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5 Best Practices For An Effective Hybrid Campus recruitment Strategy

Picture this: You are sitting in the conference room with the leadership team. The team asks you about the roadmap for the company’s hybrid campus recruitment strategy. It’s been weeks since you have been talking to your recruiter friends from other organizations to pull off the strategy but haven’t been able to do it. And now, you have no answer and no strategy!

You stay quiet. And confused.

This picture can be quite startling, especially when everybody’s eyes are on you.

To make sure you don’t land in this situation, we have made a list of 5 effective hybrid campus recruiting strategies you can use.

Let’s get started.

What is hybrid campus recruitment?

Hybrid campus recruitment is a strategy companies use to source, engage and hire candidates for internships and entry-level jobs. Earlier, this form of recruitment was done on campus, hence called campus recruitment. But, with the fusion of in-person and virtual recruitment strategies, it is termed hybrid campus recruitment.

With campus recruiting, you need 4 key players:

  1. Employers
  2. Campus recruiters
  3. University career development centers
  4. College students

But, with hybrid campus hiring, you need extra key players— virtual phone system or campus recruitment software that connects candidates and recruiters, improves candidate engagement, and conducts virtual interviews.

Types of hybrid campus hiring:

What are the types of Hybrid Campus Recruiting

The three types of hybrid campus recruiting methods or approaches include:

Blended approach

It uses both online and offline methods of hiring. Like, conducting interviews via video calls at the beginning of the selection process and face-to-face meetings with the top candidates during the last interview phase.

Composite approach

With a composite approach, companies host virtual job fairs and in-person recruiting events. By doing so, they run a parallel collaboration to expand the scope of their recruitment drive.

Synchronous approach

Chances are not every student can participate in the on-campus recruitment event. That’s where the students who are not present on campus can benefit and participate in the virtual fair.

With a synchronous approach, students can choose between on-campus and virtual events. This helps companies reach out to more students and widen their recruitment drive.

How Do You Build an Effective Hybrid Campus recruitment Strategy?

It’s hard for companies to transition from an offline recruiting strategy and build an empire of hybrid recruitment. So, we have curated 5 effective hybrid campus recruitment strategies to help you create the roadmap.

Strategy #1—Communicate the new campus recruitment strategy with campus coordinators

Communicate and coordinate with the campus coordinator on the dates and the transition in the hiring process.

Plan the execution of events and activities, whether they will take place in person or online. The majority of pre-placement conversations, employer branding, and coordination with colleges and institutions are now conducted in person, while screenings, assessments, and the early rounds of interviews are conducted online.

Best practices to adopt when shifting to hybrid campus recruiting:

  • Use a good online assessment tool to avoid plagiarism during the shortlisting phase.
  • Interview the leadership team and get them to talk about how their organization empowers young talent.

Strategy #2—Create a streamlined recruiting process for students

In an offline campus recruiting setup, you’d reach out to campus coordinators, help them understand the company and job role, share resources (JD/ ECP), and decide on the entire process—placement, assessment, interview, and final selection—all done on the same day.

But, with hybrid campus hiring, you are focusing on both online and on-campus hiring. So, your recruiting strategy looks something like this:

How to create a Hybrid campus hiring process

Once the candidate is selected virtually, the onboarding process can have physical training sessions where employees educate the students about the company’s values and how each department operates.

Best practices to make the hybrid campus recruiting seamless

  • Make your written communication via emails stronger
  • Use virtual meeting tools like Zoom and G-Meet to communicate with college coordinators and students
  • Create online forms and questionnaires for job applications using tools like Google Forms, Jotform or Typeform
  • Send the JD to college recruiters in PDF format

Strategy #3—Opt for hybrid campus recruitment software

Automation is the joining dots of a hybrid campus recruitment strategy. Why? Because they make your process smooth and keep the candidates engaged with you in a virtual setup.

For example,

If you are hiring software developers virtually, you’ll need technical assessment software to understand the student’s language and programming expertise.

HackerEarth Assessment helps you generate the assessment instantly and select the top candidate based on the leaderboard score. Once you select the candidate, invite them for a video interview using FaceCode.

To keep your hybrid recruiting engine running, make sure your company uses these tools:

  • Assessments: Use assessment software to create a questionnaire and send it out to the candidates as part of the screening process.
  • Email software: With automated emails, you can keep the conversation who have applied for the emails consistent. Create email sequences for each phase from screening to interview.
  • Video conferencing platform: Use video conferencing platforms like Zoom or G-meet to communicate with candidates virtually.

