The Great Secrets Nobody Mentions About Hiring Inexperienced People

There have been many times where I’ve explained one of our processes to a new, inexperienced hire and watched as they looked back, clearly confused.?

“Wouldn’t it be more efficient if we did it like this instead?” they ask.

The questions are always asked innocently, but the revelations I have in those moments are powerful. Sometimes we’re too close to a situation and have been doing it for too long to see what needs to be changed.

Growing up, I was always told I wasn't the best student but I was a big dreamer. I was driven, entrepreneurial, and knew I wanted to build something that made a difference with my life, but I clearly lacked the experience I needed to get there.?

That’s why my first step when I went into the workforce was finding a mentor who was successful in my industry and willing to show me the ropes.

As I’ve mentioned previously, when I first started out in the commercial real estate business years ago, I asked if I could observe a senior underwriter who had been in the business for decades. I was only 21 at the time, and my inexperience showed—to the point I almost got fired. This underwriter certainly didn’t owe me anything, but he was generous enough to take me under his wing. In return, I showed up on Sundays, asked questions, and honored every second he gave me.

The company I worked at during that time was a small fish in a big pond. Early on, he taught me that we still had to operate at the same level as the bigger mortgage brokerages; they just did what we did on a much larger scale. This lesson became a foundation for how we structured Eastern Union down the road and even GPARENCY today.

I was eager to learn, and we quickly fell into a rhythm where I would pass any deal that came my way to him to handle the underwriting, and he would teach me the “why” behind his decisions. Whether he wanted to move forward on a deal or reject it outright, he laid out the logic behind every decision he made. As time went on, my fresh perspective on the business also brought up new ways to improve our processes and we were able to dramatically increase company revenue.

That picture of mentorship changed how I learn and how I lead today. I still am passionate about continued mentorship—I surround myself with experts in their field, hire business coaches, and ask questions like it’s my first day.

As I progressed in my career experience, I knew I always wanted to give back to others and help them on their journey… what I didn’t know is that by mentoring others, aside from the great feeling of giving back, I would also continue to learn at new levels!?

When I have a mentor, I gain. When I give back, I gain even more.?

Many people are afraid to hire inexperienced staff, but after decades of doing exactly that, I’ve learned there are many huge advantages to having inexperienced people on your team. Inexperienced hires ask you questions that force you to get to the root of your idea, offer a fresh perspective, and stay more loyal after they’re trained and help you grow long-term.?

At Eastern Union, I emphasized this approach of giving back and asking questions to our team. This mindset fostered a team culture where people were just as invested in the success of the team as they were in their own success, distinguishing us from other brokerages. That’s why Abe and I were so adamant about team training—even if it meant traveling to offices in all different states.?

Paying it forward may seem like a purely altruistic act, but you're building relationships and developing a network of people who can offer their own insights and perspectives on situations. These different points of view can help you see problems in a new light and come up with innovative solutions that set your business apart.

As I mentioned before, these deceivingly simple conversations have initiated many lightbulb moments for me!

With this mindset, I embraced hiring inexperienced team members in junior roles. Never underestimate the power of someone just getting started! Inexperienced hires are usually highly motivated to prove themselves, eager to learn, and grateful for the opportunity. It's essential to have experienced leaders heading your business, but inexperienced hires can offer a new perspective and a different way of doing things that the experts in your organization might not have considered.

In today's ever-changing market, it's easy to get hung up on our own way of doing things and forget that there is always room for improvement. But in business, having a mentor and paying it forward by mentoring others can be the key to shortening the learning curve, leveraging the power of inexperience, and unlocking your full potential.?