The Advantages of Hiring “Underqualified” Job Candidates

So you’ve put out a job listing and you’re pouring over the resumes that have been submitted. There are several qualified candidates, but one candidate who doesn’t meet all of the requirements catches your eye. Maybe there’s a great cover letter or an objective statement that expresses a desire to do the kind of work your company does. Should you hire them if they’re underqualified? They may be worth taking a chance on, and here’s why:

Resumes aren’t perfect.

Sometimes a resume doesn’t do a complete job of representing a candidate. Maybe they have skills that they’ve never been able to put to use professionally, or maybe they lack formal education despite being well trained. If you have a good feeling about the candidate, even if their resume says they’re underqualifed, it can be worth looking at them further.

Your investment will pay off.

When you hire an underqualified candidate, they know that you’re taking a risk on them. This creates a desire in your new employee to prove their abilities and to make sure that they don’t let you down. This will drive them to look for ways to exceed expectations and continually improve.

They want to succeed.

Most people have a desire to rise through the ranks in their career, and most career growth happens relatively early on. If you’re the company where an underqualified candidate gains confidence in their ability, they’re most likely going to feel a great deal of loyalty for your organization.

They’re blank canvases.

The longer you work, the more ingrained your habits become, both the good habits and the bad habits. If you hire an underqualified candidate, you have the opportunity to train them in a way that suits your workplace the best, without having to worry about needing to correct bad behavior.

Are you having a hard time finding the perfect candidate for your open job? Contact a staffing specialist at Contemporary Staffing Solutions. We have the experience and access to talent to help you end your search.