When it comes to hiring, qualification is key. Hiring entirely unqualified individuals is a waste of time and money for you, your staff and your company. Poor hiring decisions are accountable for thousands upon thousands of lost revenue dollars. In order to avoid costly mistakes, it may seem that the best – even the only – way is to hire only individuals who have experience as well as qualification, and the two are often inextricably entwined. The main criterion most hiring departments use to determine qualification is holding a degree in one’s field, or a directly related field, or other related licenses.
But…what would happen if you changed your perspective entirely on what it means to be qualified? David K. Williams, CEO of Fishbowl, makes the case that doing this could revolutionize your company. Try doing this: write down all the things you would see in an ideal candidate without ever mentioning a specific degree or area of study, or direct experience. By altering your criteria for qualification to emphasize a candidate’s capabilities and desired qualities, you may find diamonds you never knew were there. Hone your skills of perception and be able to recognize capability in a person as opposed to merely observing established achievements on a resume.
View candidates as quality raw material, and consider how to best invest in their refinement. You may need to tweak the way you train new hires if you are going to embrace this new way of viewing qualification. Perhaps you may notice subtle shifts in your company culture as you add people to your staff; you could invest in ensuring a smooth onboarding process.
Give unproven talent opportunities to shine. A huge part of the equation is allowing your underqualified employees to thrive in an environment which supports and encourages their ideas and contributions. If you hire a candidate who may be underqualified but has an eagerness to learn, you can expect that they will apply that drive to be successful in the position and help your company meet your goals.
Underqualified candidates can bring a breath of fresh air to your company that you didn’t even know was needed. Contact us today to be introduced to endless employees who are qualified – as you define it!
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