Also Read: Importance of Online Proctoring in University Hiring

Strategy #4—Cross-promote your hybrid campus recruiting event

Do you think informing students about the hybrid campus recruiting event happening at their university is the finishing line when promoting the hiring spree?

It’s not. Once the students get to know about the placements happening at the university, they are likely to go through the process and find out more about the company.

That’s where you need to be strategic.

GenZ is constantly scrolling through social media—mostly, Instagram and YouTube. And these days, students are active on platforms like Linked too.

So, along with the billboards and posters on campus, share about the hiring event online:

  • Share a post on LinkedIn, Whatsapp, and Discord communities where college students are active
  • Ask your employees who are active on social media to share about the hiring event on their socials channels
  • Create a video with your leadership team talking about the perks of working with you and share it across social media

Strategy #5—Showcase your employer’s brand

The big question: why should students work with you? And to nail down the response, you need to build credibility. Gen Z today is smarter than you think. They don’t work *only* for the paycheck anymore.

Students now work with companies that:

  • Align with their values
  • Encourage mental health and work-life balance
  • Focus on their employees’ development

And to make sure you check all these boxes, you need to build your employer brand and show the students “why” they should work with you. Here’s how you can do it:

  • Get the leadership team to engage with students through seminars and workshops. These can either be physical events or can be conducted virtually.

For example, you can organize a LinkedIn event where the leadership team sits down and discusses the importance of diversity and how their company empowers it.

  • Interview the employees from your organization. Ask them about their experience working with the company and share it on social channels. This helps the students understand the employees’ POV and take the decision.
  • Showcase the social proof of your credibility via employees talking about you on review websites like Glassdoor.

Take a look at HackerEarth’s profile on Glassdoor, 82% of people say they will recommend the company to their friends, and 87% of people say they approve of the company’s CEO—a commendable social proof for candidates to work with the company and amplifies employer branding.

HackerEarth's Glassdoor Review

Also Read: Create an Employer Brand That Sticks

Ready to pull off your hybrid campus recruiting strategy?

True. Transitioning from offline hiring to hybrid campus hiring can be tedious. The recruitment drive that used to take a day gets divided into phases that keep on going for several days. But once you understand how the offline and hybrid interview stages differ, create the strategy and gather resources to use. With the 5 hybrid campus hiring strategies we have shared above, you can get started and see the results for yourself.

Importance Of Online Proctoring In University Hiring

What is online proctoring?

Online proctoring is a way to administer exams remotely using a computer and webcam. The proctor (a person who supervises an exam) can watch and listen to the exam taker and even record the session. Some online proctoring services also use biometric data (fingerprints, iris scans) to verify the identity of the person taking the exam.The proctoring process typically starts with the student/candidate logging into the proctoring software with their webcam and microphone enabled. The proctor will then verify the identity of the student and conduct a brief environment check to ensure the exam area is appropriate.If the proctor suspects that the student is cheating, they may take action, such as asking them to move their webcam, stopping the exam, or even contacting the exam provider.Online proctoring plays an important role in university hiring. Various college recruiting software can be used for online proctoring during mass hiring drives held in universities to ensure that the process is fair and secure.

Features of online proctoring tools that help in university hiring

Features of online proctoring for college recruiting software

  1. Online proctoring eliminates the need for in-person proctoring, saving time and money.

With college recruiting software being usually used during online proctoring, there is no need to schedule and pay for a proctor to be present during the hiring process, and it can save the university both time and money. In addition, online proctoring can be done remotely, which means that candidates can take the exam from anywhere in the world.It can also be used to screen a large number of candidates in a short amount of time using an online interview platform.

  1. Online proctoring can help prohibit cheating practices

Firstly, a good online proctoring tool enables you to create a secure login for each candidate, preventing unauthorized access to the exam paper.In addition to that, proctors can use various tools to monitor the hiring process, such as video and audio recordings, to look for signs of cheating. Candidates can be flagged if they turn their heads away from the webcam or if they try to navigate to a different website. Online proctoring can also be used to flag questions that have been answered unusually quickly, which can indicate copy-pasting answers.

  1. Online proctoring can provide data and analytics on exam performance which can be used for research or to improve the hiring process.

It is because proctors can use various tools to collect data on the exam, such as video and audio recordings, to look for trends or patterns. Also, online proctoring can also be used to create a report for each candidate, providing detailed information on their performance.
Also read: 3 Things To Know About Remote Proctoring

How to ensure candidate safety in online proctoring?

