As one of the leading Houston staffing agencies, Murray Resources knows there are plenty of people out there who are hard working, highly skilled, motivated…and unemployed. Whether the victim of downsizing, a diminishing industry, a lack of seniority, or just plain bad luck, they may apply to a position at your company that they’re completely overqualified for.

So the question becomes: Should you hire them?

After all, they have tons of experience and a clear record of accomplishments. At the same time, they may jump ship at the first opportunity that comes along to take a step up.

There are certainly advantages and disadvantages to hiring someone who’s more than qualified. To help you make a decision, here’s a look at some of them:

The Good

• Value. When you hire someone who’s overqualified, you’ll likely get more bang for your buck than if you were to hire someone less experienced. Not only that, they may be able to offer some valuable intangibles, such as mentoring to entry level employees.

• Ability. If you hire someone who’s overqualified, then there will be less of a learning curve, if there is one at all. This means they can become productive faster and positively impact your bottom line.

• Contributions. Someone who’s overqualified has probably “been there, done that.” So they may be able to offer you a unique perspective or innovative ideas that you might not get from a less experienced employee.

The Bad

• Lack of Value. An overqualified employee may demand pay that’s less than what they’re used to earning, but still more than you can afford.

• An Attitude. Just because an employee is overqualified doesn’t mean they’re going to bring a good attitude with them. Some might be bitter about taking a step back in their careers, while others might be arrogant know-it-alls.

The Ugly

• Quick Turnover. This is the biggest drawback because not only does it reduce productivity and morale, but it also means you’re back to the drawing board when it comes to hiring for the position.

Still not sure whether to hire an overqualified candidate?

Then consider a contract or temporary to hire arrangement, where you try out the candidate (and the candidate tries out the position) for a set period of time, then you both make your decisions after that time. Who knows? In the meantime, a higher level position may open up in your organization that’s the perfect fit for the candidate.

Want to Outsource the Hiring Process?

If you’d like to outsource some of the hiring process to staffing experts, you’ve come to the right place. As one of the leading Houston staffing agencies, Murray Resources can take the hassle out of hiring for you – so you can bring an exceptional candidate on board that meets your needs. Contact Murray Resources today to learn more.