In today’s market, many job seekers—especially early-career talent—are adopting a “just get any job” mentality — a trend some call “shrekking.” As Fast Company noted recently, many early-career professionals are choosing stability over ambition, accepting roles that underutilize their talents because they believe in mission or simply need a paycheck.

It’s understandable. Economic uncertainty, rising living costs, and highly competitive mission-driven roles are pushing candidates to accept positions that don’t fully match their skills or long-term goals.

But for organizations, this trend has a hidden cost.

When candidates accept roles that don’t truly align with their strengths or motivations, disengagement sets in early. You might not feel it in the first few weeks—but by month three or six, the signs appear: declining enthusiasm, reduced initiative, slower ramp-up, and eventually, turnover. What looks like a successful hire on paper becomes a revolving door of onboarding, retraining, and operational gaps.

This is the real cost of “settling hires” in a tight market.

At Staffing Boutique, we take a different approach. Instead of pushing through candidates who simply need a job, we emphasize alignment above all else:

• Values Alignment: Does this candidate believe in your mission and understand your community?
  
  
• Skills Alignment: Do their capabilities genuinely fit the complexity of the role—not just the minimum requirements?
  
  
• Mission Alignment: Is this role a meaningful step in their career path, or just a placeholder until something better comes along?
  
  

A high volume of applicants doesn’t guarantee high quality. In sectors where values matter as much as capability, taking the time to hire thoughtfully pays off. When hiring aligns with your mission and the candidate’s potential, everyone wins.

This isn't not just about finding people—it’s about finding the right people. Because the right people stay longer, contribute more deeply, and ultimately strengthen the systems that keep your mission moving forward.

If your organization is feeling the pressure of staffing gaps—or you’re seeing rising turnover—we’d love to help you rethink your hiring strategy for long-term stability and mission success.