As a business owner, hiring the right people is one of the most critical (and sometimes frustrating) parts of running a successful company.
A great hire will take ownership, push things forward, and make your life easier. The wrong one? They’ll drain your energy and time, slow things down, create problems… and that’s if you spot them. Sometimes it takes years to truly discover the damage.
So when it comes to recruitment, who can you actually trust?
With so many resumes, interviews, and opinions floating around, hiring can feel like rolling the dice. But it doesn’t have to be. Let’s get real about what (and who) you should actually trust in the hiring process—and what you absolutely shouldn’t.
1. Can You Trust the Candidate?
Every candidate wants the job. But that doesn’t mean they’re the right fit.
Some people talk a big game in interviews but can’t actually deliver when it matters. Others have the perfect resume but no real results to back it up. And then there are those who seem great at first—until you realise a few months in that they’re not pulling their weight.
What you CAN’T trust:
❌ A well-rehearsed interview—some people are just good talkers
❌ A resume full of fancy job titles
❌ References that only say nice things
What you CAN trust:
✅ Their track record—have they actually produced results in their previous jobs?
✅ How they respond to challenges—do they push through problems or make excuses?
✅ Their attitude towards work—are they proactive, or do they need constant hand-holding?
At Performia, we always say: Hire based on productivity first, personality second. Because at the end of the day, a nice, friendly person who doesn’t deliver results is just an expensive mistake.
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2. Can You Trust Resumes?
Let’s be honest—resumes are marketing tools. They’re designed to make the candidate look as good as possible. Some people exaggerate, others leave out key details, and a few just straight-up lie.
On the other hand, some of the best candidates at times have the worst presented resumes, and sometimes no resume!! We often meet those who have very low practice at interviews because they rarely apply for jobs.
Ever hired someone based on an impressive resume, only to find out later they weren’t as capable as they claimed? You’re not alone.
What you CAN’T trust:
❌ Job titles—just because someone was a “manager” doesn’t mean they actually managed anything
❌ A long list of skills—just because it’s listed doesn’t mean they’re good at it
❌ Years of experience—someone can do the same unproductive work for 10 years and still be ineffective
What you CAN trust:
✅ Proof of real productivity—did they actually make an impact in their past roles?
✅ Specific achievements—“Increased sales by 30%” is meaningful; “responsible for sales” is not
✅ Patterns in their career—do they have a history of success, or are they job-hopping with little to show for it?
A resume might get them in the door, but it should never be the reason you hire them. Always dig deeper.
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3. Can You Trust References?
References can be useful—if you know how to ask the right questions. But most of the time, they’re either vague, overly positive, or just not that insightful.
What you CAN’T trust:
❌ Generic statements like “They were great to work with”
❌ References from friends or family (yes, people do this)
❌ Employers who only confirm employment dates and nothing else
What you CAN trust:
✅ Direct questions about actual results—“What did they achieve while working for you?”
✅ Consistency—if multiple references say the same thing, it’s probably accurate
✅ Honest feedback on attitude and reliability—were they someone you could count on?
At Performia, we help business owners ask the right reference questions—ones that actually reveal whether someone is a top performer or just good at interviews.
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4. Can You Trust Your Gut Feeling?
As a business owner, you’ve developed instincts about people. And while intuition can be helpful, hiring based purely on gut feeling is risky.
Think about it—how many times have you hired someone because you “just had a good feeling,” only to regret it later?
Some people do actually have very good instincts about people. The challenge becomes as your business grows and you need to pass on this skill to another person, how do you pass on gut feel? There’s no science or formula to it.
What you CAN’T trust:
❌ First impressions—some people are great at selling themselves but terrible at delivering
❌ A “good vibe”—this doesn’t mean they can actually do the job
❌ Charisma—some of the most charming people are also the least productive
What you CAN trust:
✅ A structured hiring process that focuses on productivity, not personality
✅ Real evidence of past performance
✅ Work samples or practical tests before hiring (if applicable)
Your gut feeling might help you decide if someone fits culturally, but it should never replace proof of ability.
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5. Can You Trust Recruitment Agencies?
Recruitment agencies sound great in theory. They promise to find the perfect candidate, saving you time and effort. But here’s the reality:
Most agencies are more focused on filling positions quickly than ensuring a great long-term hire. They get paid when you hire someone—whether that person is a good fit or not.
What you CAN’T trust:
❌ That an agency fully understands your business and needs
❌ That they’ve tested the candidate’s actual productivity
❌ That they care about long-term results (most just want a fast placement)
What you CAN trust:
✅ Your own hiring process—one that’s built to find productive, reliable employees
✅ A systematic approach that helps you consistently make great hiring decisions
✅ Expert guidance that focuses on long-term success, not just quick fixes
At Performia, we teach business owners how to take control of recruitment instead of relying on agencies—because no one cares about your business as much as you do.
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So, Who Can You Trust?
The truth is, you can’t blindly trust resumes, interviews, references, or recruitment agencies. But you can trust a proven hiring process—one that focuses on productivity, real results, and long-term success.
If you’ve ever hired the wrong person, you know how expensive and frustrating it is. But hiring doesn’t have to be a gamble.
At Performia, we help business owners stop hiring based on guesswork and start hiring with confidence.
If you’re tired of making hiring mistakes and want a system that actually works, let’s talk.
Because when you hire the right way, you don’t just build a team—you build a business that thrives.
Schedule your free Hiring Demo and we’ll be ready to help.