Category: Talent Acquisition Strategy

Early Careers Recruitment: Meeting Gen Z’s Expectations

Posted on by akessler

Early careers recruitment is undergoing a seismic shift as Generation Z enters the workforce en masse. Gone are the days of one-size-fits-all early careers hiring strategies. Gen Zers aren’t shy about demanding more—more purpose, more flexibility, and more growth opportunities. Organizations who can navigate these expectations will win the hearts of Gen Z in the workplace.  

Meeting these expectations isn’t just about filling entry-level positions; it’s about future-proofing your organization. In this new landscape, companies that crack the code of Gen Z recruitment will gain a significant competitive edge. Let’s explore some of Gen Z’s expectations and ways you can revolutionize your early careers recruitment to attract and retain the brightest minds.  

Consumer-Like Experiences in Early Careers Recruitment 

This generation and mobile devices go hand-in-hand—literally. They’re accustomed to digital consumer brand experiences delivered through online platforms and mobile apps.  

Organizations that present tech-powered experiences throughout their recruitment process will get ahead with Gen Z. Consider incorporating:  

  • Mobile-enabled application processes with personalized and automated workflows 
  • Peer-driven recruitment content on socials 
  • Booking and confirming interviews via text message 
  • Tailored email campaigns and meaningful communications that provide hints and tips and explain timelines clearly 

However, just because they’re digital-first, doesn’t mean Gen Zers don’t appreciate a human touch, so personalization is a must-have with regular check-ins from human recruiters to ease anxiety and build connection.  

Authentic Storytelling 

Gen Z job seekers trust employees three times more than the company to provide credible information on what it’s like to work there. They want to hear from their peers, real people who can share their lived experiences in the program or at your organization. Focus on employee generated content rather than highly staged and polished marketing content. 

Featuring existing employees as brand ambassadors in early careers attraction content will help build trust and authenticity. Plus, it will help candidates see themselves in the role. 

Opportunity to Demonstrate Potential 

When it comes to early careers talent, their lack of experience makes it hard for employers to differentiate between candidates using résumés and CVs alone. Using a CV-blind approach, where only the critical requirements are assessed, helps to reduce unconscious bias and level the playing field. 

Emerging talent tends to struggle with competency-based questions and may have difficulty understanding how their studies could apply to a given role. And often, those candidates excelling in competency-based questions have utilized generative AI tools like Chat GPT or coaching from their careers service—which can result in an inauthentic assessment of the individual. 

Struggling to give evidence of a skill or behavior (i.e., competency questions, “tell me about a time when…”) when there is a lack of experience, doesn’t mean there is a lack of the potential. Leveraging realistic job previews, skills-based assessments or job simulations and situational-based interview questions gives emerging talent a feel for the job by showing them a snapshot of the real-life, day-to-day tasks of the role and the working environment. They are effective screening tools, giving candidates an opportunity to show how they might perform and demonstrate their potential. This helps level the playing field, and it can reduce early attrition by setting the right expectations from the start. 

Receiving & Giving Feedback 

What Gen Z lacks in experience, they make up for in enthusiasm. They’re keen to learn and grow and seek feedback in everything they do. While a candidate may or may not receive a job offer, feedback that they can use as they move forward in their career is the next-best outcome. 

Often, candidates may receive a generic email or—even worse—no communication at all. When they’ve invested a considerable amount of time and effort into an organization, no feedback can leave a bad taste. At every stage, taking the time to provide personalized feedback gives candidates actionable steps that they can take going forward in the process, or if they’ve been rejected, that they can use to apply to your company again in the future. If the candidate was a close match, the feedback you provide could help them become the ideal candidate in your next cohort. 

Additionally, with their consumer experience, Gen Z are keen to give feedback. In the absence of a mechanism for feedback, disgruntled candidates can take to social media and student forums to share their experiences and damage your employer brand. Instead, ask for feedback via a candidate experience survey like a Net Promoters Score (NPS) survey, which will allow you to measure your candidate experience and act on the feedback. In addition, monitor your social media platforms and forums and respond to demonstrate that you’re listening and taking it seriously. You may even consider offering candidates a means of contact via a dedicated email inbox and respond to any feedback you receive in a meaningful way. 

