Every hiring manager sets out to bring in only the best talent, but unfortunately it doesn’t always work out.

A recent SurePayroll survey found that three out of four business owners admitted to making a hiring mistake, with many costing more than $10,000. So why so many mistakes?

According to survey respondents, the top reason is failure to properly assess a candidate or determine more about their background before offering them the job.

Small business employers can ease the hiring pressure and better assess potential candidates by providing them access to these online tools:

1.       Skills Testing: The best way to reduce training costs is to find a job candidate who already possesses most of the skills the position requires. A skills test can tell a hiring manager exactly what a candidate is capable of, sometimes before they are even brought in for an interview. Several skills tests, including highly specialized tests, are already available from various companies and won’t necessarily require extra work to compile. Administering a skills test before hiring an employee can save both time and hefty training costs.

2.       Personality Assessments: Businesses today are being forced to do more with less. This means that many departmental teams are required to work more closely together and they must get along in order to be successful. Personality assessments can tell a hiring manager a lot more than a face-to-face interview. Finding out what makes a person tick before bringing them on board will help ensure they will fit the expectations for the position and the company’s overall culture.

3.       Background Checks: Many large businesses are already using background checks to learn more about a job candidate’s history. However, small and midsize businesses may not be utilizing this tool because it has been out of their price range. Today, there are several affordable options available. Setting aside money up front to pay for a background check can help avoid costly hiring mistakes or actions that could damage the business or its reputation further down the road.

4.       Drug Screening: Drug screening, much like background checks, may seem overpriced and unnecessary for many businesses. Now, with plenty of affordable packages available, however, it is something that can’t be overlooked. Toxicology research experts state that 75 percent of illegal drug users are employed, and most work for small and medium-sized businesses. For businesses that require drivers or heavy machinery operators, drug screening is a must. But even for businesses that don’t require heavy-lifting, is it worth potentially sacrificing the reputation of the business in order to save a little money?

While hiring mistakes are sometimes inevitable, these tools can help ensure that they are few and far between. Getting to know a person before offering them a position can save the organization big, in a time when every expense matters.