One issue that many employers run into at some point is qualified job candidates who seem great but have gaps in their employment history. While your first impulse may be to immediately cross off these candidates, it’s smart to at least give these individuals a chance. Below are reasons why it’s important not to overlook these candidates and understand the reasons for gaps in their employment histories.
Increasing the Size of the Talent Pool
Although employment gaps definitely aren’t ideal, they shouldn’t automatically disqualify a candidate for the simple fact that you could miss out on some A-list talent if you overlook these folks. Someone you passed on just because of an employment gap could have been an incredibly productive and loyal employee – while someone you chose without an employment gap might be a problem employee who throws a wrench in operations. Finding great talent isn’t easy; so you shouldn’t straight up reject someone just because of their history.
You Shouldn’t Assume the Worst
While you may immediately think that a person has something to hide like a prison sentence or they’re a chronic job hopper, many times a person may have been doing something highly productive. For example, maybe someone took off of work for a year or two to go back and finish their degree. Maybe they spent time abroad volunteering. Or maybe they needed time off to take care of an elderly parent.
The bottom line is there are a lot of legitimate reasons why a person may take time off that in no way speak negatively about their character or work ethic. It’s also important to note that being upfront about an employment gap is an indicator of honesty and shows that a candidate isn’t trying to hide something.
Looking Into the Reason Behind an Employment Gap
If you find yourself in a situation where a person has most of the qualities you’re looking for and otherwise seems like a great fit, communicate with them and get to the bottom of things. Go ahead and ask them directly why they weren’t working for a period of time and get the details. If it’s something viable, then you should definitely consider hiring them – especially if they meet the necessary qualifications.
Like the saying goes, you can’t always judge a book by its cover. That’s why it’s best to look deeper into the reason behind employment gaps to see exactly what’s going on. This way you’ll give qualified candidates a chance to explain their side of their story, and you won’t miss out on potentially great employees.
For more helpful news and information on HR and management, reach out to our experienced recruiting team at Encadria today!