Leveraging RPO Expertise for Early Careers Recruitment  

Adapting your early careers recruitment to meet Gen Z’s expectations can be a complex undertaking, but you don’t have to go it alone. An experienced recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) partner can be instrumental in revolutionizing your approach. These specialists bring a wealth of knowledge about the latest recruitment trends, technologies and Gen Z preferences. An early careers talent solution can help you redesign your recruitment processes, craft compelling employer branding strategies and implement cutting-edge assessment techniques that resonate with emerging talent. Moreover, an RPO partner can provide the scalability and flexibility needed to handle fluctuating recruitment volumes, ensuring you’re always ready to capture top Gen Z talent.  

By leveraging an RPO provider’s expertise, you can quickly transform your early careers recruitment program into a powerhouse that not only attracts Gen Z candidates but also sets the stage for building a pipeline of talent that will drive your company’s future success. The organizations that adapt now will reap the rewards of a diverse, skilled and motivated workforce for years to come.

Navigating the Gen Z Era: Insights for Effective Early Careers Recruitment 

Posted on by akessler

Navigating the Gen Z Era: Insights for Effective Early Careers Recruitment 

The future of work isn’t coming—it’s already here, and it’s powered by Generation Z.

Born into a world of uncertainty, Gen Z isn’t just adapting—they’re rewriting the rules. These digital natives are bringing fresh perspectives, unmatched tech-fluency and a hunger for meaningful work. But they’re also demanding authenticity, flexibility and a real commitment to social impact.

Can your organization keep up?

From TikTok-worthy employer branding to creating a workplace that balances purpose with work-life harmony, this ebook, Navigating the Gen Z Era: Insights for Effective Early Careers Recruitment, is your roadmap to successfully recruiting and retaining the Gen Z powerhouse.

In this ebook, you’ll discover:

  • What makes Gen Z tick: Understand their unique values and career expectations
  • Why your outdated recruitment tactics are falling flat with this generation
  • Strategies to align your early careers program with Gen Z’s values and expectations

Download your copy today for expert tips for reimagining your early career recruitment program to become a Gen Z magnet.

What is Talent Sourcing? Uncovering Hidden Gems in a Competitive Market 

Posted on by akessler

With top talent as elusive as ever, finding and attracting exceptional candidates has become increasingly challenging. Talent sourcing has emerged as a critical function in addressing an organization’s workforce needs, regardless of company size or industry. From start-ups to global enterprises, implementing effective talent sourcing strategies is essential for staying ahead in the race for top-tier professionals and ultimately driving organizational success. 

This article will guide you through talent sourcing, from understanding its importance to overcoming common challenges. We will explore how outsourcing can significantly improve your talent sourcing outcomes. 

What is Talent Sourcing? 

So, what is talent sourcing exactly? It involves the proactive identification and attraction of qualified candidates for specific roles within an organization through various channels such as job boards, social media platforms, professional networks and talent databases. By proactively engaging with potential candidates, talent sourcing helps build a strong pipeline.  

The key objectives of talent sourcing are: 

  • Identifying high-potential candidates who aren’t actively job hunting 
  • Creating a talent pipeline for future needs 
  • Improving the quality and diversity of your candidate pool 
  • Reducing time-to-hire and cost-per-hire 

In a talent market in which skilled professionals are in high demand, talent sourcing is a must in order to engage with qualified talent.  

Talent Sourcing vs Recruiting 

Now, before you start confusing talent sourcing with its cousin recruitment, let’s clarify the difference. Traditional recruitment often relies on posting job ads and waiting for applicants. In contrast, talent sourcing involves actively searching for candidates through various channels such as social media, professional networks and online platforms. Talent sourcing emphasizes relationship building and engagement rather than merely relying on job postings. 

Challenges in Talent Sourcing 

Talent sourcing can present various challenges for organizations looking to attract and hire top talent. You’re up against some formidable obstacles: 

  • Competition for top talent: One common obstacle in talent sourcing is the competition for qualified candidates. For example, tech and digital skills are in demand across all industries, not just high-tech firms. 
  • Skill shortages: It can be challenging to find candidates with the specific skills and experience required for the job, particularly if it’s a niche role or in a remote area. 
  • Managing diversity and inclusion: DE&I in talent sourcing is another important aspect to consider. Many organizations struggle to engage a diverse candidate pool and stay aligned with their recruitment goals.  
  • Maintaining compliance: Organizations must ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations. This includes adhering to equal employment opportunity (EEO) laws and maintaining data privacy and protection. 

