Why I turn down outstanding resumes with IELTS 8.0

As a business, hiring the most suitable person for the organization is always a smarter choice than focusing solely on qualifications.

People at a job interview. Illustration photo by Unsplash

When my company was recruiting, we received applications from many students who graduated from prestigious universities, like the University of Technology under Vietnam National University. Their CVs were impressive: IELTS 8.0, participation in research projects, and numerous high achievements. However, after the interview, many of these candidates were rejected.

The reason is straightforward: while we are a leading technology corporation, and these candidates would undoubtedly improve over time, their profiles suggested they would be easily lured away by scholarships to study abroad. We feared they would leave at any moment, meaning the time and resources we invested in training them would be wasted. Essentially, we'd be training employees for free while still paying them.

Our recruitment criteria focus on finding hard-working, diligent, and committed individuals, rather than prioritizing someone with an exceptionally high profile. Professional expertise can be cultivated in one or two years, and even employees with average qualifications can become senior experts. We are confident in our ability to train talent; after a year, those we hire will be more than competent.

On the other hand, a candidate who appears very talented but lacks commitment, organization, or professionalism is someone we will definitely not hire. For many employers, attitude makes up 70% of the decision, skills contribute 25%, and professional knowledge is often just 5%. So, don't assume that just because you have high qualifications, a company is obligated to hire you.

Ultimately, the relationship between a company and an employee is one of mutual benefit. If a recruitment process only benefits the employee without offering long-term value to the company, there's no reason to hire them. Conversely, if the company benefits but the employee doesn't, they will soon leave.