When you’re looking for a new employee, it’s all too common to seek out the most highly qualified person for the position. In some cases, this is a good strategy, but there are times you should strongly consider someone who is “under-qualified” for the position. There are actually quite a few benefits to this strategy, as long as you go about it the right away.
What Traits to Look For
Some traits are for more important than actual experience. You should be looking for candidates who display high levels of self-motivation and self-accountability. These are the people who will be capable of learning a new system quickly and will drive themselves to succeed, so you don’t have to micro-manage them.
Other traits that employers should look for in the under-qualified candidates is experience that is translatable. For example, let’s say you have a position that requires someone with inventory management experience. Don’t be afraid to look outside of your industry box to find the right candidate – in most cases you’ll end up with someone who has fresh new ideas to manage your inventory that a candidate within your industry wouldn’t have.
Why It’s a Smart Business Choice
There are numerous benefits that come with hiring a so-called “under-qualified” employee. First and foremost, they are completely fresh and you can train them to your own unique systems without having to worry about them bringing in their own ideas on how it should be done. You’ll also have the ancillary benefit of being able to offer a smaller starting wage for a candidate that isn’t as qualified as a “superstar” that’s going to expect a higher wage.
In addition, by hiring someone and giving them a great start on a new career, you’ll be earning loyalty – which is vital in today’s economy. A few loyal employees go a very long way, particularly in tough economic times.
While you don’t necessarily want to hire a rank amateur, being able to spot a candidate that has the potential to become an amazing employee and has the traits that will make them an excellent addition to your company is invaluable. Keep your mind open during the hiring process and don’t be afraid to give the candidates who may not have a depth of experience but who display a depth of talent a try.
Do you have a question about hiring potentially under-qualified employees? Let the experts at ContemporaryStaffing guide you today!