Should professionals mind the skills gap when applying for a position? In new research from global staffing firm Robert Half, HR managers in Canada said 45 per cent of resumes they receive, on average, are from candidates who don’t meet job requirements. In a separate survey of Canadian workers, 76 per cent admitted they would submit for a role when they don’t match all the qualifications.
- More than three in four professionals would apply for a job even if they aren’t fully qualified
- 86 per cent of companies are willing to hire and train a candidate who lacks required skills
- 58 per cent of employees have landed a position when they were underqualified
Luckily for applicants, 86 per cent of HR managers reported their company is open to hiring an employee whose skills can be developed through training. In fact, 58 per cent of employees have been offered a job when they didn’t match the exact qualifications.
Workers were asked, “Would you still apply to a job if you didn’t meet all of the qualifications on the job description?” Their responses:
|
Yes |
76% |
|
No |
24% |
|
100% |
HR managers were asked, “How open is your company to hiring and training an employee who doesn’t meet the skills requirements for a position?” Their responses:
|
Very open |
18% |
|
Somewhat open |
68% |
|
Not open at all |
13% |
|
99%* |
|
*Responses do not total 100 per cent due to rounding. |
“Companies that approach hiring requirements with some flexibility open themselves up to a broader pool of talented candidates who otherwise may have been overlooked,” said Greg Scileppi, president of International Staffing Operations at Robert Half. “While core competencies remain important, identify applicants who are agile learners eager to expand their skillset, and who take a proactive approach to professional improvement ― they will likely be more motivated to find new ways to adapt and innovate within the role, and provide greater value and commitment to the business in the long-term.”
