Posted by Nicky P. Anderson on Feb 09, 2023

Dear Nicky,

I received a candidate from a member and was wondering how they think a client will pay a fee for them. They have employment gaps in their resume (some over a year), currently not working and not willing to move. Really??

Do members understand what a client would pay a fee for? I know sometimes there is a good reason for employment gaps, but that needs to be explained in the comments.

Poor Quality in Posen

Dear Quality,

Generally speaking, we tell members that a good candidate to share in the network has the following attributes:

  • A definite career objective supported by education, training and work experience
  • Reasonable salary expectations in keeping with education and experience
  • A stable employment history with valid reasons for terminating positions
  • Has a good resume/CV which outlines accomplishments, contributions and responsibilities related to the type of job desired

HOWEVER ... please recognize that we are coming out of a pandemic and in an extreme candidate shortage. Lots of great candidates have long resume gaps in the past couple of years. Heck, even LinkedIn rolled out a feature in 2022 to help job seekers explain career breaks. This is no longer a screaming red flag for many employers.

Additionally, to address the extreme talent shortage many employers are re-evaluating educational requirements in favor of skills and experience. A bachelor's degree from an accredited university is no longer a requirement for many roles in both the private and public sectors. Employers are recognizing that skills, experience, and training received through other paths such as trade schools or military service are valid AND help them reach both more, and more diverse, candidates to consider.

Your point about candidate quality is valid and well-considered, but please be open to the concept that "quality" may be viewed differently moving forward.

Nicky

send letters to: nanderson@npaworldwide.com