Hiring for Potential...NOT Perfection
Happy Monday, everyone! Today, we have a pretty special and pretty unexpected blog for you all. Before we dive into what’s below, we’ll give you some back-story. So, about a month or so ago, Katelyn, our Marketing Coordinator saw this post from LinkedIn creator Shaneé Moret. Her post read like this:
“We just hired a Gen-Z candidate with zero experience. Here’s why... They arrived 10 min early for their morning interview (respect ✊), pronounced my name correctly (major kudos), had a firm handshake, dressed sharp, and brought a hard copy of their resume (I didn’t need it).
During the interview, they smiled, made eye contact, and were honest about having zero experience (we value honesty).
They asked me questions, they wanted to learn, they showed up!
To all the hiring decision-makers out there, don’t disqualify candidates because they don’t have “experience.”
They can develop skills and experience with your guidance.
More “experience” does not guarantee a harder work ethic or a better fit.
Sometimes the candidate with little to no experience- who is grateful just for the opportunity- is the better fit because they are humble and hungry to learn.
All they need is someone like you to give them a chance to prove themself, and to help them grow, regardless of their lack of experience.Be the person that gives someone the chance they’ve been waiting for.
Be a leader that creates leaders.”
Katelyn instantly related to this post and decided to innocently respond with this perspective:
Love reading posts like this! As someone who struggled to find a job for almost 6 months after graduating, I hoped for someone to take a chance on me for my potential vs. the lack of experience that my resume reflected.
Applying for position after position is exhausting, and I did have about a year or so of experience in writing and WordPress - Not good enough. Writing cover letter after cover letter, phone interview after phone interview...Only for the email to say "We regret to inform you"...What did they expect? I was fresh out of college and only 22 years old, how am I supposed to have 3-5 years of experience?
Luckily, ApplicantOne, Inc. decided to take a chance with me in October to join the Marketing Team, but I know others aren't as fortunate. I write about it all the time in our blogs, "hire for potential over perfection". The perfect candidate doesn't exist. Take a chance on us "Millennials/Gen-Zers" we might surprise you…
Well, to Kate’s surprise, those three, quick paragraphs left her with 767 reactions, 38 comments, and over 150,000 views of her post! She was shocked...but inspired. That message resonated with SO many people on the site about this idea of hiring for potential, not perfection.
So, with the permission of a few commenters on Kate’s LinkedIn post, we decided to turn it into a blog. At ApplicantOne, we’re in the business of people - helping people hire is what we do and so often we see great candidates get passed up due to ageism alone. It’s a horrible phenomenon and we’re incredibly passionate about ceasing this trend for good.
So, without further ado, let’s hear from a few LinkedIn professionals and their response to Kate’s post:
Attitude is altitude!
An experienced professional with a bad and unteachable attitude, can suck the life out of a team.
A Gen-Z or Millennial with a knockout attitude, keen to learn and prove themselves, can breathe life into an entire workplace.
Deflecting toxic vibes is not an easy thing to do! Strong leadership knows the values on which the business is built. Its mission and vision accord with these. Every member of staff should know and have access to them. We operate best with a benchmark.
A strong leadership team will make plain that certain types of behaviour are not, under any circumstances, tolerated. Crucially, they ensure that this is enforced.
A weak leadership team operates on a level that allows toxicity to flourish. Boundaries are not set or if they are they're not enforced. Unacceptable behaviour goes unchecked until it escalates into staff sickness, resignations (often talent it cannot afford to lose) or the threat of tribunals.
Damage limitation is expensive. The resources might have been better invested in training that promotes self-awareness and personal growth.
We agree and love this perspective from Annalieza. Attitude is altitude - a positive outlook and perspective can only benefit you, your team, and your business in the long run. If you only look at experience and not at the person as a whole, you’re missing out on multiple opportunities towards positivity at the workplace. Like Annalieza said, a seasoned professional with a sour attitude can suck the life from a company, while a teachable, upbeat newbie can breathe in new life...Definitely food for thought there. Thanks, Annalieza!
Annalieza wanted us to note that she did not coin the phrase “Attitude is Altitude”, she would like to give credit to those before her who used the phrase: Nick Vujicic and Pat Mesiti.