By implementing the right strategies, organizations can overcome talent sourcing challenges and ensure they are attracting the best candidates for their roles. 

Benefits of Shifting Talent Sourcing to an RPO Partner 

Now, here’s where things get interesting. What if I told you there’s a secret weapon that can help you get ahead? Enter your Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) partner! No longer just for long-term recruitment engagement, RPO offers modular recruiting solutions that provide the agility and expertise to turbocharge your hiring process.  

Here are some of the benefits you can experience: 

  • Scalability: Need to hire 10 engineers this month and 100 next month? RPOs can flex up and down to meet your changing needs fast—and you don’t have to hire any more internal recruiters to make it happen. 
  • Talent pooling. Rather than relying solely on incoming applications, RPO provides connected talent sourcers who focus on proactive engagement with candidates through social media platforms, industry-specific job boards and professional networks. This helps you tap into a wider pool of candidates, including passive job seekers who may not be actively looking for new opportunities. Plus, we help our clients to build relationships with candidates over time, nurturing them until the right opportunity arises. You find the best fit for a position and free up your internal team to focus on creating a brilliant candidate and hiring manager experience.  
  • Rapid access to the latest technologies: RPOs are tech-savvy—always up to date with the latest tech. For example, our AI-powered sourcing tool in Affinix™ searches millions of candidate profiles for your requirements in minutes. At PeopleScout, we can also provide recruitment technologies like CRM, ATS, video interview tools, assessment platforms and analytics.  
  • Talent market insights: With the finger on the pulse of the talent market, RPOs can offer invaluable market feedback to benchmark your talent profiles and refine your talent strategy. 
  • Showcase your employer brand: Outsourcing your talent sourcing significantly contributes to your employer brand by highlighting your unique employee value proposition (EVP). An RPO partner can showcase the benefits and perks of working for your organization, such as career development opportunities, flexible work arrangements and company culture.  
  • Maximize diversity: By implementing inclusive hiring practices and leveraging diverse recruitment sources, an RPO partner actively seeks diverse talent. With experience across regions and industries, RPOs have access to an immense pool of professionals from varied backgrounds.  
  • Prioritize compliance: It is crucial to understand the legal framework surrounding talent sourcing to mitigate potential risks or legal issues. Partnering with a trusted talent partner can help ensure compliance and minimize legal risks in all the areas you’re hiring. 

Effective talent sourcing isn’t just about filling seats—it’s about discovering stars to light up your organization. Whether you’re doing it in-house or partnering with an RPO provider, investing in strong talent sourcing strategies will fuel your company’s future growth. 

PeopleScout Talent Sourcing provides the perfect way to boost your recruitment resources, engage with passive candidates and reach your hiring goals faster. Our sourcers act as an extension of your organization’s recruitment team—finding high quality talent, personally engaging them and converting them into applicants. Candidates get a great experience. You get a short or long list of pre-qualified, genuinely enthusiastic applicants ready for interview or assessment. 

Talent Sourcing Use Cases 

Wondering how you could benefit from outsourcing talent sourcing? Here are some real-world scenarios where we supported clients through our Talent Sourcing solution. 

The Niche Specialist 

Situation 

As a leader in higher education in the UK, a British university was seeking a niche role for their student casework team. Battling a tiny talent pool in their local area, they tried recruiting a Deputy Head of Student Casework on two occasions with no success. The client turned to PeopleScout to help them find the right hire with our Talent Sourcing solution. 

Solution 

Our strategy targeted individuals who had:  

  • Previous management experience  
  • Experience working within higher education including complex student casework  
  • Knowledge of academic and statutory framework guidelines  

With only three other universities nearby, we knew our talent pool would be limited in the immediate proximity for this office-based role. So, we extended our search across the entire UK to find candidates who would consider relocating. 

