Underqualified and Hired? Why You Should Grow Talent

With 8.2 percent unemployment, more job applicants are flooding into the talent pool than ever before. Not all of these applicants will be invited to video interviews, or even make it past the resume stage. This is because most hiring managers will automatically weed out candidates who don’t have the best qualifications for the position.

Is this practice wise? Are underqualified candidates really hidden gems waiting for an invitation to a live video interview to blow you away? Here are some reasons you might want to reconsider before you move an underqualified video resume into your trash bin:

Nurturing Talent
A major reason to consider underqualified but passionate candidates is that these job seekers are talent which your company can nurture. Sure, they might need a little training, but in the long run you’ve developed a top-tier employee who will be a return on your training investment. Better yet, you’ve instilled your company’s practices and values on a clean slate.

No Giant Egos
Just think of it this way, there will be no bad habits your fresh blood hire needs to break. Since they don’t have as much experience in your industry, they’ll be completely receptive to the way your company does things. This means you don’t have to deal with the outsized egos which can sometimes come as part of the package when hiring superstar employees. Instead, you can nurture your own superstar who has the added bonus of being humble and easy to work with.

They Want to Learn
Unlike employees stuck in their ways, underqualified employees are psyched to learn and grow professionally. They’re looking at your position as a learning opportunity, and if you give them a chance to gain new knowledge they will take it. No more grumbling about attending a training session or keeping up-to-date on the newest technology. These fresh hires will be learning sponges, soaking up all the knowledge they can and then sharing it with your organization.

They’ll Be Loyal
Rehiring can be costly, with some companies losing as much as $50,000 on employee turnover. Taking a chance on an underqualified hire and training them means this candidate will be more likely to stick around. They’ll be grateful you took a chance on them when other companies passed over their video resume, and they’ll continue giving back value to your company. No rehiring necessary!

Not every underqualified hire will be a true hidden gem. But if a less qualified candidate really wows you in the video interview with their passion, dedication and thirst for learning, these candidates can be worth their weight in gold to your company.

Do you think underqualified candidates can help your company? Share in the comments!

IMAGE: Courtesy of TalentSeed.