Hiring for Experience Vs Potential

Hiring someone who is highly experienced can mean that they are very good at their job. It can also mean that they come with some hefty salary requirements.

Hiring someone with potential can pay off in a big way, but it also has the potential to blow up in your face.

In a perfect world, every empty position would be complimented by a perfect candidate, who would have perfect hair and the perfect skillset for your open job. They would also have years of experience doing this job perfectly and a perfectly good reason to take your job, as soon as possible.

We, however live in the real world, where many candidates aren’t a perfect fit for the job you need done. Many of the candidates that we come across will have some of the skills that we need, maybe even a good deal of them. Before extending a job offer to a candidate, you need to know if they may be lacking in a skill that is critical for someone in the position.

If your open job requires the candidate to have direct experience, or many years of direct experience, it can be a challenge to find someone who is up to the job, without flying them across the country.

When a candidate mostly fits the bill and can demonstrate that they have the right experience and the right potential to do most of the work, you have a choice. You can either choose to move on in the selection process, or explore this person’s experience and talent a bit more.

Hiring for Potential: Do they Have What it Takes?

When we say hire for potential, we mean the potential that a candidate’s skills and experience have to meet the requirements of the job. A good personality fit is always important in a good hire, but it’s important to focus on the demands of the job itself, and whether or not a candidate has what it takes to be a success in that job.

Not all jobs require advanced degrees or many years of direct experience. Some jobs require the hire to perform a specific company function like selling the company’s product or supporting the company’s customers. For instance, if a candidate has experience selling, but not in your industry, a hire with the right experience and the right potential can still be one of your best employees, given some time.

In addition to the requirements of the job and the work being done, there is also the matter of timing. You may not have time to hire someone who will potentially be great in a job. Sometimes, you need someone to step in, yesterday, and the most qualified underqualified person for the job is nearing their second month as a human bandage.

The requirements of the job, the timing requirements of the work and the work itself will always determine what will be required of someone in that role.

That being said, if a candidate with potential can demonstrate their ability to do the work, then hiring them can pay off in a big way. As they grow into the demands of the job, they will appreciate the investment you’re making in them and invest more into their work.

It all depends on the demands of the job. By answering these questions, you should be able to evaluate whether a candidate has the potential to grow into your open job. Answering these questions should also tell you if you need to invest in a hire with more experience.

The Big Questions to Ask:

The demands of the job should always guide your ultimate hiring decision.

What Needs to Get Done?

How Much Time do You Have?

How Much Time do They Have?

The Bottom Line

If a candidate can do the work, but doesn’t have every last skill required by the role, hiring and training them can be a cost-effective solution to your talent problems.

If, however, the position requires direct experience or years of direct experience, candidates with potential may not be up to the job.

Ultimately, the demands of the job will determine how much wiggle room there is in the hiring process. No matter what you decide, learning the demands of the job will be your guide to finding a great person to do that job.

Hiring for Direct Work Experience

Pros

Considerations

Hiring for Potential not Experience:

Pros

Considerations

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