Simply JK Blog

The 5 Biggest Hiring Mistakes Companies Make (and How to Avoid Them)

Hiring the right talent has never been more important — or more competitive. Yet even well-intentioned organizations often undermine their own efforts with avoidable missteps in the hiring process. After years of working alongside leadership teams, these are the five most common hiring mistakes I see — and what to do differently.

Jill Knittel
President & CEO
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Hiring Hub

IT Operations/Project Manager

The candidate brings over 20 years of customer service and operational experience, with an 11-year tenure at a large HCM and payroll organization where they progressed from entry-level roles into a high-impact IT Operations Project Lead position. Their career reflects consistent growth through fast-paced, complex environments, managing heavy client caseloads, leading large-scale system conversions, and supporting enterprise-wide technology initiatives. Currently, they oversee 40–45 concurrent projects per month tied directly to the company’s primary client-facing platform, partnering cross-functionally with development, sales, operations, and senior leadership to ensure support readiness and seamless execution. Known for strong communication, thoughtfulness, and a user-first mindset rooted in early leadership experience, they thrive in juggling multiple priorities and driving meaningful improvements to client and end-user experience. While deeply committed to their organization, they are thoughtfully exploring next steps that better align with long-term growth, balance, and evolving professional goals.

Contact: Kaitlyn Argus for a confidential introduction.

Executive-Level Operations Leader

This candidate is a seasoned executive leader with more than 20 years of experience driving operational excellence, scaling organizations, and leading large, cross-functional teams across nonprofit and multi-unit retail environments. Most recently, they founded and scaled a startup nonprofit from concept to a sustainable operation within its first year, overseeing strategic planning, full P&L responsibility, technology infrastructure, compliance, and the leadership of a workforce of over 130 employees while building strong governance and operational foundations. They also bring extensive experience managing multiple locations within a complex retail organization, consistently delivering strong financial performance, developing high-performing teams, and executing district-wide operational strategies. Known for hands-on leadership, strategic discipline, and a people-first approach, this candidate has a proven ability to deliver measurable results in high-pressure, mission-driven settings while fostering strong culture and community impact.

Contact: Kaitlyn Argus for a confidential introduction.

Financial Candidate Spotlight – Rochester, NY

Seasoned CPA finance executive with deep experience supporting multi-site manufacturing and complex commercial organizations, combining strong accounting fundamentals with operational partnership to improve decision-making, controls, and performance; strengths include building and modernizing FP&A and reporting (including cutting reporting cycle time by ~30%), strategic planning, forecasting, complex modeling, budgeting, auditing, tax strategy, and internal controls/SOX governance, alongside proven leadership in developing teams, policies, and scalable processes. Demonstrated impact includes increasing enterprise valuation and cash performance, renegotiating banking/treasury and card programs for significant annual savings, launching an enterprise procurement function that generated substantial cost reductions, and actively managing ESOP-related valuation processes and investment strategy. Additional track record spans standard costing implementation, plant-level KPI/operating metrics, capital ROI oversight, complex tax initiatives (including securing state tax credits), risk management, and enterprise audit/due diligence work in large, global environments.

Contact: Jim McAuliffe for a confidential introduction.

Interested in learning more about this candidate? Contact us today!

Career Corner

This month’s featured job!

Accounting Assistant/Business Office Assistant, Rochester NY

JK Executive Strategies is proud to partner with a mission-driven, pediatric-focused nonprofit organization in search of a Chief Executive Officer to join its team! The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is responsible for the overall management and strategic direction of the Agency. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the CEO will provide visionary, innovative leadership, oversee all operations, ensure financial sustainability, cultivate strong relationships with stakeholders, and champion the Agency’s mission and values.

Contact: Amelia Frederick for a confidential introduction.

Click below to apply now or view all open job listings.