during an economic downturn. When asked if he's worried about Greg Bordonaro, Editor

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