When it comes to online proctoring, a few things can be done to ensure candidate safety. First and foremost, it is important that the proctoring service used is reputable and has a good track record. Several proctoring services have been known to be unreliable or scammers. It is important to research and ensure that you are using a proctoring service that you can trust.To ensure candidate safety, make sure that the proctoring service has a good proctoring system in place for identity verification. There have been cases in the past where people have impersonated others to take their exams. So, verifying the identity of the candidate is vital for the proctor.Finally, it is also important to ensure that the proctoring service has a good system for monitoring the exam. There have been cases in the past where people have cheated on exams using things like hidden cameras or phones. Ensuring that the exam is taken in a fair and secure environment is important.

Future of online proctors in recruiting process

The online exam proctoring market was worth US$ 354.37 million in 2019 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 16.4% from 2020 to 2027, reaching US$ 1,187.57 million by 2027. This upsurge can be attributed to the increased use of online proctoring services by educational institutions and corporations to ensure the fairness of online exams during the hiring process.As online proctoring services become more popular, they are likely to be adopted by more organizations for online exams. It could have a major impact on the recruiting process, as online proctoring could become a standard part of the screening process for candidates.Online proctoring services could also be used to assess candidates' skills more realistically. For example, rather than having candidates take a multiple-choice test, online proctoring could be used to assess candidates' ability to complete a task or solve a problem. It would allow organizations to understand a candidate's skills and abilities better and help identify the best candidates for a position.

Conclusion

While online proctoring services have several benefits, some challenges must be considered. Online proctoring services can be expensive, and there is a risk that candidates could still manage to cheat on exams. Online proctoring services can disrupt an exam flow and require candidates to have a good internet connection.Despite these challenges, online proctoring services are likely to continue to grow in popularity and could significantly impact how candidates are assessed. You can look for college recruiting software online for a smooth and fair university hiring process. Check out the university recruiting software offered by HackerEarth to accurately assess candidates remotely with a top-notch proctoring system.

IT Recruiting: Strategy and Tips for Success

Hiring skilled personnel is the top priority for any HR manager, as the organization's success is directly linked to the quality of professionals in its ranks. For an IT organization, this process assumes even greater importance as the rapid pace at which technology is progressing; you can never have enough talented workers. More than 50% of businesses struggle to find suitable candidates for profiles requiring data skills. This is why IT recruitment is virtually an ongoing process at most of the leading enterprises in the sector.

Employers invest considerable time and resources in the IT recruitment process. Though, often they tend to ignore some basic principles related to IT recruiting and struggle to find suitable candidates. Almost 80% of organizations stated in a recent survey that they struggle to find suitable candidates.If you are also struggling to conduct successful recruitment as an information technology recruiter, then read on to find out some fantastic tips for recruiting successfully.

Why is it crucial to invest in making IT recruiting more efficient

Recruitment is an integral part of the business strategy for every information technology business. Most recruitment strategies in IT involve a team of professionals than a single individual handling all the tasks. An information technology recruiter requires meticulous planning and execution to ensure the selection of the most suitable candidates only.
  • Suitable candidates: IT recruitment helps select appropriate candidates for different profiles seamlessly
  • Drive growth: Successful recruitment is key to the company's future growth and expansion
  • Maintain competitiveness: Recruitment of ideal candidates is especially important in the IT sector to stay ahead of the competition
  • Add value: Talented employees enhance the company's reputation in the industry with their skills
  • Legal obligation: Recruitment is important to ensure fulfillment of social legal obligations related to diversity, equality, and inclusion in the workplace
Also Read: Common Virtual Recruiting Pitfalls And How To Avoid Them

Top 5 employment recruitment strategies in the IT industry

Top 5 employment recruitment strategies in the IT industryWith almost 51% of employees planning a job change in the next year, it is time for you to optimize your employment recruitment strategies. As IT recruitment has become all about the candidate experience, listed are some incredible strategies to help you understand how to be a great recruiter.

Create an employer brand

One of the most important recruitment strategies is to create your employer brand. This branding exercise will distinguish you from other recruiters and help the candidates understand why they should work with you. The company's mission, vision, culture, and values are some of the factors that help you create a brand around your business. You must work with the key managers to determine the strategy for branding your business. Additionally, using a digital business card can help convey your brand effectively and professionally. After that, you must ensure that your social media handles and advertisements align with the employer branding you are promoting to stay ahead of the competition.

