"You can do everything right and still lose the candidate in the final week."

The period between "Making the Offer" and "Day 1" is the danger zone. This is when candidates get cold feet, receive counter-offers from their current bosses, or simply ghost you.

In Part 3 (The Finale) of our Hiring Masterclass, Michael Bailey and I wrap up with the critical final steps to lock in your A player and get them excited to start.

In this episode, we cover:

-Making the Offer: Why compensation alone isn't enough—personalize the offer based on what you learned matters to them during the interview.

-Don't Get Cheap: The costly mistake leaders make by negotiating down at the finish line. A players deliver massive ROI—pay them fairly.

-Trust Your Gut: Why you must listen to your intuition, even when a candidate looks perfect on paper. Michael shares cautionary tales of ignoring that inner voice.

-The Anti-Ghosting Protocol: Specific pre-boarding steps to keep candidates excited between offer and Day 1—welcome gifts, early laptop delivery, first-week agenda, and desk setup.

Plus, hear key takeaways from business leaders who realized their hiring process needed a complete overhaul.

Michael Bailey is a Growth Consultant with over 20 years of experience helping SMEs scale successfully by building strong people strategies. As former CFO and People Director at MOMs Organic Market, he helped scale the business from 3 to 7 stores while maintaining its purpose-driven culture. He's also worked with Urban Leisure Group (named one of the Guardian's Best Places to Work in London) and The Better Food Company, where he prioritized people alongside profits.

Contact Michael:

1. Website: www.elzeard.co.uk
2. LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bailey3

Mentioned in this episode:

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