As the job market continues to tighten up, finding qualified and flexible new hires is more important than ever. Making hiring decisions can be stressful, especially as you try to weigh a candidate’s interpersonal qualities alongside his or her experience. Madison Approach encourages following the 80/20 rule when evaluating potential employees. Instead of looking for the perfect candidate who fulfills one hundred percent of your expectations, consider past experience and future potential. With the right management, a candidate who fulfills 80% of your most valued skills can be trained on-site to succeed in the field.
The 80%: Hiring for Core Competencies
As you make a list of desired qualifications and traits, take into account that even highly skilled candidates might not have 100% of the skills and experience, or come equipped with all the necessary training. Instead, focus on core competencies. Are you looking for a candidate with strong interpersonal skills? A pro-active candidate who will seek mentors and be an enthusiastic team member? A candidate with vital points of industry-specific knowledge? As you evaluate candidates, keep your top priority competencies in mind and then consider how a candidate can be trained to integrate into your corporate culture.
The 20%: Hiring a Candidate You’re Willing to Train
Once you have identified the core skills you are looking for, consider which skills and training can be achieved in-house. Increasingly, businesses are looking to mold candidates through specific training, rather than hiring candidates who have generalized knowledge about the field. By being prepared to train a candidate in the remaining 20% of skills needed for success, you can build a team committed to your business’s specific methods and culture.
Keep in mind in technical or STEM fields – from healthcare and engineering to finance and technology analysis – candidates have a far easier time finding jobs and can write their own ticket. What does this mean for you? It’s time to re-evaluate the salary of the position and price them away from their current employment.
Still not finding the right person for the job? We can help. Contact Madison Approach Staffing for help with temporary, temp-to-hire and direct hire placements, from entry level to C-suite executives New York City, Westchester, Fairfield, Putnam and Rockland Counties, or New Jersey.
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