Which person would you employ?

[Rossita]

Which of these two people would you employ? For a bit of background they both started at the company at the same time and they’re both currently doing the same job. The vacancy they are both applying for is a promotion and will involve managing the department that they currently work in. The role does not require any professional qualifications.

Person A:
Highly qualified to PHD level in an unrelated field.
Has some experience from a previous role that helps in her current position.
Works very well alone and produces some really good work.
Is very committed to the department
Does not work so well as part of a team.
Can sometimes act a little ‘superior’ and has upset every other member of the team at some point.
Does not accept any constructive criticism and believes that her way is the only way to do things.

Person B
Qualified to GCSE level
Has previous experience that helps in her current role.
Is committed to the department.
Produces some really good work.
Sometimes struggles to work alone as she can lack in self confidence and needs to ask advice from other team members.
Is very much a team player, she is good at building professional relationships.
Has on several occasions managed a project which showed she was a good leader.
She is not always great at delegating so ends up taking on too much work herself.

I’ve posted here so people could vote because it makes it easier to see the overall opinion.

YABU Person A
YANBU person B

It would be B for me. If A was appointed the entire team would gradually leave. It could be a very expensive hiring decision.

Person B. But be prepared to need to support her in the face of Person A's wrath and belief that she has been unfairly passed over. She might need some honest feedback about why she didn't get the role - because she doesn't take constructive criticism well, and is not open to other people's ideas, and that her abrasive personality has meant that she's offended pretty much every other member of the team already and does not work well as a team player.

B every time.

No I’m neither person.

It depends on the role, on the surface B seems the 'easier' option, but sometimes people like person A are extremely good at their jobs, just not at team stuff. If the role was literally just about doing the job itself then I would consider person A, if it was dependent on being a team player and there was the support available that they need then person B would be a good choice. If there wasn't the required support for person B though then no, if processes were often changing etc and A would be a barrier to them, then not them either.

Depends on the job.

B. It will be the making of them. People skills are half the battle in any job and A struggles with those .All B needs is some self belief. Doing the job will give them that (hopefully) .

If you are involved in the recruitment of this role I think it's highly inappropriate to be posting this here. If you can't decide without consulting a public forum then you shouldn't be involved in this decision.

I think it’s not possible to give a fair judgement without knowing the ins and outs of the job, the culture and team etc - but I’d recommend looking externally if you have doubts about both’s ability to manage.

It doesn't look like either are suited to the role. But I'd rather have a pig-headed manager than an ineffectual one, so my vote is for A, as long as they are competent, so not unreasonably over-confident.

I had to manage managers like B who couldn't wipe their backside without permission and they are worse than not having a manager at all.

The job is not one where you just keep your head down and get stuck it. 70% of the work has to be done as a team and involves meeting new people every day.

For that particular role probably person B, again, if there is the support available as it's been identified that they need reassurance and guidance etc. Even for roles though where social isn't a huge aspect, I wish people would consider people like A more.

I would be morw concerned that either your colleagues or the applicants will be able to identify you from your very detailed post.

External hire while if possible giving B some training to fill in skills gaps with a view to promotions in future. Person A sounds like an insufferable dick for a team environment.

Can't external candidates be considered?

I'd employ B. A isn't a team player and will end up as a massive PITA.

Honestly - neither sounds suitable.

You clearly prefer / are person B, so it is a bit pointless anyone else 'helping' given how skewed you have presented them both.

Neither. You need to recruit externally.

Person A is a no-no has you don't want someone who are unable to get on with others. She will just alienate everyone in the team.

Person B does not have the ability to work on her own and requires too much support and reassurance from others. That is not the type of personality that makes a good manager for a large department. They still need to grow in confidence.

A poor manager will have a real impact on the rest of the team so better to go for someone who has more experience and established leadership skills and who has managed people and projects.

Plus if you choose one of these internal candidate you will have one disappointed employee who might resent the other...

Depends

Most managers would go for A - because that’s who I seem to end up working for

B can improve their skills and sounds like a potentially a good work leader

B :)

If person A is a "My way or the highway" sort of person, then they will end up antagonising everybody in 5 minutes flat if they are given any kind of authority. I'd go for B.

Person B with training.

Yes it’s very much a role that involves a lot of the touchy feely stuff.

In that case you'd be mad to hire A to do this job!

B (she can learn confidence etc) every time. The other one sounds hard work.

@Rossita

The job is not one where you just keep your head down and get stuck it. 70% of the work has to be done as a team and involves meeting new people every day.

Well A is a definite no. The only question is whether you think B can be trained up or whether you go externally.