Most active job applicants either don’t have a job because of something out of their control (like layoffs or mergers) or they are still working, but are looking for a better situation.
I have to admit, you would not want to hire some of them, but there are a lot of passive candidates (the ones who are not looking, who you go after) that could turn out to be just as bad or even worse.
5 reasons active job seekers are better
So what are the five (5) reasons active job seekers are usually better hires?
- They are getting out of a bad situation (bad boss, no recognition, not having the tools they need to do the job, etc.).
- They are taking responsibility for finding a better job. They are not just waiting for a better job to find them. (The number one characteristic to look for in a job applicant is the willingness to take responsibility.)
- They will appreciate the better working conditions you offer.
- They are willing to take a risk. It takes a lot of guts to leave even a bad job and look for a new one.
- They are easier to find and less costly to hire.
Whether you hire active or passive candidates, you still need to do your homework and build an employee selection system that ensures that what you think you see in the hiring process is what you actually get on the job.
This was originally published on Mel Kleiman’s Humetrics blog.