I’ll never forget the day I had to fire my first direct report. I felt like I had failed her, and I could see the humiliation and dejection in her eyes. Yuck! Making a bad hire not only ends up feeling bad, it costs a lot in time, morale, productivity, and so much more.
I especially appreciate the reminder to always conduct reference checks. We can all hire smarter with these tips!
Marcianne Kuethen is a Senior Writer at Amtec, where she has written over 700 blog posts in the past 18 years. Her family has led the company across three generations, from her father who founded Amtec in 1959 to her son Barrett who serves as President and CEO today. Outside of writing, she makes art, music, and gardens.
U.S. semiconductor manufacturing workforce data from BLS, SIA, and Deloitte. Employment, pay, skills gap, and CHIPS Act insights for 2026.
U.S. aerospace and defense workforce statistics from BLS, AIA, McKinsey, PwC, and Deloitte, with employment and labor trend insights for 2026.
Professional development goals that make you more hireable. 8 goals job seekers can start today.