Skills based Hiring: A Win-Win Solution for Employers and Workers

What is skills based hiring?

Skills based hiring is a recruitment approach that assesses candidates based on their skill set, rather than solely on their educational background. This method favors quantifiable skills, using skill assessments or job auditions to evaluate the proficiency of potential employees, thereby assuring a more equitable hiring process. 

Skills-based recruiting allows recruiters to overcome challenges faced in traditional hiring processes, such as recruiting bias or lack of diversity. With skills-based recruitment, employers can tap into a wider pool of talented individuals with varied experiences, knowledge, and skill sets. Overall, skills-based hiring is a win-win solution for both employers and workers, providing employers with qualified and competent employees, while giving workers an equal opportunity to display their abilities and secure a rewarding job.

What is skills based hiring?

Why Verified Skills Are Key to Skills-Based Hiring

An increasing number of companies are adopting skills-based hiring as a more inclusive approach to sourcing and hiring talent. Verified skills are vital to identifying the right candidates for a job, eliminating the need for traditional qualifications like degrees or experience. This means that people who haven't had the opportunity to finish college but have acquired the relevant skills get to be considered. 

Skills testing to verify ability levels is an essential aspect of this process as it helps to reduce costs and attract lateral job mobility within the organization. Skill-based hiring is a win-win solution as it provides employers with a diverse talent pool, and it gives candidates an equal opportunity to showcase relevant skills. Using interview questions and validated assessments when evaluating candidates helps to identify the ideal match for a job opening, making the hiring process more efficient and effective.

How to Begin Switching to a Skills-Based Hiring Strategy

Skills-based hiring is a game-changer for employers and workers alike. By evaluating candidates based on their abilities and potential rather than their degrees or educational background, employers can identify and hire uniquely talented individuals. To switch to a skills-based hiring strategy, it's important to evaluate the roles needed and create skills-based job descriptions that truly capture the key competencies required for success in the job. Pairing this approach with on-the-job training, upskilling programs or apprenticeships can further enhance employee success. 

Skill assessments should be implemented early in the screening process to ensure that employers identify the right candidates for specific roles. The benefits of skill-based hiring are numerous, from reducing turnover and cost-to-hire to boosting employee productivity, and ultimately provide a win-win solution for employers and workers.

Make digital credentials your go-to

If you're considering switching to a skills-based hiring strategy, there are several steps you can take to get started. One effective way to evaluate candidates based on skills is to use digital credentials. These credentials offer an easy and reliable way to verify a candidate's skill set, helping you to identify the best-fit applicants for your organization.

Skills based hiring can also help to reduce unconscious bias and inequity in the hiring process. By focusing on the skills and abilities of candidates, rather than relying solely on traditional resumes and credentials, you open up opportunities for a more diverse pool of applicants.

There are many resources available to help you select candidates based on skills, including online assessments, job auditions, and skills-based interview questions. Additionally, you can partner with community organizations to hire program graduates who have already demonstrated the skills needed for the job.

Overall, a skills-based hiring strategy can benefit both employers and workers by creating a more efficient and effective hiring process that leads to better outcomes for all involved.

How to Begin Switching to a Skills-Based Hiring Strategy

Start small and gain momentum

If you're interested in switching to a skills-based hiring strategy, it's important to start small and gain momentum. One way to begin is to choose a role that typically has high turnover and switch to a skills-based approach for hiring.

Many corporations are also eliminating degree requirements in their recruitment process, focusing instead on assessing candidates' skills. Auditions can be used to evaluate skills, creating a more equitable hiring process.

Skills-based hiring looks beyond educational achievements and focuses on a candidate's transferable skills. This results in a broader talent pool for filling open positions, which can be beneficial for employers looking to find the best candidate for the job.

Enlist the help of managers and top performer

To begin transitioning to a skills-based hiring strategy, it's important to enlist the help of managers and top performers in your organization. This can involve having them participate in auditions, which aid in skill-based evaluation of candidates. Many companies are now prioritizing skills over degrees when it comes to hiring, as this leads to a higher quality of candidates and reduced mis-hire rates.

By focusing on a candidate's skill set rather than past roles or education, skills-based hiring allows companies to broaden their talent pool for filling open roles. This can result in a diverse workforce with a range of experiences and backgrounds. Adopting a skills-based hiring strategy may seem daunting at first, but it can ultimately be a win-win solution for both employers and job seekers.

Use an AI-powered hiring tool

Switching to a skills-based hiring strategy can be a game-changer for both employers and workers. To begin the transition, using an AI-powered hiring tool can greatly assist in screening candidates based on skills and demonstrated capabilities. This opens doors of opportunities for millions, regardless of their educational background or degree.

Auditions are another type of skill assessment that can help evaluate candidates and companies more equitably. By focusing on quantifiable skills rather than using subjective methods, skills-based hiring can democratize the recruitment process, resulting in more qualified and diverse hires.

Using skill assessments early in the screening process not only saves time for recruiters but also ensures that they are focusing on uniquely qualified candidates who are the right fit for the job. Overall, skills-based hiring is a win-win solution that benefits both employers and workers.

Use an AI-powered hiring tool

Put Skills-Based Hiring Into Practice With Credly Talent Match

As skill based hiring gains momentum, more and more employers are looking for ways to move away from a focus on degrees and towards a more holistic assessment of candidates' abilities. One tool that is helping companies make this transition is Credly Talent Match. This platform uses AI to assess candidates' skills and match them with relevant job openings.

Making the switch to a skill-based hiring strategy requires a shift in mindset, as well as new tools and processes. Credly Talent Match can help companies get started with this transition by providing a comprehensive, AI-driven approach to skills-based hiring.

In addition to platforms like Credly Talent Match, there are other resources available to help companies make the most of the skills-based hiring approach. Talent Wins is one such guide, offering insights and practical advice for putting people first in the workforce. Likewise, Empowering the Tech Workforce of the Future is a white paper that provides an in-depth look at how to bridge the skills gap and build a sustainable, empowered tech workforce. By adopting a skills-based hiring strategy and leveraging these resources, companies can create a win-win situation for both employers and workers.

Put Skills-Based Hiring Into Practice With Credly Talent Match

Skills based hiring is a win-win solution for both employers and workers. It offers a more accurate way of assessing a candidate's suitability for a job, while also enabling employees to showcase their abilities in new and innovative ways. By implementing this approach, businesses can ensure they're attracting the best talent while also keeping their workforce happy and fulfilled.