M96 Consulting is a benefit company. As such, it aims to be of help to the world in its small way, to do good as well as to pursue economic goals. In particular–this is what I talk about in this article–we want to promulgate more ethical and sustainable HR practices, reminding companies–and showing them how–it is possible to evaluate and buy potential instead of just experience. There is no free lunch. On-the-job experience is not bought, it is built over time, cultivated from a qualified seed. And in this metaphor the seed is the potential. And in this case, a sustainable practice is also a huge competitive advantage.
The strategically relevant point is this: with an in-house skill department I overcome inertia, overcome skill stagnation and technical debt that was previously unavoidable. I do not “purchase” experience but potential purchase, and work internally from that. In addition to being a strongly ESG practice, it is a tactical-strategic advantage in that at this point I have a system within the company that keeps human resources aligned with business needs and the necessary changes to be implemented. On another front, it is also an advantage: by doing so, I build a differential ground that allows me to positively select lifelong learners, those candidates willing to continue learning instead of monetizing on a stale competency.
My job is twofold, I coach candidates to show their cognitive skills before their experience, and I remind companies to be careful about what they buy, to be careful about buying a competitive advantage and not a technical debt. I repeat this to conclude the article. There is no free lunch. On-the-job experience is not bought (only), it is cultivated. Having a skill department is a huge competitive advantage. Now it is a matter of assessing the potential of candidates and being less rigid and more empirical in evaluating and selecting them. Potential is not inferred from experience and life history. Potential is tested, and before that inferred by having the right conversations with candidates.