Use social media to attract talent

With over 80% of candidates looking for job opportunities shared through Facebook, it is time for you to also leverage your social media presence as a leading information technology recruiter. This strategy ensures a wider reach and ease of communication with candidates.Several brands have leveraged this strategy, including Apple and Uber. It is important to ensure that your online presence is in sync with your employer’s brand and company values. You can also ask your current personnel to share the details related to the vacancy on their respective social media handles.
Get your copy of the social recruiting cheat sheet here!

Hire professionals who are committed and loyal

One of the biggest challenges in IT recruitment is the high attrition rate. Often, new recruits cannot align with a company's culture and switch jobs at short intervals. Hence, one of the tips for recruiting for an IT company is to hire committed and loyal professionals. There are various steps you can take to determine this, such as:
  • Consider existing employees for the new opening
  • Treat the candidates to be as important as customers
  • Create interview questions around this requirement
  • Implement an employee referral program
A suitable work environment ensures better employee retention.

Campus recruitment programs

This is one of the best employment recruitment strategies used by IT recruiters to select candidates for entry-level positions. As technology evolves quickly, you need to hire candidates with the latest skill sets and a fresh perspective. With a comprehensive campus recruitment program, you can grab the best talent as soon as they graduate.Moreover, you can initially hire candidates for internships in different courses. If their performance during the internship meets your expectations, you can offer them full-time positions upon graduation. You can attend career fairs, job fairs, and recruitment drives or conduct your events to attract the best talent.
Also, read: Create The Perfect Virtual Recruiting Strategy For Universities With These Tips

Compelling job descriptions

Writing compelling job descriptions is one of the crucial tips for recruiting the best talent for an IT company. Many candidates decide to apply for a position only if they find the job description clear and specific. This becomes even more important in the IT sector, where many job profiles exist and slightly overlap.

You should make the job title as specific as possible to attract only the relevant candidates. Moreover, make it a point to highlight your company's culture and also include the essential requirements of a candidate. After all, 73% of candidates prefer applying to companies with similar values and ethics.

It is time to kickstart a more streamlined version of your hiring process as a leading information technology recruiter. The tips and strategies shared above will help you understand how to be a good recruiter and assist you in executing a compelling IT recruitment campaign.

How Tech Recruiters Can Build Better Employer Branding With Marketing

An employer brand plays a crucial role in the employee value proposition. It essentially refers to what the organization has successfully communicated as its identity to its current and potential employees. According to Workable, 9 out of 10 candidates would apply for a job when it’s from an employer brand that’s actively maintained.

Intrigued about employer branding? Then, this blog is for you!

Here are some of the important questions that are often asked about employer branding. We have provided some detailed insights in place to help you with a clear understanding of technical recruitment and employer branding for your tech business.

What is employer branding?

Employer Branding Process

Employer branding refers to the process a firm undertakes to promote itself as an employer of choice. It consists of core principles, employee experience, and communication with prospective employees. That being stated, why is employer branding vital to your company? Following the epidemic, the necessity to develop a strong brand became more important than ever. The IT talent market is becoming increasingly competitive as more organizations are embracing remote working and rapid technological adoption.

As others compete to fill in-demand positions, good employer branding will be vital in determining your success. Many renowned businesses use employer branding as an employer branding marketing strategy. It helps a firm portray itself as a top choice for competent applicants. On the other hand, building your brand is a persistent, long-term process that provides consistent dividends in the long run. So, it’s quite evident that starting earlier will help your organization build a reputation as a great workplace.

What is the purpose of an employer brand?

It is easier said than done to establish a strong employer brand. Identifying and presenting your organization as a desirable location to work for the most skilled applicants takes time. However, if you succeed, you will be able to achieve the goals that you are presently battling. Employer branding is crucial in technical recruitment because:

Helps attract and retain excellent employees

A positive employer brand will make your current employees proud to work for you. Becoming a part of a company with a strong work culture is important for job seekers. Thus, businesses must be mindful of how they portray that environment. Most job seekers will look at your company’s social media accounts before applying, so use them to portray an employee-centric culture and to take advantage of social media platforms and job portals.

Lowers Recruitment Costs

If you have a strong employer brand, candidates will rush to apply for your job postings, allowing you to spend less money on tech recruitment marketing. Why pay for a job board posting when people are already pouring to your careers page? Working for a well-known, reputable firm is vital to many individuals, and if you present your company like this, you will draw more prospects for open roles. This approach becomes even more effective when combined with consent based marketing, where potential candidates opt in to learn more about your company culture and values.

