When you have a role that is hard to fill, you may be tempted to hire any highly skilled applicant who shows interest. However, if you bring them aboard right away, you may run into problems down the road. Because there are advantages and disadvantages to hiring an overqualified applicant, be sure to think about the benefits and risks before making a job offer.
Consider these pros and cons before deciding whether to hire an applicant whose qualifications greatly exceed the job requirements.
Pros of Hiring an Overqualified Applicant
- Broader talent pool. You gain access to a candidate who can add more value to your organization.
- Greater role expectations. Your new hire should be able to accomplish their goals in less time than most new employees.
- Less supervision. The new team member likely needs less hands-on supervision during the onboarding phase.
- Lower training costs. It should cost less money to train your new team member.
- Quicker return to full productivity. Your new employee should begin fulfilling their responsibilities in less time than an average new hire.
- More innovation. Your new employee likely has fresh perspectives on ways to increase efficiency and solve problems.
- Increased skill development. The new team member should be able to train colleagues on skill development or serve as a mentor for career development.
- Higher return on investment. The company should increase its profits during the time your new hire works.
- Faster promotions. The new hire should quickly take on more responsibilities and move up to more senior roles.
Cons of Hiring an Overqualified Applicant
- Higher turnover. Your new hire may leave soon for a role they are better suited for.
- Increased payroll. The new hire may expect more income because of their skills and experience.
- Difficulty training. Your new employee may be set in their ways and resistant to learning your ways of doing things.
- Boredom. The new team member could be frustrated over the lack of challenges and bring down morale.
- Need for upskilling. Your new team member may need time to update their skills.
Consider the Opportunity
When deciding whether to hire an overqualified applicant, take the time to assess the benefits and risks. For instance, what does the potential hire want from the role? Is it a way to gain experience in a new area, or a placeholder while they search for something different? Or, is the applicant looking for a fast progression within your organization? Asking these questions provides a better idea of how the applicant sees the position and whether they may be a long-term asset to your team.
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