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

Person B

B agree that A would be an even greater chance PITA if promoted and allowed to lord it over others.

From the information given, B seems more suitable but then A will probably look to leave the organisation

Niether

I imagine the phd person will be more expensive. What is your budget?

Do you need swift analytical thinking or is a friendly approach more important.

Well your descriptions of them both are slightly skewed.....but on balance I'd hire outside the organisation.
Touch feely roles often require a strong leader who is confident and competent - which it doesn't sound like B is. I'd support her to get more training/appropriate qualifications because one of the major advantages of post 16 education is that you gain better critical thinking skills, analysing skills and so on.

A would probably be better in the role than you are making out, it it's obvious you aren't going to give her the job.

I think A will leave if you appoint B. But maybe that's not a bad thing.

I would say neither. But you sound hugely biased towards Person B (who sounds like they'd need their hand holding constantly on this role) so I'm assuming you've already made up your mind and were just looking for validation?

But if I were either and I knew you'd posted for anonymous opinion on the internet rather than interview me - then I'd withdraw my application to be honest.

B all the way. I couldn't be doing with the constant refereeing person A & the rest of the team.

Whenever I've been recruiting (many moons ago!) I used to ask myself- who will make my day to day easier? Person A sounds like hard work to manage.

B if I had to choose depending on the role

But a wider recruitment would probably find a better candidate

@Misty999

Neither go external, if person b can't delgegate they can't run a department.

This

Before I saw your update I assumed you were B. I am now assuming that B is your DH or friend or someone else you have a vested interest in. You've presented these candidates in a very biased way. If I hadn't read your update, I'd think you were B and had a chip on your shoulder because A is vastly better-qualified than you.

It's impossible to tell what I'd do based on your biased post, but I wouldn't appoint B - I'd hire externally if A is as unsuitable as you suggest.

Honestly, neither. You won’t change A’s style and B isn’t ready. Hire externally. A will probably leave to then sort your headcount and budget.

@namechangetheworld

I would say neither. But you sound hugely biased towards Person B (who sounds like they'd need their hand holding constantly on this role) so I'm assuming you've already made up your mind and were just looking for validation?

Exactly this. Your use of language shows your clear bias towards B. But neither suit the role, you need option C.

As an employee, I'd prefer B to be my manager.

If you choose A, loads of the team will start looking for other jobs.

Neither is suitable. I'd go for an outside candidate.

Both have weaknesses that could potentially be a drain. Better to go for 'the full package' with a track record than take on risk.

Continue the search

Neither. Advertise the role externally.

From reading the critique you have given of both candidates, it strikes me you have a personal preference for B. However, she has gaps which could cause issues within the team, if she is to manage them. I don't think A is the right candidate either.

Like many others, I would recruit externally for a candidate who has the full skill set you need,

Whoever scores the highest at interview/selection process, including external candidates

Neither of them sound ideal. Certainly not B. Although they sound a nice person no good for management role at the present time. 'A' sounds a bit of a pain in the neck but would probably be good at the job bossing folk around.

Thanks all. Lots of really good points. I’ve got a bit of thinking to do.

Neither is suitable for a people management role.

If you have time you could try mentoring B to try to get them up to spec, but it sounds like it might be a long job. Especially if A is one of the people they'd be managing.

Similarly with A, if they haven't been given direct feedback before that their attitude makes them unsuitable for promotion, that may be a route to try (the inability to take constructive criticism may make this futile, but some people just need the right incentive to push people past that).

I wouldn't promote either and I'd recruit externally