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Working as a hiring manager is challenging and rewarding all at the same time. Each time you make an excellent hire, you get to watch first-hand how well the employee performs on the job. A hot topic within the industry right now is if you should hire on experience or potential when bringing in new employees. We will discuss why the answer should be potential and not hire based on experience.

Is the Candidate Fresh?

One of the first things you need to look at during the job interview is if the candidate is fresh or stale. When we compare fresh versus stale we are talking about right out of school and working the same job for 20 years. Sometimes, a candidate who is a recent college graduate will offer more to the company than someone who has been working the job for 20 or more years.

Does the Candidate Have Staying Power?

The next question you need to ask yourself when analyzing a candidate is if they have staying power at your organization. Is the candidate a flash in the pan? Did they accomplish one major thing during their career? If so, he or she might not be able to replicate the success when working at your company. A candidate with staying power will be able to work under the radar while being successful during the length of their career.

Is the Candidate Open to New Things?

A candidate who is stuck in their ways will fall into the experience category and you should stay away from hiring such a person. You want someone who is open to new things, especially as technology keeps evolving. You will need to determine if the candidate tries new things by asking questions that tell you if he or she is a risk-taker.

Is the Candidate Still Learning?

If the job candidate is on cruise control, then he or she might not be a good hire for your company. If the candidate is still furthering their education, is attending training courses, or asks about tuition reimbursement, he or she is the right fit for your company. This type of employee fits into the category of hire for potential.

Traits of Potential-Based Candidates

What are some of the traits of a potential-based hire? The traits you want to look for the most include insight, curiosity, determination and engagement. When you hire based on potential, the candidate you choose should have at least two of these traits. If you come across a candidate who has three or more of the traits, you need to make the best offer possible to secure a signature on the employment contract.

The bottom line here is that you should always hire based on potential and not experience because potential will bring more success to your company than someone who is stuck in their ways.