I was confronted with a three-headed life-sucking beast when I started at my current employer. In fact, I realized it on the third day of the job; you could not only feel the chill in the air, but it didn't take too much effort to discover how the battle lines had been drawn. I've learned to deflect the toxic vibes and be the upbeat, professional voice of reason. It might not turn things around, but it does show that I will not be toyed with.
No matter what label you wear - Gen-Z, Millennial, tribal elder - do everyone (including yourself) a favor and bring positivity into your workplace. You spend a lot of time there, so why not try and make it a place where you WANT to be?
Richard, thank you for a bit of your story! Yes, it’s so true that no place of work is perfect. It never has been and it never will be. There are always going to be difficult people there working with you, above you, or even for you. But, you have to, like Richard said, try to make it a place where you want to be. That’s the key. Hiring managers are going to hire people that aren’t your cup of tea- it’s a fact of corporate life, but you work there too and you’re equally important so make your place of work one where you’re happy. A lot of the time, the ball is in your court.
So, so refreshing as we all need a chance. Hope this includes the seasoned senior millennials as well??? The chance goes both ways, the leaders being created and the leaders willing to continue learning while providing their knowledge along the way!
The waste of each other's time and intimidation tactics really need to stop along with so many other unnecessary requirements. And what happened to mentoring someone while listening to talents they also bring to the table? I just shared with a female in the lady's room how to make the automatic toilets flush if they don't on their own sometime! She was from another country but so very grateful to know this simple but very important task. I know, TMI but, you get my point. We are humans so, treat the interview process that way and eliminate the resume...and listen.
-Sharon (Chandler) Holding, Concierge at The Cedars of Chapel Hill
The whole interview process truly has become extremely intense and tactical and so often those doing the hiring forget that they’re dealing with people, right? They don’t expect mistakes, or flaws, or gaps in experience. They want everything to be immaculate - perfect. Unscathed by life’s clutches. But that’s just not the case. People aren’t going to have a flawless resume, if you do - kudos! But, if you’re like there rest of us and maybe job-hopped a bit in your 20’s or you got laid off and were unemployed for a year - you’re not alone. A lot of times hiring managers fail to use their empathy...So, thank you Sharon, we agree, we are all humans and should be treated as such.
This also goes for those 'older' generations who put in their time raising the Millennial and Gen-Z candidates. I spent 4 years (yes, I said 4 YEARS) looking for the re-entry into my career. I had spent 27 years raising my family of four and had the hunger, desire and the work ethic of an ox. I went above and beyond to prove my willingness and effort for a chance and finally was offered one. It does not mean that I have stopped trying to learn and grow but I can now move forward in my career. For those looking for their opportunity, don't stop trying, surround yourself with those who you want to be like and talk/connect with those who are in your field to learn about them and the industry. Persistence and patience will be your strength until the right person can see your passion. And show them your passion!
We love this perspective. It’s not just the recent college graduates struggling, it’s the ‘older’ generations too. Just as Paula said, it took her 4 whole years to find that re-entry into the business world. What’s tough about scenarios such as these is no one wants to take into account how tough it is to raise a family or be a working mom. They don’t want to deal with it and sometimes it delays the process by a long shot! That’s why, like Paula said, it’s so important to build connections and have professionals whom you admire. And, most importantly, don’t let the struggle to find work dim your happiness. Stay passionate and stay persistent! Thank you Paula!
P.S. Paula shared two incredibly relevant articles with us which she wrote during her hunt. Check them out and show her some love: “How Patient is your Determination?” and “I Have a Dream.”
I am in the midst of experiencing this now, so your post hit me hard. Fresh out of college with an Interactive Media degree in web/design from Miami U and being told I need 5 years experience. Still waiting for a company to take a chance on me as I continue to search and interview - at the least, get constructive input on how I can improve. Thank you for your post - there are times I feel I'm the only one out there in my class who is still searching.
Caitlin’s story really relays the entire point of our Katelyn’s original post. She knows the feeling. It’s so hard to work for so long in college, spend all of that money, cry, laugh, stress - for what? For months of unemployment? What’s the point? Why did I waste these four years? Only to find job descriptions with the title “Entry Level” then stating they require 3+ years of experience...It’s absolutely frustrating and just wrong. Those out of college just want a chance..Like Katelyn said, sometimes you have to hire for potential because that perfect candidate does not exist. Keep at it, Caitlin...Something will break soon!
Thoughts? How was your experience right out of college? Or, how is it now? Let us know...