Results 

  • 71 candidates identified 
  • 46% engagement rate (well above the industry average of 18% to 25%) 
  • 8 candidates presented 
  • 1 relocation hire made from our short list 

👉 Read the full case study 

“We are very pleased indeed! Very interesting that all candidates said they weren’t actively looking for a new role, so clearly, we needed to work with PeopleScout.”

Client Feedback 

The Great Expansion 

Situation 

The London Borough of Hounslow, a local government agency, needed to source candidates that shared their values and vision as part of delivering their new Corporate Plan. This large-scale program initially incorporated 19 areas, with more to come in future iterations of the plan. They partnered with PeopleScout for a Talent Sourcing engagement that focused initially on six key job profiles, hiring between 35 and 40 individuals for the corporate Project Management Office (PMO) and the Service Design and Transformation teams. 

Solution 

Public sector recruitment is often challenging due to competition from other sectors. Because of this, we engaged passive candidates to raise Hounslow’s profile in the market and increase diversity within the talent pools. Our focus was on building brand awareness amongst candidates with backgrounds that matched these niche roles.  

We leveraged our Affinix® total talent suite to drive better decisions, to track and monitor the client’s DE&I agenda and to provide a mobile-first candidate experience. Throughout the project, we presented market feedback data and hiring metrics through bespoke dashboards. 

Results 

  • 87% offer acceptance rate 
  • 65% of candidates hired identified as non-white, boosting diversity outcomes 
  • 2:1 to interview-to-hire, exceeding the average of 3:1 
  • 39% engagement rate on LinkedIn 

👉 Read the full case study 

“PeopleScout were different to other providers I’ve worked with before. What really set them apart is the time they spent listening and understanding what the roles were and what type of people we wanted. The result is that we trusted PeopleScout’s shortlisted candidates, and we filled our roles quickly with talent that met our quality expectations.”

Mike Burch, Head of Service Design and Transformation Programmes, London Borough of Hounslow 

Talent Sourcing by PeopleScout 

In the grand talent show that is the job market, talent acquisition teams are not just judges—they’re talent scouts, coaches, and sometimes, even magicians, expected to pull perfect candidates out of thin air. Even the best talent acquisition teams need a little extra support to reach their goals! If you’re feeling overwhelmed, PeopleScout is standing by, ready to be your Talent Sourcing ally.  

Learn more about PeopleScout Talent Sourcing solution and our other Amplifiers offerings.  

Supporting Annual Graduate Recruitment for a Government Agency 

Posted on by akessler
Supporting Annual Graduate Recruitment for a Government Agency

Early Careers Recruitment

Supporting Annual Graduate Recruitment for a Government Agency

PeopleScout supports the assessment center for a UK government agency’s annual graduate recruitment campaign for policy advisors to ensure candidate quality and fairness.

3,500 + applications assessed
140 candidates supported in assessment centers
4 weeks of assessment centers completed

Situation 

This UK government agency runs an annual graduate recruitment campaign to hire quality early careers talent across their policy advisor team. They turned to PeopleScout to ensure this process remained consistent, fair and unbiased.  

Solution 

The PeopleScout talent assessment team supports the agency’s graduate recruitment program each year, continuously improving campaigns year-on-year.  

Prior to the assessment center, PeopleScout organizes assessors to sift written exercises. Successful candidates then complete a bespoke Situational Judgement Test, which we designed specifically to assess how candidates would respond in true-to-life scenarios that employees will encounter in their roles at the agency. This sifts out approximately 30% of applicants who would be unlikely to succeed at the assessment center. 

Candidate then complete the assessment center, for which we provide assessors. The assessment includes a variety of exercises like role plays, interviews and structured policy conversations. These are freshly designed by the client each year, and PeopleScout supports by reviewing the materials for consistency and best practice.  

Our experienced assessment team provides an end-of-campaign analysis, adverse impact analysis and recommendations for continual improvement. For example, off the back of these recommendations, we worked collaboratively with our client to host the assessment centres through part of our Affinix® total talent suite to create a smoother candidate and assessor experience in their virtual assessment centers.  

Results 

For this annual graduate recruitment campaign, PeopleScout assessed 3,697 applications, with 140 people completing the assessment center over four weeks. Ultimately, 53 candidates went on to work for the agency.  