Increases Employee Engagement

When your company adheres to an employee-centric corporate brand, you conduct frequent employee engagement activities. There’s no second thought about the fact that an engaged workforce increases productivity and revenue. On the other hand, a lower employee turnover provides a solid foundation for your organization to attract more qualified candidates for new positions.

Communicate the Value of Your Brand

It’s no secret that top players in the market always dominate when it comes to recruiting top talents. Skilled workers will always prefer companies with strong brand recognition and beliefs. Ensure that your brand value is adequately conveyed to hire the best of the best. Modern job seekers are interested not just in your company’s services but also in intangible resources such as your mission, goal, ethics, and work environment.

Also Read: Building An Employer Brand: Everything You Need To Know

Effects of ignoring employer branding

Inability to win the Talent Competition

Businesses are in a constant war for recruiting talents to acquire highly motivated, experienced, and qualified employees. You’re always at the risk of hiring below-average personnel if your thinking isn’t geared toward attracting the top applicants. Consequently, you lose the fight and end up recruiting employees that lack the necessary talents to propel your business forward.

Attracting Unsuitable Talent

It is related to the previously described danger. Of course, you lose the talent war, but what’s more harmful is that by attracting poorly culturally fit individuals, your company has little chance of surviving in this cut-throat competition. . However, competitors that have effectively applied employer branding and recruited the best and most culturally suitable job prospects will achieve success and successfully build their firms both locally and worldwide.

Employee value proposition

The most common barrier for applicants choosing a new job is a lack of vision about what their day-to-day life may look like at a new company. A clear employee value proposition can assist them in doing so; it informs them of the type of team they will be dealing with and what sorts of activities, career trajectory, work-life balance, and everyday chores they will encounter at the company. These details can assist in building the foundation of a solid employer brand that catches the audience’s attention, piques their interest, and encourages them into your technical recruitment pipeline.

As you move closer to selecting your perfect employee, your EVP becomes more than simply a tool for attracting prospects; it also serves as a clear means of distinguishing yourself from the competition. When applicants are deciding to take a position, a strongly outlined employee value proposition allows them to evaluate different possibilities or job offers on a point-by-point basis.

Job seekers evaluate potential employment opportunities based on the employee value proposition and prefer the one that effectively matches up with their professional goals, has higher advantages, offers more valuable work, delivers the most enticing resources to its employees, and more.

Also Read: IT Recruiting: Strategy and Tips for Success

Which channels can my company use to promote the employer brand?

It’s no wonder that IT talent can be acquired online, and all applicants are nowadays spending time on digital platforms. As a result, social media and digital programmatic advertising are excellent places to begin.
LinkedIn is now the best platform for employer branding, content marketing and recruitment marketing business, but if you’re seeking to market yourself as an employer who wants to attract a younger population, you can consider Instagram, Facebook, Twitter

However, don’t overlook the value of personalizing the tech recruitment process by encouraging recruiters to contact prospects directly or using customized advertisement methods such as LinkedIn emails, GitHub, and AngelList to display openings, workshops, and definitely your employer brand.

Furthermore, you can always go beyond the boundaries to reach out to educational institutions such as colleges. Building a strong rapport with them will provide you with a community of ready-to-graduate people who will be familiar with you as an employer. Incorporating QR codes powered by Uniqode's QR tracking into your campus materials or events can help you engage students more interactively while measuring interest in your brand.

How can I measure the success of employer branding?

14 Employer Branding Metrics In Tech Recruiting To Track

Some of the employer branding in recruitment metrics that can help you measure the success of employer branding:

Industry Awareness and Perception

The top-level measures of employer branding are:

  1. Brand awareness
  2. Social media engagement rates
  3. Brand sentiment
  4. Brand characteristics/associations
  5. Branded search impressions

Measuring Candidate Experience

The mid-level employer branding metrics are:

  • Hire quality
  • Cost per candidate
  • Source of hire
  • Offer acceptance rate
  • Tech hiring manager satisfaction

Measuring Employee Experience

The bottom-level employer branding measures are:

  • Employee satisfaction scores
  • Employee referral rate
  • Employee retention
  • Employer site review

Also Read: 4 Steps to Build your Talent Acquisition Strategy

Is it important to have a dedicated employer branding manager?

