Should You Hire Inexperienced or Overqualified Candidates?

August 8th, 2014

Some fields require little to no experience in any related field. Medicine is not one of those fields. Every aspect of the medical community requires training and some positions require work experience. As an employer, it is your duty to understand the importance of education and training for the candidates you interview and make the final determination based on their background. The question remains, should you hire an overqualified person or go with the one with less experience? The final decision will remain at the discretion of each organization.

Experience is a Great Teacher
There is a school of thought that subscribes to the idea of real life training being the best experience. Others believe that a formal education will prepare you for the variables thrown at medical professionals on a daily basis. Finally, there is a theory that both, experience and book knowledge will get you far in the medical community. When it comes time to hire, it is a wise decision to look at the role first and foremost and create defining criteria. Some positions are perfect for a new graduate to gain experience while other openings will require experience and education. Prior to the interview, know what each position is looking for to fill the opening.

Skill versus Education
No amount of reading or test taking can prepare a medical professional for some of the variables thrown at them on a daily basis. The education and skill set possessed by a qualified candidate is ideal for your organization but if they are overqualified, will they being to cause dissension with other team members or will they help to spur the others on to improve. These overqualified team members can be a huge asset but also a liability when they begin to question the routine and ways of doing things from their first day.

Hiring the Overqualified or the Inexperienced
For the overqualified employee, a less than stimulating job can be a stepping stone to something better and they can be a negative or positive asset, depending on how they are used. Both the overqualified and the inexperienced bring a wide range of positives and negatives to the hiring process and eventually to the workplace. Inexperience can be dangerous within the medical community but the overqualified employees can also be a threat as they can have too much confidence in their own abilities rather than work with the team. Each position will dictate the type of person you want to attract.

Looking to Hire in 2014?

Contact the experienced recruiters at Pinnacle Workforce for additional information on how we can benefit your organization.

© Year Pinnacle Workforce. All Rights Reserved. Site Credits.