A manager rejected a top candidate over 1 tool. It backfired immediately

Hiring the right candidate can be a challenge, especially when it comes to end-user software. Bryan Creely, a former recruiter and current CEO of Soor, learned this lesson the hard way when he applied for a position that required him to develop the company's inexperienced recruiters. Despite being highly qualified and having extensive recruiting experience, Creely was rejected due to his lack of recent experience with the company's applicant tracking system (ATS) software.

Creely asked for feedback and was told that he didn't have the necessary experience with the ATS. While he clarified his extensive experience with other applicant tracking systems, the recruiter insisted that he had already made up his mind. As a result, the position remained unfilled for weeks, causing lost productivity and increased burnout for the current employees.

Creely emphasized that while some skills are harder to learn than others, most end-user software can be picked up relatively quickly through training. He argued that spending a few thousand dollars on training could be a worthwhile investment, as it would lead to a productive employee and avoid the risk of losing the candidate to a competitor. Creely has trained thousands of people over his career, and almost everyone can master the necessary material with proper training.