Loud Thinking November 29, 2013 at 03:55PM

Give Unemployed Candidates a Second Look

Going with your gut in hiring decisions can work out well, but it can also mean acting on unstated—in many cases unconscious—bias. Recent research shows that after someone is unemployed for more than a month, positive responses from employers fall sharply and decline further as time passes, even if he or she has the same qualifications as other applicants. But overlooking these candidates, like ignoring any other potential good hire, will likely cost you. They are likely to be cheaper and easier to hire because you don’t have to woo them away from their current employer. Such candidates are persistent, determined to succeed, and will likely be grateful to have a job—and gratitude is associated with many aspects of good job performance.

Adapted by HBR from “Why HR Needs to Stop Passing Over the Long-Term Unemployed,” by Peter Cappelli.

Tags: My Views