Today’s job market calls for technical abilities. It’s filled with roles requiring specialized knowledge and skills in a specific area of technology (Web Developer, Software Engineer, Data Scientist, Cybersecurity Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer, etc.). Simultaneously, there is a shortage of candidates to fill these positions, making finding top talent difficult. Skills-based hiring may be the answer your company is looking for.
What is Skills-Based Hiring?
Skills-based hiring focuses on skills/abilities needed for success instead of education or experience. This approach increases the number of high-quality candidates, leading to a better match between candidate and role.
What are the Benefits of Skills-Based Hiring?
There are many advantages of using skills-based hiring.
- Increased talent pool: Focusing on skills rather than degrees/certifications increases the number of qualified people.
- Reduced time-to-hire: Skills tests reduce the need for many rounds of interviews, saving time.
- Increased retention of talent: Employees without degrees or certifications tend to remain longer with a company. Internal promotion of those with top skills also reduces turnover.
- Increased agility: Focusing on skills instead of education gives employees the means to progress within your company, bridging skills gaps in your organization.
- Streamlined recruitment: Skills-based hiring reduces the time to fill open roles in your company.
- Diversified workforce: Focusing on abilities/skills rather than background/credentials increases workplace diversity, resulting in innovation and better performance.
- Reduced hiring costs: Skills-based hiring results in candidates that “fit” the position, reducing the need for re-hiring or multiple employees to complete a task.
How to Implement Skills-Based Hiring
To use skills-based hiring:
- Identify necessary skills/abilities: Determine the technical and soft skills/abilities needed for the position. Consider transferable skills that align with your needs. List these in your job postings.
- Utilize diverse recruitment sources: Consider skills-specific platforms, organizations, and communities. Nurture talent through apprenticeships and internship programs. Take advantage of employee referrals.
- Incorporate skills assessments (tests, auditions, simulations, etc.) to make informed hiring choices.
- Undertake “skills” interviews: Use situational scenarios and behavioural questions to determine an applicant’s problem-solving abilities and practical skills.
- Support upskilling: Offer training programs and skill improvement courses to boost skills to the position requirements.
How Can Equation Staffing Solutions Help?
At Equation Staffing Solutions, we perform extensive candidate assessments through computer software. We gain an understanding of a candidate’s skills/abilities, provide recommendations for training, and utilize skills benchmarks for hires. We offer training: one-day (beginner, intermediate, and advanced) and micro-courses on all versions of Microsoft Office as well as Simply Accounting, Visio, QuickBooks, and Adobe Acrobat. Contact us for help finding the candidate with the skills that match your position(s).