Having purple unicorns in a business do not imply those mythological creatures have forehead horns. These are the perfect candidates that a talent acquisition team looks for. Therefore, it has become a buzzword in the recruitment industry.
But what exactly is a purple unicorn, and how are they different from the purple squirrel, another elusive creature?
This full blog post covers all aspects: what they mean, their characteristics, and even their drawbacks.
The best part?
We will also see how recruiting software helps to hunt for the ideal candidate that makes your organisation GREAT.
Let’s dive right in…
What are Purple Unicorns?
The term purple unicorn metaphorically describes exceptional candidates with rare and valuable skills. They have a set of work qualities that make them stand out in the job market. Additionally, they have no limits, have a constant hunger for learning, and are not defined by their professional title.
In other words, they have a unique blend of skills, experience, and qualities. This makes them perfect candidates to bring great value to the organisation. Their characteristics are the positive qualities that rare individuals possess. Here’s a minute to describe their characteristics.
Benefits of a Purple Unicorn Candidate
A candidate with flexibility and a strong desire to learn new concepts is the secret to finding the perfect candidate. Let’s find out more characteristics of these perfect candidates.
They are kind and respectful
They are highly capable of relating to others, regardless of their position. So it allows them to create work teams in which respect and harmony are the common denominators.
They make things happen
They can create fun and productive work environments. But they are also objective enough to know that if one of their teammates does not produce the expected results, their participation in the team is meaningless and harms others. Additionally, these ideal candidates will do everything in their power to achieve their goals.
A title does not define them
Purple unicorns are flexible and curious, with ideas and a desire to collaborate in different areas of the company. Although they have expertise in a particular area, they do not hesitate to learn and contribute to other areas and the growth of the business.
Panoramic view with details
They are exceptional employees who can see the big picture and apply their knowledge to their work. They do not want to miss any details. Moreover, their attention is so meticulous that it helps the organisation anticipate problems.
They show real value
They have passion, perseverance, and determination to achieve the projected goals. In addition, they have the strength, concentration, and calmness that are essential for success.
As well as the advantages, there are disadvantages to hiring the perfect candidate. What are they? Let’s find out!
Disadvantages of Purple Unicorns
The major disadvantages of these individuals, who are highly skilled and sought-after candidates, include:
- They may have a lot of demands because they know their worth and often expect a high salary, flexibility, and favourable treatment.
- Hiring them is expensive and time-intensive because it requires a significant monetary investment that can exceed the recruitment budget.
- Recruiters may inadvertently overlook other potential candidates in the pursuit of these candidates, as they can take job opportunities away from regular candidates.
- Sometimes they create unrealistic expectations among hiring managers, leading to disappointment when the perfect candidate does not materialise.
Now that we know what the ‘perfect’ purple unicorn is, we need to know who purple squirrels are and what qualities distinguish them from each other.
What are Purple Squirrels?
Purple squirrel is a term for job candidates who possess the exact education, experience, and qualifications that perfectly match a job’s requirements. Thus, they are ideal candidates who meet every need and can perform the job without question.
Additionally, the term describes candidates who can start a job right away, saving businesses time. However, the effort spent searching for these “purple squirrels” is often wasted, as they are rare and hard to find.
Some key characteristics of Purple Squirrels include:
- Possessing the precise skills, experience, and qualifications that match the job requirements.
- Being able to take on a wide range of duties with no training.
- Allowing businesses to operate with fewer employees.
The idea of purple squirrels is popular in recruiting. However, if recruiters only focus on finding this type of talent, they may miss out on other qualified candidates.
How are Purple Unicorns and Purple Squirrels Different from Each Other?
Purple Unicorns and Purple Squirrels are both terms used in the recruitment industry to describe highly desirable candidates. While they do have several similarities, there are some main differences between the two:
| Existence | Purple Squirrel is a term used to describe a job candidate who possesses all the specified skills, qualifications, experience, and the right attitude. | They are often considered the perfect candidate may not exist or is extremely rare. |
| Job Requirements | They are expected to meet all the job requirements, including salary expectations. | They are often associated with unrealistic job requirements, combining multiple roles into one position due to budget constraints. |
| Finding the Perfect Candidate | Finding them is considered a challenging task, but it is assumed that such a candidate might exist somewhere. | The search for these candidates is often an impossible task because the requirements are so unrealistic that such a candidate may not be in existence. |
| Job Candidate | A job candidate who is a perfect fit for a specific job has all the required skills and qualifications. | They are a candidate who not only meet the job requirements but also possess exceptional qualities. |
| Recruitment Strategy | Recruiters may focus on enhancing the company’s brand image, tracking training and development, and creating employee referral programs to attract such candidates. | Recruitment strategy may demand significant investments in time and resources to attract and retain them. |
Hire the Talent with the Right Tool
The right recruitment software can make a huge difference while searching for a purple squirrel or unicorn.
One such software is NYGGS recruiting software. It has various features to identify and suggest well-suited candidates for you, like:
- Advanced search capabilities to find the right candidate.
- Efficient candidate filtering based on specific, desired criteria.
- Collects all the necessary details for better candidate assessments.
Moreover, this cloud-based software will save you time, and it’s likely to be more accurate. Because this cloud-based software makes the hiring process more reliable, it will help take your business forward.
So, what did you think of today’s post? Do you have questions about something you read? Contact us and allow our support team to answer all your questions.