When our business has a job opening, we always have a choice – hire someone with experience or someone without it.
Now, that would seem to be a no-brainer, right? Of course, we want experienced people handling our work and dealing with our customers!
Or is it?
Sometimes it might be better to go with a newbie.
What an Experienced Hire Brings to the Table:
The pluses:
The minuses:
What a Newbie Brings to the Table:
The pluses:
The minuses:
So, which should you hire?
As so often in life, the answer is, “it depends.” If we need someone ready to hit the ground running in a supervisory or managerial capacity, then it really is a no-brainer – we should hire a veteran worker with the experience to meet our needs swiftly.
Likewise, if we are filling an entry-level position, we should go with a talented, eager newcomer to the business world.
In between those extremes is where our own best judgment and our experience come into play. Who is the best fit among those we’ve interviewed? Not only for the job itself but for our business and our team?
Does a veteran demonstrate their willingness to learn new tasks and processes? Does a recent college graduate have the basic knowledge and skills for the job?
Which one you hire is up to you.
I can say this – I’ve had good (and a few bad) experiences myself and heard of many more about hiring both experienced professionals and newbies. But most of my bad experiences seem to have come from my failing to describe the job and its functions well, and from not taking the time to find someone who best fits the role.
Being patient, therefore, is key. Take the time to make sure the applicant has grasped the position and its duties – and invite their questions. Don’t be in a rush to hire. In the end, it will be more effective to wait until you find the right person, rather than trying to hire and train two or three wrong-fits.
How do you choose whom to hire when an opening needs filling?
Please click here to email me directly – I’d love to know your thoughts and strategies!
Until next Wednesday –
Peace,
Eric