SMEs prefer experience in candidates
Nov 23 2011
Experience is valued over qualifications
Almost two thirds (64 per cent) of small businesses look for experience over qualifications when hiring, research finds.
Of that majority, 52 per cent feel experience is ‘more useful’ for the business, according to a study of more than 1,100 small business managers conducted by independent online HR consultancy Reabur.com.
Some 9 per cent of respondents cite that they ‘wouldn’t hire’ a candidate with no experience ‘despite the qualifications they hold’. In contrast, when advertising a new vacancy, 12 per cent of the respondents claim they placed a ‘minimum qualification level’ on the job specifications.
When hiring a new member of staff, more than two fifths (41 per cent) of respondents admit to valuing the ‘cleanliness’ of an interviewee. A further 29 per cent state that they were likely to hire a ‘polite’ candidate when interviewing for a vacancy.
The respondents were also asked if they offered internships within their business, to which a quarter, 24 per cent, answered ‘yes’. These respondents were subsequently asked if they had ever hired an intern as a result of their ability to perform the job role, to which 47 per cent said they had.
Reabur.com co-managing director Kirsty Burgess says, ‘It is really interesting to understand what many small businesses across the UK ‘look’ for when hiring a new member of staff. Having dealt with many businesses that have regretfully hired the wrong candidate, we know how important it is for businesses to conduct a thorough interview process and offer the role to the most capable and worthy applicant.
‘While many small employers prefer experience over qualifications, the advantages of ‘growing your own’ shouldn’t be overlooked, and although investment in training and developing a qualified, but inexperienced member of staff can be significant, the return on that investment is often seen much earlier than expected. Eagerness to learn new skills and gain experience is just as important.’
There are currently no comments on this article
Comments