Don’t Overlook Candidates with Employment Gaps

Recruiters look at a lot of different angles when assessing job candidates. One of the more common red flags is finding gaps in a candidate’s employment history. However, often candidates with employment gaps have potential with reasonable explanations for their time away from the workplace.

Therefore, it’s important you don’t overlook this part of the candidate pool. Here are some common scenarios where you would still want to consider this type of candidate.

Their Unemployment Is the Result of a Down Economy 

Ever since the Great Recession of the late 2000s, the economy has been rocky in many industries. This has been the reason behind many companies downsizing their workforce. In some cases, perfectly qualified individuals may have lost their job due to harsh economic situations. So be sure to keep this in mind, and find out if this was a contributing factor to a candidate’s employment gaps.

They Bettered Themselves

If a person squandered their time away from the workplace and stayed idle, you may think less of them. But if they used that time to develop their skills, build their knowledge and improve their situation, it’s hard not to root for them.

Often these individuals will have way more to offer in a new position than they did in a previous one. That’s why you should take a close look at how they spent the time during their absence.

  • Did they earn a new certification?
  • Did they spend time volunteering in their community?
  • Have they learned any new skills that could be of use to your company?

These are just a few scenarios to look for.

They Have an Ideal Skill Set 

Not every person with a lengthy unemployment history lacks skills and education. Sometimes highly qualified individuals lose their jobs during mass layoffs that are completely out of their control. In some cases, you’ll find a candidate is perfectly qualified and possesses a distinct skill set that’s ideal for your company.

There are several valid reasons why a candidate may have employment gaps, therefore, you shouldn’t automatically assume the worst and immediately remove them from the candidate pool. By digging a bit deeper, you can learn about the details and determine whether they would be a suitable hire.

Take your recruiting to the next level. Contact the professionals at Encadria Staffing Solutions today.

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