Why Every Hiring Process Should Include A Skills Assessment
Publié le 28 June 2022
Organizations looking to find and recruit the best candidates for the job need to know why every hiring process should include a skills assessment.
Growth is important. Be it business or your life; growth is a necessity. With growth comes roles and responsibilities. So how can you efficiently grow your company? By hiring the job candidates with the right combination of talent, leadership abilities and practical skills.
One of the easiest ways to screen potential candidates is with a skill assessment. Skill assessments, also known as pre-employment assessments, are being used by many businesses to identify whether or not a candidate has the skills which are a suitable match for the available job position. Let’s take a closer look at why every hiring process should include a skills assessment.
Introduction to Skills Assessment
The hiring process consists of screening out unsuitable candidates and choosing the best one for a role—skill assessments aid in predicting a candidate’s on-the-job performance and behaviors. Skill assessment is a way to objectively understand a potential employee’s practical knowledge and standards they’ll maintain once in the job.
This method differentiates between similar employees while ensuring they’re a good fit for the existing company culture and values. Since everyone’s work habits and approach are not the same and depend on more than just your knowledge, skill tests help you stay updated—both with the candidates and the technology.
You very well know the quote- “Fake It Till You Make It”. Some employees take it seriously and exaggerate their skills on resumes. This is generally inadvisable, because a vast majority of recruiters state that any sort of lying or falsehood on a resume or cover letter is grounds for immediate disqualification. One of the few ways to spot a phony resume is by including a skill assessment in your hiring process.
Using Skill Assessments
Now that you know what skill assessment is, let us see how your company can use skill assessment to your advantage during the hiring process. The first step is to recognize which key skills you want to find in potential employees. Take into consideration the current requirements of your company. Identify the exact skills you need to complete existing tasks and expand into larger organizational goals.
Now you can either create or use software to help you. Using existing software programs makes for a simple and effective process, with multiple ways for you to customize it to meet the needs of your business. Once you have decided on the software to use and the skill to assess, the program will collect the data, analyze the results, and provide a detailed report to help you make final decisions. One of the best software to do so is using Adaface – a candidate-friendly pre-employment skills assessment tool.
Skills assessments also give an objective framework (which can be adjusted) against which all candidates may be measured. Pre-employment testing may guarantee that the staff selection process is fair and the company objectives, such as decreased turnover, improved revenues, and higher customer satisfaction, are taken into account during the hiring process.
Why are Skill Assessment Tests Crucial?
Now that you know exactly what a skill assessment is, let’s look at why every hiring process should include a skills assessment. The following are the significant advantages that a firm may get from deploying an efficient pre-employment assessment solution:
They are cost-effective
Candidates can take the examinations globally as long as they have a strong internet connection. As a result, there is no need for elaborate infrastructure to administer the exam or compensate for travel fees. It saves a lot of time, paper, expenses, and more valuable resources during the hiring process and is simple and straightforward for job applicants, leading to a win-win situation.
They speed up the hiring process
The pre-employment skills evaluation streamlines the recruiting process and increases the likelihood of finding the perfect applicant for the position. Thus, saving time. You can potentially use the saved time for something more productive, like creating a practical work from home strategy.
They are objective and standardized for all candidates
The data generated by a skills assessment will be accurate and evidence-based, giving a complete analysis of an existing or future employee’s talents. That means no more sorting through resumes wondering if they actually possess the skills and abilities needed to successfully complete the required tasks.
They can be automated
Skill assessments could be easily managed by utilizing an applicant tracking system, depending on the company’s software and how well they connect. From job advertising to interviewing shortlisting, it is possible to make use of automation to streamline the process until the hiring managers can take the time to review the data and select the candidates to move forward with the hiring process.
They lead to higher employee retention and a reduction in the costs associated with turnover
It helps the company build a solid and efficient team. It would take less time to figure out the basics for someone who knows the skill best. Quick work and more output will lead to satisfaction. Therefore, making it less likely that employees will leave their role and require a new hiring process to find a suitable replacement, resulting in cost reduction related to employee turnovers.
They focus on problem-solving rather than yes-or-no questions
A skill assessment allows a company to look at how a candidate approaches a challenge and how they think. It provides job applicants with the opportunity to display their problem solving and critical thinking skills which they will utilize on the job. According to Linkedin Research, 76% of professionals wish there was a way for hiring managers to verify their skills so they could stand out amongst other candidates.
They can help handle high volume hiring
When a company has a considerable number of applications, implementing a skills assessment exam as a pre-screening approach will assist in separating the top prospects early in the recruiting process. With the average job posting receiving an average of nearly 200 applications, skills assessments can be used to reduce the number to those who actually meet the qualifications.
They make the company more inclusive
Inclusivity and diversity are essential elements of a workplace team. With multiple different viewpoints and lived experiences, it will lead to better ways of approaching important tasks and increase the likelihood of reaching company goals. When you objectively decide, it ensures a diverse and inclusive culture.
They help improve the candidate’s experience
Candidates in the current job market want a recruiting process that is short, informative, and engaging. It is important to consider a candidate’s experiences with the hiring process as it will impact your reputation in your industry. Even if a candidate does not receive a job offer, an efficient and engaging hiring process can help them to still feel valued and appreciated, spreading goodwill towards the company. With a majority of qualified job prospects reviewing a company’s reputation before considering applying for a job role, a good candidate experience with the hiring process will increase the likelihood that the best candidates will apply.
They help identify skill gaps in current employees
A skills assessment starts with a thorough analysis of the existing needs of the company, which can reveal certain existing skills gaps. This enables training managers to develop targeted strategies that address skill shortages within the team. Learning and growing with the technology and the job market helps existing employees continue to grow and expand in their job role, and establish long lasting professional careers.
Conclusion
When hiring a new employee, it’s vitally important to ensure that they have the necessary skills for the job role. This is why every hiring process should include a skills assessment in order to identify the most qualified candidates. The result will be a more efficient and effective hiring process, and employees who are ready to excel in their job role from their first day.
