Should You Consider Overqualified Talent?

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When you’re hiring for an entry-to-mid level position, you expect to get a stack of resumes from younger candidates trying to get their foot in the door. It’s only natural to be a bit surprised if you receive an application from a more seasoned professional who clearly has much more than it takes to do the job.

At first glance, your instincts may tell you to disqualify the person, as they probably read the job description wrong or are just looking for a position to tide them over in the interim, until something better comes along. However, this isn’t always the case. Established professionals often decide to make major career changes because they’re not happy with the pressures of a high-level job or they want to spend more time with their families.

Writing these candidates off without learning more about them can be a huge disservice to your organization.

4 Reasons to Hire Overqualified Talent

Learn four major advantages your company can enjoy by filling a position with an established professional who is more than qualified to handle it:

  1. They’ll Get Right to Work. Overqualified candidates are seasoned professionals. These people require very little training, because they already have the foundation needed to succeed in the position. Rather than spending time and money on extensive training, you can put them to work immediately, making them a very valuable asset.
  2. No Need to Babysit. New college graduates can be a handful. Not only are you tasked with teaching them the basic skills needed to function at the job, you also have to instill a professional work ethic in them. When a person has little-to-no experience working in an office, they often require frequent lessons on proper etiquette, which can get old very fast. Avoid this altogether by opting for an overqualified candidate.
  3. Gain a New Prospective. Professionals with an extensive work history have a lot to offer. When you hire them, your company benefits from their wealth of experience. Take advantage of this opportunity to use their knowledge to expand the position and try something new. Fresh ideas can lead to big things for your business that can give you a competitive advantage.
  4. Enjoy High-Quality Labor at a Lower Price. Most overqualified candidates are well aware they have more than what it takes to do the job. Consequently, they’re not going to make outrageously high salary requests, because they truly want the job. This allows you to get all the benefits of a seasoned professional, at the price of a much lower-level candidate.

Searching for the right person to join your team? Partner with Barrington Staffing. Our staffing agency provides temp staffing and recruitment services in The San Fernando Valley, Burbank, Thousand Oaks, The Santa Clarita Valley, West Los Angeles, and the surrounding areas.

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