Can competency-based recruiting help you get talented people?
Your company has decided it’s time to welcome new members. You start receiving applications, but how can you be sure that the potential employee has the right skills for their new role? Competency-based hiring is a hiring strategy that focuses on evaluating candidates based on specific competencies required for certain positions. This approach can help your company attract talent by providing a clear set of criteria for the evaluation and selection process. It also shows potential candidates that your company’s hiring process is based on merit. In this article, you will find 5 tips on how to use competency-based hiring in your recruitment strategy.
5 ways to attract the right candidates with competency-based recruiting
1. Identify core competencies
The first step in this recruitment process is to identify the specific competencies needed for candidate success based on current gaps and company goals. Start by analyzing the tasks, responsibilities and challenges that come with the role. You also need to review the skills and knowledge employees need to perform day-to-day tasks, taking into account team dynamics and workflow. For example, communication skills are essential for improving teamwork and preventing conflict in the workplace.
2. Create job descriptions
Create a set of job postings that describe the talents needed for the role. Use specific language and terminology that directly relates to the core skills needed, and include examples and scenarios that illustrate how these competencies apply in the context of the job. Ideally, posts should target specific audiences and align with the organization’s values ​​to ensure you find the right one in record time.
3. Assessment tools
Use a consistent and objective set of assessment tools to evaluate applicants. This may require running tests, simulations and branching scenarios using your LMS to measure candidates’ abilities in each of the competencies required for the role. The evaluation process should also be monitored to ensure its effectiveness and reliability. So develop clear rules for the evaluation process so that you can evaluate everyone based on the same set of criteria.
4. Meaningful feedback
Give your candidates constructive and detailed feedback on their interview performance. You can even provide them with LMS reports that highlight their strengths and areas for improvement. This way, they know exactly what to focus on if they are selected for the job. On the other hand, these reports may reveal that they are better suited for another position in your company. For example, their skills and experience level make them an ideal fit for your customer service team versus your sales department.
5. Competency-based learning
Competency-based learning emphasizes the development of specific skills and knowledge. You can use this approach in ongoing training and development programs for your employees that target skills and knowledge gaps. Competency-based learning will also help you prepare existing employees to take on more challenging roles in the future and advance their career trajectories.
What are the benefits of competency-based hiring?
Targeted talent attraction
Competency-based recruitment is based on valid and reliable assessment tools, meaning results are more accurate and consistent. This reduces the likelihood of bias or errors in the selection process and ensures that you are evaluating all candidates on the same basis. By focusing on the specific skills required for the position, you can also ensure that candidates have the right experience from day one.
Inclusivity
A competency-based hiring strategy ensures that your company is perceived as fair and inclusive. This is because you will only focus on the candidate’s skills rather than their background. Your company thus expands its pool of candidates beyond people with traditional qualifications. For example, people who have acquired their skills and knowledge through alternative means such as volunteering or self-study have a high chance of employment. Not to mention, candidates are more likely to accept a job from a company known for its inclusiveness.
Employee retention
Candidates who are selected based on their skills and potential are more likely to feel motivated and invested in their work. This increases employee retention as they prefer to stay with a company that values ​​their knowledge and hard work. It is also financially beneficial for your organization as it allows you to reduce the cost of recruiting and training new employees.
Compliance with the company’s vision
Every company strives to have engaged employees who respect its goals and work to achieve them. By selecting candidates based on their specific talent, employees are more likely to be aligned with the organization’s overall strategic goals and objectives. Additionally, they have already applied their skills in real-world activities such as scenarios during the recruitment process. This way, they know what to expect and what is expected of them before they even accept the job.
Conclusion
Using competency-based hiring can be a powerful tool for attracting talented employees. By providing clear and objective criteria for evaluating and selecting candidates, you are showing potential candidates that you are committed to hiring them based on their skills and knowledge. This gives you the opportunity to hire and retain the best and brightest people in your field as quickly as possible. You can also explore our list of Top Content Providers for Competency Based Training to find the right outsourcing partner for your recruitment and L&D programs.
