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Jun 2016

Leaps of Faith when Hiring Employees


I have overheard many colleagues and friends over the years say that the job they currently hold has nothing to do with their background or college degree. If you aren’t fortunate enough to land a job in the market you are trained in, don’t stress. If you are an employer possibility considering a candidate from another industry, take a closer look. These folks might be just the ideal employee you are looking for.

The idea for this blog hit me while watching a silly movie titled “The Internship”, staring Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn. The plot is pretty basic. After old-school salesmen Billy (Vince Vaughn) and Nick (Owen Wilson) find themselves downsized, Billy decides that, despite their complete lack of technological savvy, they should work for Google. The friends somehow manage to finagle internships at the Internet giant and promptly head out to Silicon Valley. This scene below shows just how creative and tenacious these guys are.

Obviously this is a little dramatic, but my point is this: sometimes a little out-of-the-box thinking is just what a company needs. You can teach employees tasks and processes but you can’t teach loyalty and hard work. Sometimes an individual’s personal ethics and qualities outweigh how many years of excel experience they have. Companies willing to take a leap of faith on that type of candidate will reap the benefits in the long run. The employee that looks great on paper may not be who you want on your team. Ask yourself, “Can I work with this person every day?” Personality and character need to be deciding factors in the hiring process in addition to their qualifications. Folks from different industries in the business world can provide fresh ideas, different experiences and unique skills to their new position, ultimately making it better. So make sure to consider the underdog the next time a position needs to be filled, they might just surprise you.