At a Glance

  • COMPANY
    UK Government Agency
  • INDUSTRY
    Government & Public Sector
  • PEOPLESCOUT SOLUTIONS
    Recruitment Process Outsourcing, Talent Advisory, Affinix
  • ANNUAL HIRES
    50+ graduate policy advisors
  • ABOUT THE CLIENT
    This UK government agency employs over 3,000 civil servants.
Let’s Connect

Creating a Values-Based Interview Framework for More Equitable Hiring

Posted on by akessler
Creating a Values-Based Interview Framework for More Equitable Hiring

Talent Consutling

Creating a Values-Based Interview Framework for More Equitable Hiring

This UK airport wanted to create a more standardised process for interviews based on their organisational values. As their long-time RPO partner, PeopleScout’s Assessment Design team created a values-based interview framework to support hiring for six levels of seniority from entry level to director.

Situation 

The airport’s talent acquisition leaders noticed that different teams across their organisation were conducting different types of interviews. They wanted to create a standardised process for interviews, which both measured potential and ensured fairness. They also wanted to embed their company values into their assessment process to secure talent who are in alignment with their organisational culture. 

This company turned to their RPO partner, PeopleScout, to transform their values into a multi-level interview framework.  

Solution 

Our Assessment Design team got to work conducting desk research into the client’s existing values and created a template which was populated throughout the project. Consulting with the client in an iterative way, the designers set clear definitions for the values and created a collection of questions for each value. The client’s team reviewed a variety of options for interview question styles and decided what worked for them.  

These questions also corresponded to six levels of seniority—from entry level to director—totalling 36 banks of question. The question banks were organised in such a way that interviewers at the organisation could easily pick and mix questions for their needs. We also delivered scoring criteria to ensure fairness for all candidates.  

Results 

In the recruitment process, the new values-based interview framework has standardised and streamlined the interview stage. Now, our client is building the questions into an internal tech platform to make the interview process even easier for hiring managers.  

Beyond recruiting, the new framework has applications across the entire organisation to help employees understand how the organisation’s values are manifested in their role. This has catalysed a cultural change within the organisation as employees at all levels are thinking more about how they embody this company’s values in their daily work.  

At a Glance

  • COMPANY
    UK Airport
  • INDUSTRY
    Travel & Tourism
  • PEOPLESCOUT SOLUTIONS
    Recruitment Process Outsourcing, Talent Advisory
  • ABOUT THE CLIENT
    This UK airport has nearly 75,000 employees, making it one of the country’s largest single-site employers.
Let’s Connect

[On-Demand] Hype or Happening? What Our Data Tells Us About AI in Recruiting

Posted on by akessler

[On-Demand] Hype or Happening? What Our Data Tells Us About AI in Recruiting

 

We are bombarded with hype about the disruptive power of Generative AI, or Gen AI, on recruitment, including doom-laden, worst-case scenario predictions and claims that our existing talent assessment methods are already obsolete.

It is hard to make sense of all this to come to informed decisions about how we should respond to the new era of Gen AI. Much of what we see and hear is based on opinions, and the research reported focuses on the potential to disrupt rather than revealing the reality of what is actually happening right now.

At PeopleScout, we have responded to this confusion and lack of useful evidence by doing our own research. We wanted to look for evidence of real use cases and impact of Gen AI on job changers and live assessments—and what we found shines a different light on how candidates are using Gen AI in the real world.

In this webinar, we:

  • Debunk common myths and hype about Gen AI in recruiting.
  • Present real-world data and use cases of Gen AI’s impact on job seekers and assessments.
  • Offer actionable insights to help you navigate the evolving landscape of recruitment technology.

 

Revolutionizing Healthcare Staffing: The RPO Advantage

Posted on by akessler

Revolutionizing Healthcare Staffing: The RPO Advantage

Attracting and retaining top talent is a massive challenge in today’s competitive healthcare landscape. Unlike other sectors, a miscalculation in hiring the wrong candidates can have severe consequences for patients.

That’s where Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) comes in.

In this ebook, Revolutionizing Healthcare Staffing: The RPO Advantage, you’ll discover how RPO can revolutionize your healthcare organization’s talent acquisition strategy. We’ll explore:

  • The unique hiring challenges facing the healthcare industry and how RPO addresses them head-on
  • The benefits of partnering with an RPO provider, from cost savings to improved candidate quality
  • Real-world case studies showcasing RPO’s impact in healthcare settings

Join the growing number of forward-thinking healthcare talent acquisition and HR leaders who have partnered with RPO providers to stay ahead of the competition. Download our ebook today!

