In recent years, skills-based hiring has gained attention as organizations recognize the importance of recruiting talent based on their abilities and competencies rather than relying solely on formal credentials or degrees.
Skills-based hiring is a paradigm shift. It's a strategy that not only benefits employers by ensuring they acquire the right talent for the job, but also empowers candidates to showcase their capabilities beyond what their resume may suggest.
As a recruiter with 12 years of experience in talent acquisition, here's why I think skills-based hiring has become the cornerstone of modern recruitment strategies.
It increases the quality of hire
Degrees, certifications, and years of experience aren’t reliable proxies for the quality of a candidate, but skills and competencies are. When an employee’s competencies are aligned with their role, your team is set up for success and more likely to be engaged and motivated in their work. This can lead to higher performance, productivity, and profitability.
At UKG, for example, technical candidates face coding challenges or are assigned real-world projects. These tasks serve as a litmus evaluation for their programming prowess, problem-solving acumen, and familiarity with relevant technologies.
"Traditional hiring methods can inadvertently perpetuate biases and limit diversity in the workplace."
Associate Mgr. Talent Acquisition
It promotes diversity and inclusion
Traditional hiring methods can inadvertently perpetuate biases and limit diversity in the workplace. Skills-based hiring, on the other hand, provides a more equitable playing field where candidates from diverse backgrounds can showcase their talents and compete based on merit alone.
In UKG’s interview process, we use the STAR interview method, in which questions are crafted to delve into a candidate’s past experiences and behaviors. This allows our interviewers to assess a candidate’s potential for future success within the organization based on these responses.
It fosters adaptability and innovation
In today's fast-paced business environment, companies need employees who can adapt to new technologies, methodologies, and challenges with ease. By focusing on skills rather than rigid qualifications, organizations can build teams that are more adaptable and better equipped to drive innovation.
It helps fill skills gaps more quickly
A skills-first hiring strategy also allows an organization to be much more efficient and agile with their hiring efforts. With a skills-based approach, it becomes easier to recognize skills gaps, and find candidates (internal or external) who have the skills needed to fill them.
A strong method for identifying skills, which we at UKG employ in some cases, is to request a portfolio of past projects. Sharing a portfolio allows our candidates to highlight their technical expertise, creativity, and problem-solving abilities, and enables our recruiters to evaluate the quality and relevance of their work.
By combining skills-based assessments, behavioral interviews, and portfolio evaluations, UKG creates a robust hiring process that identifies top talent and cultivates the right teams for success. As the workplace continues to evolve, embracing skills-based hiring will be essential for companies looking to stay competitive and thrive in a rapidly changing world. By unlocking the potential of every individual based on their abilities, we can create a workforce that is truly empowered to drive innovation, foster creativity, and achieve collective success.
Want more job tips from UKG recruiters? Check out more of our career advice.
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