The decision between hiring a recent college graduate and an established professional might seem like a no-brainer, but for the sake of your startup, you should think twice. I wouldn’t argue against hiring experienced employees altogether, but better results often come from workers with little to no relevant experience, or “green” employees.

As companies have moved out of the recession and into another tech boom, finding great candidates has become quite a challenge. Almost half of employers in a survey expressed difficulty with hiring right now, bemoaning a lack of talent.

The overabundance of college degrees means experience might set candidates apart — but directly relevant experience doesn’t automatically translate to the best fit for a...