Recruitment Process Outsourcing

Posted on by Kate

PeopleScout Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO)

PeopleScout’s scalable recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) solutions are backed by experience, insight and action to connect you with the talent you need.

Download this fact sheet to learn more about our RPO solutions.

Download Fact Sheet

Learn more about PeopleScout RPO and get answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs).

Learn More

Dig into More Talent Insights

5 Signs Your Organization Needs RPO 
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5 Signs Your Organization Needs RPO 

Your workforce is crucial for organizational success. However, many companies find themselves struggling with the complexities and challenges of modern recruitment. That’s where Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) comes in—a strategic solution that can transform how organizations approach hiring.   So, is RPO is right for your company?   This article explores five key indicators that it’s time…

Ultimate Recruitment Process Outsourcing Toolkit
Toolkit

Ultimate Recruitment Process Outsourcing Toolkit

Our complete six-piece toolkit gives you the essential information on how RPO can boost your recruitment outcomes.

Get the Kit
Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) Buyer’s Guide
Buyer’s Guide

Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) Buyer’s Guide

Check out this in-depth exploration of RPO and how it can help you achieve your recruitment goals.

Get the Guide

Skills-Based Hiring: Could It Be the Solution to Your Recruitment Challenges?

Posted on by akessler

Recruiting the right talent has always been a tough nut to crack for any company. And it’s becoming an even bigger challenge. Low unemployment rates, shifting workforce preferences and skills gaps make recruiting harder than ever. However, a proven solution has emerged that can expand access to talent and meet diversity goals while fueling business performance—skills-based hiring.  

The goal of skills-based hiring is to match candidates not based solely on degrees or past job titles, but rather on their current, demonstrated skills aligned with role requirements. It aims to judge applicants equitably on what they can do rather than what’s on their résumé or CV. This approach opens your talent pool to a wider range of qualified candidates who may have been overlooked using traditional hiring methods. 

Let’s explore what skills-based hiring entails, why more employers are embracing it and how you can get started. 

What is Skills-Based Hiring? 

As the name implies, skills-based hiring focuses on a candidate’s demonstrated skills and competencies rather than traditional qualifications like education, years of experience or work history. The emphasis is on relevant skills rather than “paper” credentials. For example, instead of requiring a college degree, a skills-based employer might list must-have abilities like sales, communication, analytical thinking, etc.  

The hiring process itself focuses on skills fit. Interviews and talent assessments gauge how a candidate’s skillset maps to a role’s requirements. In this way, skills-based hiring removes barriers for underrepresented groups and instead gauges whether someone can actually perform well according to the role’s core skills. The goal is to judge candidates objectively and find the best match for the job.  

Skills in the Workplace 

So, what skills should companies actually evaluate with skills-based hiring? Skills in the workplace are made up of three key components: 

  1. Hard Skills / Technical Skills: These are the expertise areas like programming languages (i.e., python, Java), data analysis, financial modeling, and other role-specific knowledge. While they’re crucial for many jobs, they actually make up a small fraction of the overall skills picture. 
  2. Soft Skills: Often undervalued, soft skills in the workplace, like problem-solving, emotional intelligence, communication and critical thinking are the grease that allows hard skills to operate smoothly. For most roles outside of niche specialties, these human skills make up the vast majority of what’s needed for success. 
  3. Values Alignment and Organizational Fit: Less about executing the day-to-day work, this is about whether someone’s personality, mindset and motivations mesh with the company culture and values. It’s about determining if the candidate embodies the attitudes and behaviors you want to see in the role and at your organization. 

Benefits of a Skills-First Approach: From Engagement to Productivity 

The potential benefits of skills-based hiring are plentiful. It can expand your talent pool, increase diversity by reducing bias toward pedigree over performance, improve internal mobility, and better align employees to roles they’ll thrive in.  

Organizations that embrace skills-based recruiting experience: 

Not only does skills-based hiring boost performance and quality of hire, but it also enhances your employer brand, accelerates ramp up and improves retention. 

