Monthly Archives: February 2012
Hiring Managers Must Overcome Bias to Get Access to the Whole Labour Market
There is evidence to suggest that hiring managers may be inadvertently excluding parts of the labour market when they select new employees. For example, where candidates apply for jobs for which they are over-qualified, some managers give reasons for not selecting such as ‘we don’t think you’ll stay’ or simply ‘you’re too good for the job’. They perhaps worry that the new recruits will overshadow colleagues. Whilst there is always the argument that managers should recruit those who aspire to the job, it seems illogical that managers would want to preselect out able candidates. Rejecting such candidates would seem to fly against both the business case for including everyone possible and moral viewpoints.
Why is it then that such excuses are used? Can it be that someone is indeed overqualified? And is it reasonable to surmise that someone who is overqualified will not stay in a job and will move on in search of a job that better fits their skills even given the current economic climate? Continue reading →
