The Real Deal: “Overqualified Candidates.”

It’s not unusual for hiring managers to be overwhelmed with resumes…sometimes hundreds for a single job posting. And with more resumes, comes a likelihood of overqualified candidates applying for work with your company.

What’s the real deal with overqualified candidates?

Don’t miss out on a potential superstar for your organization by overlooking candidates who appear overqualified. Before dismissing a candidate, try asking these questions to help you determine whether the candidate is a good fit for your organization:

  • Is this person really overqualified? A quick read of someone’s resume is not enough to fully understand a candidate’s credentials. Qualification for a positions should pertain to meeting the specific requirements of a job. Items like education or more job experience may not be true indicators of a hiring risk. Are all the previous positions directly related to the job posting? Is the candidate a career-changer? Or maybe there’s another unique challenge in the position that is particularly interesting to the candidate. Get to know the candidate – don’t just scan the resume.
  • Can this candidate still contribute? Was the job description something that was half-heartedly written?  Is there room to expand the position? You may be able to use the candidate in a capacity beyond the job posting. If you’re able to do this, you will gain a qualified, talented employee, but can still fill the needs of the original job opening.
  • Is this candidate too expensive? Don’t be tempted to offer a low salary to a candidate who is very qualified. Within the scope of the job, pay a candidate what he or she is worth. If you can afford to pay an overqualified candidate slightly more, try to make it work. Going above and beyond when hiring an employee can help that person to make a long-term commitment to your organization.

If you’re looking for qualified, experienced professionals to add to your team, contact CornerStone Staffing. Our network includes a wide range of talent, poised to make an immediate impact on your organization.

 

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