3 Steps to Get Started with Skills-Based Hiring Today 

So, how can companies start becoming more skills-based in their hiring today? The reality is that nearly one in two HR leaders admit to a lack of understanding around skills-based best practices.  

The good news is that it doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing, enterprise-wide overhaul. Here are three steps to start putting skills-based hiring in focus: 

1. Understand the roles that you have. 

The first step in skills-based hiring is to break down the roles you’re looking to fill into the specific skills required for success. Start with one role or a set of roles. What hard skills (technical abilities) and soft skills (personal attributes) drive top performance in each position? Collaborate with your high performers to identify these key competencies and create detailed skills profiles for each role. These profiles should be action-oriented, specific, and avoid vague or subjective requirements. 

With skills profiles in hand, you can craft job descriptions that communicate the essential abilities candidates need upfront. This transparency not only attracts better-matched applicants but also sets clear expectations from the start. Consider removing degree requirements if they’re not absolutely necessary, as LinkedIn data shows that job ads listing skills tend to receive more applicants. 

2. Understand people.  

In a skills-based approach, you’ll evaluate candidates based on their personal skills profiles – their demonstrated hard and soft skills relevant to the role. Implement validated, data-driven assessments like coding tests, writing samples, or Excel modeling exercises to consistently measure these abilities during the hiring process. Grade candidate responses objectively against your predefined skill criteria on a scale. This data-driven approach helps minimize unconscious bias.  

3. Align roles with people.  

Structure your interviews to probe candidates’ proficiency in key skills through situational judgment questions and opportunities to demonstrate their competencies. Skills-based interviews, combined with detailed skills profiles for both roles and candidates, will help you make smarter, more informed talent decisions. Hire skilled individuals who match the role requirements, identify reskilling needs for existing employees, or reject candidates who don’t meet the necessary competencies.  

Skills-Based Hiring & RPO: Goodbye Credentials. Hello Skills. 

Skills-based hiring is still an emerging practice, but it offers companies an intriguing way to modernize talent acquisition. By focusing on what people can actually do instead of just their past experiences and credentials, you may uncover hidden gems and build higher-performing teams.  

While making the shift to skills-based hiring practices takes time and effort, partnering with a recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) provider can accelerate your transition to building a future-fit workforce through this approach. An RPO partner offers the strategic guidance and operational expertise to embed skills at the core of your talent practices. They can help you carefully define and communicate role-specific skills and design fair and consistent talent assessments. 

With the support of an RPO partner like PeopleScout, you can embed fairness and future-readiness into your talent strategies, building a more skilled, capable workforce prepared to drive your organization’s success. 

PeopleScout Recruiter On-Demand™ for Healthcare

Posted on by akessler

PeopleScout Recruiter On-Demand™ for Healthcare

If your organization is struggling to recruit among the healthcare talent shortage or your internal recruiting resources are stretched thin, Recruiter On-Demand™ is a project-based recruitment solution that can drastically improve your
outcomes.

Download this fact sheet to learn more.

Download Fact Sheet

Learn more about PeopleScout’s healthcare talent solutions.

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Dig into More Healthcare Talent Insights

Nurse Recruitment Strategies to Address the Nursing Shortage
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Nurse Recruitment Strategies to Address the Nursing Shortage

The healthcare industry is facing a severe shortage of nurses and other frontline clinical staff, creating unprecedented challenges for medical facilities across the nation. This crisis, exacerbated by an aging population and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, threatens the quality, accessibility and continuity of patient care. Whether healthcare organizations require the recruitment of…

Allied Health Recruiting & Retention Best Practices 
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Allied Health Recruiting & Retention Best Practices 

With an aging population pushing demand for healthcare ever higher, allied healthcare professionals—physical and occupational therapists, medical laboratory scientists, dietitians and nutritionists, dental hygienists, optometrists, phlebotomists and many more—play crucial roles in the care, diagnosis and treatment of patients. However, healthcare organizations worldwide face significant challenges in recruiting and retaining these vital providers, potentially compromising…

Healthcare RPO: What to Expect from Your Prospective Partner
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Healthcare RPO: What to Expect from Your Prospective Partner

What to expect for your healthcare RPO partnership.

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