The Questions from our five winners and the answers from our panel of HR professionals.
What matters more when you are recruiting candidates; qualifications (degree, diploma etc) or past job experience?
Why age is a factor when hiring persons? Young tend to equal to immaturity.
Isn’t emotional intelligence as equal as one’s IQ when hiring someone?
Why is the reasoning for not hiring individuals “we are looking for someone with more experience”?
What’s the reason for saying “I’ll contact you at further notice” wen y’all already know who’s gonna be hired?
Jayna Sieunarine: What matters more when you are recruiting candidates; qualifications (degree, diploma etc) or past job experience?
It really does depend on the vacancy, but if I had to pick one, I would say experience. Education does not develop the right work ethic or teach you how to have empathy for customers, work as part of a team or solve workplace problems. Young people need to look for all opportunities to gain experience, paid and unpaid, to combine with their education and give themselves the best possible chance.
Christopher Peters: Why age is a factor when hiring persons? Young tend to equal to immaturity. Why?
Many employers feel that young people are quicker to adapt to new technology and less likely to resist change. However, in addition to lacking maturity, young people frequently don’t have the same work ethic and sense of loyalty as the older generation. Employers have to consider that when hiring young people that they may only be there for 1-2 years, but is it worth it for the innovation and fresh ideas they will bring?
Beverly Singh: Isn’t emotional intelligence as equal as one’s IQ when hiring someone?
It is more important that IQ but is not easily measured during the selection process. One’s ability to show empathy to co-workers and customers, appreciate different perspectives and react appropriately to other people’s signals, is critical to a successful career.
These answers provided by Lara Quentrall-Thomas, CEO Regency Recruitment & Resources
Iayana Springer: Why is the reasoning for not hiring individuals “we are looking for someone with more experience”?if you’ll don’t give individuals the opportunity to get necessary experience then you may hire ppl who may have experience but isn’t a right fit for your company
I appreciate this seems like a dead end and can be frustrating for the applicant receiving this feedback. However if the employer has interviewed a candidate with more experience and that candidate passes their test in terms of culture fit and career progression, this feedback may sound more reasonable. To provide more constructive feedback, the applicant could ask what experience in particular would make him/her more appropriate for this position and more marketable in this particular field/industry.
Swanky Sugars: What’s the reason for saying “I’ll contact you at further notice” wen y’all already know who’s gonna be hired?? Why make people feel their likely candidates???
Generic feedback like this can be frustrating and is not informative. If possible, ask for details on the interview process and a timeframe on receiving feedback to clarify if you are indeed being considered.
These answers provided by Pasha Hussain, MD of Progressive Recruitment Specialists