The cost of a bad hire and how to avoid it

A bad hire costs more than money.
It drains time, morale, trust, and progress.

You probably already know that.
The real question is how to avoid it.

Here’s what actually works:

Write a better brief
Most job descriptions are copy-paste templates. Start by writing for the person you actually want; not the one you think you should want. Include what success looks like in the first six months, how the role fits into your team, and what kind of person usually thrives with you.

Choose chemistry and credentials
Plenty of candidates have the right experience. Fewer have the right working style, values, or drive. Prioritize people who will grow with you, not just perform on day one.

Let the right people in on the search
Hiring often goes sideways when decisions are made by recruiters or HR teams don't understand the job they’re hiring for. Creative roles get treated like admin posts. Strategy gets reduced to buzzwords. You need someone who knows the work, speaks the language, and can spot talent that goes beyond the obvious.

At Orion, we hire the way we wish others had when we were on the other side.
We ask better questions and we don’t waste time.
And we never recommend someone we wouldn’t hire ourselves.

Your next hire shouldn’t just work.
It should work out.

We can help make sure it does.