Obviously, your organization would have an employer branding manager, but this may not be realistic for everyone. The majority of businesses do not have the resources. However, this doesn’t imply that they can’t work on the brand and numerous tasks can be completed without a dedicated individual.

To begin with, any employee can serve as a branding expert when they are supported and encouraged. There are very small firms with fantastic employer branding in tech recruitment because the individuals who work there adore the company’s culture. Begin with small measures, and you will see a significant improvement over time.

How can I promote employer branding with a growing remote-working culture?

  • Ensure you provide the dynamics and specifics of your remote work policy in every job posting and job description. Incorporating your remote work policy into each job advertising indicates you support remote employee tech hiring consultants.
  • Posting job offers on job sites that resonate with remote employees is an excellent way to represent your organization as one that welcomes them. It indicates your experience with remote work, the perks of working remotely, and your understanding of the prerequisites for a successful remote business.
  • Again, social media will indeed be your greatest friend, but you’ll need to be innovative outside the workplace. Instead of advertising your company’s physical presence, such as eccentric office spaces and the entire crew, you must develop ways to capture the emotional qualities of your employer brand. Share staff testimonials and creative content, and take advantage of video technology advancements by posting screenshots of meetings and get-togethers.
  • One way to promote employer branding with a growing remote-working culture is to look at what past and current workers share on social media. Encourage employees to talk about their remote work experiences on their profiles so that people get a better idea of what it’s like to work in a remote environment.
  • Virtual workplace excursions and executive interviews can also be conducted as part of your virtual orientation program. Just because we’re working remotely today doesn’t imply we’ll be doing so eternally, and new employees need to know what they can expect from the company when they join.

5 Best Technical Screening Platforms

Recruitment, in general, has undergone several transformations in recent years and it comes as no surprise that most of these were influenced by technological advancements. This applies to non-technical and technical industries alike.

But today, we’re talking about the technical screening platforms. A technical screening platform needs to be developed the right way. If it is poorly developed, then getting accurate results becomes quite impossible and you will not be able to assess candidates the right way.

As per a study conducted by Aberdeen Group, it was seen that recruiters and hiring managers who use assessment tools have 36% more satisfaction when hiring a candidate than HR managers who don’t.

Benefits of Technical Screening Platforms

In simple terms, technical screening platforms are technologies that help to hire managers to automate the recruitment process. This helps save time, money, and effort and gives accurate results. Using a screening platform also makes sure that there is no bias involved.Technical screening platforms are gaining popularity and for a good reason, there are too many benefits to ignore. Let’s take a brief look at them:
  • It helps you hire the best candidates. A good technical screening platform will not only facilitate communication between the candidates and recruiters but also help in making an accurate assessment of the candidates’ skills and provide reports for the same.
  • There may be bias involved with human recruitment for a variety of reasons and this affects making good hiring decisions. But with a technical screening platform, results are all that matter and make the playing field level, this way you get the best candidates.
  • A bad hire can cost a company a lot of money. Technical screening platforms will not let that happen, when you make a good hiring decision based on performance, you will end up saving a lot of money for your company.
  • Every hiring decision made is driven by data. This immediately raises the standard of hires and it eliminates hiring based on assumptions.

Features of an ideal technical screening platform

5 best technical screening platforms

Best technical screening platforms in 2024

It probably doesn’t surprise you when we say there are hundreds of technical screening platforms available. Not every technical screening platform measures the same and this is why we have compiled a list of the 5 best technical screening platforms you can use, without further ado, let’s get into it:

HackerEarth

An online technical-recruitment platform that will help you assess and evaluate candidates for their technical abilities to choose the best fit.Here are a few features offered by HackerEarth:
  • It has a technical questionnaire of over 10,000 questions
  • Has assessments for every relevant developer skill
  • Video interview with in-built code editor
  • Offers accurate results and assessment reports
  • Video proctoring is enabled as well
  • also has features that can be used by candidates to prepare themselves for interviews
They too offer a 14-day free trial, after which there are 3 primary pricing plans:
  • StartUps - $119 Per Month
  • Enterprise - $279 Per Month
  • Custom - tailored to your requirements
Also, we may be biased but we believe we are the best. Don't take our word for it. Instead, take our platform for a spin and find out for yourself!

WeCP - We Create Problems

WeCP is a AI-native skills testing software with the largest repository of technical skills questions & templates covering various technical domains, including programming, data science, DevOps, and more. WeCP’s standout feature is its AI ability to create highly-relevant, user-friendly, customisable skill tests with a simple text prompt. Their G2 review score stands at 4.8/5.

