If you know you need help, but you’re not sure whether you should hire a seasoned professional or an entry level candidate, there are many angles to consider. First, you want to review your job description to make sure it is accurate. This will help you to determine the level of experience you really need. Once you have an accurate description of what your job entails, here are some Pros and Cons that will help you decide whether you need an experienced professional or an entry level candidate:
Pros of Experienced Professionals:
• They know what their strengths are and how to apply them
• They require little management
• They have fine-tuned their communication skills
• They have a lot of experience in the field and know how to do the job well from the start
• They are better at reading between the lines and understanding the bigger picture
Cons of Experienced Professionals:
• They are expensive—if you want a lot of experience, it’s going to cost you
• They are more set in their ways and less adaptable to change
• They can get overwhelmed if you try to get them to go outside of their comfort zone
• Sometimes it’s difficult for them to focus on more than one thing at a time
Pros of Entry Level Candidates:
• They’re cheap and this means you can save a lot of money
• They are moldable, so you can train them to do it your way
• They are used to multi-tasking and have a strong grasp of new technology
• They are not afraid of change—they’re really used to it
• It’s easier to get them to go outside of their comfort zone to try new approaches and projects
Cons of Entry Level Candidates:
• They frequently lack basic communication and social skills
• They get bored easily
• They don’t know what they want
• They’re too casual in their approach to almost everything
• You may have to spend a lot of time supervising them to make sure they’re staying on task
Ultimately you have to decide what you can and can’t live without. If you must have someone who comes in to the job already knowing how to do it, then you need an experienced professional and you should be prepared to pay for that experience. If you’re on a tight budget and cannot afford someone with experience, then you want to be prepared to train, supervise, and coach your new employee through the first few weeks and months on the job. Whatever decision you make, keep in mind that great hires are about more than experience—you also want to look for people who are open-minded, have a great attitude, and demonstrate they are committed to the job.
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