Should I Hire from Within?

Photo by fauxels from Pexels

Photo by fauxels from Pexels

When employers have a position to fill, they often struggle with the question of whether to hire from within or bring in fresh talent. While some employers will opt to give existing employees a chance at the newly created or vacated position, others will choose not to follow this route - with good reason.

If you allow applicants to apply from within:

  • Make sure you benchmark the position’s requirements including experience, education, behaviors, and soft skills so you have a good basis for rejection if needed.

  • If they are not a fit for the position, don’t string them along.

  • If you decide on someone outside the company, tell them why and discuss what they can do to position themselves for another job.

  • Pave the way for development by setting up a training program to help them build their skill set to make them a top candidate for future opportunities.

Hiring from within creates the feeling within the organization of the potential for growth.  However, this strategy is not without risk; considering a person from within and not hiring them could have the opposite effect.