Relevant experience is the most important factor in choosing employees for a small business, new research reveals.
Communication skills and the ability to learn are both qualities seen by employers as more important than academic qualifications, according to recruitment agencies interviewed in research published by Bibby Financial Services.
Relevant experience was seen as the most important factor for employers, followed by 38% of agencies that said that a dynamic personality was the most valuable attribute.
This leaves a high IQ, with 30%, and academic qualifications, with 21%, in the shade.
Employers in small businesses are put off by candidates who display such traits as lateness, having a poor attitude or not listening to interview questions properly.
The research suggests that employers are interviewing candidates who are not following basic interview etiquette, surprising Steve Hollings, director of services at Bibby Financial Services.
Hollings pointed out that “candidates are not even getting the basics right, such as turning up on time or switching off their mobile phones before they go into an interview”.
Hollings added: “When it comes to the burgeoning argument over what is more important to an employer; experience or intelligence, there is no clear cut answer. In reality, the majority of employers seek well rounded individuals who are experienced and capable of thinking on their feet.”
© Crimson Business Ltd. 2006