Startups to Fortune 500 use WeCP to generate customized tests tailored to specific requirements, such as:
  • Recruiting teams – use WeCP to avoid mis-hires and build productive teams for their business.
  • Employee training teams – use WeCP to build experiential skill training programs hence, improve the ROI.
  • Online learning platforms – integrate WeCP to their e-learning platform
Features offered by WeCP:
  • Access over 0.2 million technical questions across various domains.
  • Easily create tailored assessments in minutes using WeCP AI Copilot to evaluate specific skills and roles.
  • Evaluate proficiency in over 2000 technical skills.
  • Ensure test integrity with built-in proctoring features like force full-screen, log candidate tab change activities, disable external copy/paste, ai powered video proctoring, whole screen & multi screen recording.
  • Gain insights with comprehensive performance analytics.
  • Integrate with existing recruitment workflows and ATS like Workday, Lever, Greenhouse, LinkedIn, SAP Successfactor, Oracle Recruiting Cloud and more
WeCP offers a 7 days free trial with limited features. Users can also unlock and get WeCP premium for FREE.

Pricing starts at $240 per month. Pricing information is available upon request for the Custom and Enterprise plans.

Organizations can choose plans based on their requirements, whether they want to screen candidate skills, improve the quality of hire, or enhance employee skills and retention.

Skillsz

A pre-employment talent screening platform helping tech companies hire the best developers.Here are a few features of Skillsz:
  • Ability to customize evaluation based on company requirements
  • Custom branding
  • Multiple ways to invite candidates
  • A library of 5000+ technical questions
  • Real-time dashboard
  • Advanced algorithm to prevent cheating
  • Demo evaluations
  • Detailed PDF reports
This technical screening platform comes with a trial period of 14 days after which it has three pricing options :
  • Essential - $3500 Per Month
  • Professional - $7000 Per Month
  • Business - $11,500 Per Month

Xobin

Xobin is yet another remote screening platform that facilitates virtual interviews.Here are a few features Xobin has to offer:
  • AI-based webcam proctoring
  • It has over 1000 inbuilt tests
  • The platform and the assessments are mobile-friendly
  • Helps in customizing workflow
Xobin also has a 14-day free trial period after which there are three pricing options:
  • Essential - $166 Per Month
  • Standard - $399 Per Month
  • Custom - depends on requirements

Devskiller

A tech talent sourcing platform that is powered by RealLife Testing.Here are a few features offered by Devskiller
  • More than 3000 tasks ready to be used
  • Customization options
  • Efficiently integrates with ATS
  • Can assess over 200+ tech-related skills
  • Offers shareable reports
They do not offer any free trial but have two pricing plans that can be customized;
  • Talent Score - $499 Per Month
  • Talent Boost - $999 Per Month
So, there you go!These 5 platforms are quite unique in their own ways and have a lot to offer the tech-recruitment sphere. If you’re looking to hire the best developers out there, making use of these will definitely benefit you and your organization.

The 3 Biggest Changes On FaceCode Since You Were Last Here

We all love tasks when they are simplified, don’t we? FaceCode is an online coding assessment platform that renders the interview process simple. With it you can conduct remote interviews with the utmost ease, this platform will not only connect you to potential candidates but also allows you to assess the candidates' coding proficiency in real-time.

With multiple features to offer, FaceCode is something we recommend to every tech recruiter out there. FaceCode, although relatively new, has seen quite a few changes over time. These changes are attributed to recruiters who provided intelligent feedback. In this article, we will talk about some of the biggest changes on FaceCode since you were last here.Let’s dive right into it.

Ask questions and evaluate with ease

Biggest changes on FaceCode - Choose questions from libraryYou don't have to worry too much about coming up with interview questions and answers from scratch.You can now use our extensive library to ask candidates relevant questions. There are test cases you can use as well and that's not all,
  • You no longer have to solve each test case manually. The risk of manual errors is drastically reduced. Assess your candidates' answers with ease and save time by making use of the recently added auto-evaluation feature.
  • Every question can be shared through a link on the live chat. This is where one of our newer features of candidates being able to share screen comes in handy. More on that soon!
  • Each and every pre-existing SQL and programming question can be sent inline in the video editor itself.
Also read: FaceCode - The DEFINITIVE Way To Conduct Coding Interviews

Improved stability

It really gets frustrating when an interview is hindered due to a problem as simple as a poor internet connection.You no longer need to worry about that because FaceCode will disconnect from the network and reconnect with a new update. The best part, you hardly notice any lag and it's easier for you to continue your interview. Additionally,
  • It records and provides recruiters with data on "when" and "if" the internet connection dropped off and “when” the candidate reconnected as well.
  • It further assesses and provides you with information on if there was a problem with the network.
  • We further provide well-assessed information if there were any other problems experienced.

