It’s that time of year again: college grads are flooding into the workforce in search of jobs. But how do employers know when they’ve found the perfect fit for their company? The answer may lie in assessments.
Pre-employment assessments can provide both employers and newly-graduated job seekers an edge when it comes to finding the perfect job-candidate match. Employers can be sure they’ve got the right talent, and grads can showcase their skills beyond their resume and GPA.
But a recent survey shows that some HR professionals may be coming up short in the search for new hires. SHL, a leader in talent measurement solutions, today released findings from a survey conducted by National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). Data was gathered from HR professionals regarding their use of pre-employment assessments as part of their company’s college recruitment efforts. Among the 900 professionals surveyed were representatives from companies like Amazon, DuPont, and Starbucks.
Only 29 percent of respondents claimed to use assessments as part of their recruiting process. This is troubling, considering that respondents also cited retention rates as the most challenging issue facing college recruiters today.
Without assessment surveys, companies have to make hiring decisions based on little more than candidates’ GPAs and previous internships and accomplishments. Often, they mistakenly hire grads who are incompatible with the company’s corporate culture or desired brand of talent—something that’s bad for both employer and employee.
“It’s become more important than ever to ensure the right fit from the start, especially since graduates represent potential leadership talent for the future,” said Caroline Paxman, President of SHL Americas. “Resume information and GPA scores by themselves are not nearly as effective as well-developed assessments when it comes to predicting of long term potential for success.”
Still, three out of five respondents said that offering candidates a realistic job preview would likely improve retention rates and overall quality of hire. In Europe, assessments have been common practice for recruiters for decades, as they’ve been shown to improve quality of hire and reduce turnover for post-grads.
Employers, should pre-employment assessments be standard procedure for all recruiters? Post grads, do you think assessments and realistic job previews would be beneficial to your job search and overall job satisfaction? Share your thoughts below!