All new and improved interface

Biggest changes on FaceCode - new interface You can now bid adieu to our old interface. The all-new and updated interface has so much more to offer and we know you'll love it!
  • For starters, this is a much simpler and easy-to-navigate UI (user interface)
  • You can now search for information on specific candidates using a search bar built for the same.
  • In addition to the above point, there are built-in filters that you can use to further refine your search.
Also, read: 5 Reasons For Bad Candidate Experience In Tech Interviews
Well, these are just the 3 biggest changes on FaceCode. It doesn't mean there weren't anymore. Here are a few more changes to get you up to date:

Robust proctoring

Admin's screen -Biggest changes on FaceCode - Robust proctoring

Candidate's screen -

Biggest changes on FaceCode - Robust proctoring

Our all-new and updated FaceCode will now alert recruiters if the candidate moves away from the screen.

Account summary of all interviews

Biggest changes on FaceCode - Account summary

Once you click on the "Email summary of all interviews" option, you will receive an email as shown below.

Biggest changes on FaceCode - email account summar

This feature has already been present on our Assessments platform and we’ve incorporated it into our interview platform as well. FaceCode will provide you with an email summary of every interview conducted by your team. This information can be used to assess/analyze the interview process of every recruiter in the team and identify if your hiring process is satisfactory or needs to be tweaked.

A single meeting invite link

Biggest changes on FaceCode - Single meeting invite link

Previously, when scheduling an interview, all fields needed to be populated with some options like title and evaluation criteria that were pre-selected. Now, no fields are mandatory and you can generate an interview link with just one click.

Share screen enabled for candidates

Admin's screen -Biggest changes on FaceCode - share screen

Candidate's screen -

Biggest changes on FaceCode - share screen

Candidates too can share their screens. This will come in handy if the candidate has something to display in the public domain or when they have to solve problems from the library.

Easy trial

Biggest changes on FaceCode - No Sign Up

Are you interested in trying out FaceCode but don't want to sign up just yet? Well then, you don't have to. Interested parties can now try out FaceCode without having to share any of their contact information. Try it out here.

And that’s a wrap, for now.

These features will further render your interview process easy, simple, and streamlined and of course, watch this space for more updates.

Until then, happy hiring y'all!
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7 Tech Recruiting Trends To Watch Out For In 2024

The last couple of years transformed how the world works and the tech industry is no exception. Remote work, a candidate-driven market, and automation are some of the tech recruiting trends born out of the pandemic.

While accepting the new reality and adapting to it is the first step, keeping up with continuously changing hiring trends in technology is the bigger challenge right now.

What does 2024 hold for recruiters across the globe? What hiring practices would work best in this post-pandemic world? How do you stay on top of the changes in this industry?

The answers to these questions will paint a clearer picture of how to set up for success while recruiting tech talent this year.

7 tech recruiting trends for 2024

6 Tech Recruiting Trends To Watch Out For In 2022

Recruiters, we’ve got you covered. Here are the tech recruiting trends that will change the way you build tech teams in 2024.

Trend #1—Leverage data-driven recruiting

Data-driven recruiting strategies are the answer to effective talent sourcing and a streamlined hiring process.

Talent acquisition leaders need to use real-time analytics like pipeline growth metrics, offer acceptance rates, quality and cost of new hires, and candidate feedback scores to reduce manual work, improve processes, and hire the best talent.

The key to capitalizing on talent market trends in 2024 is data. It enables you to analyze what’s working and what needs refinement, leaving room for experimentation.

Trend #2—Have impactful employer branding

98% of recruiters believe promoting company culture helps sourcing efforts as seen in our 2021 State Of Developer Recruitment report.

Having a strong employer brand that supports a clear Employer Value Proposition (EVP) is crucial to influencing a candidate’s decision to work with your company. Perks like upskilling opportunities, remote work, and flexible hours are top EVPs that attract qualified candidates.

A clear EVP builds a culture of balance, mental health awareness, and flexibility—strengthening your employer brand with candidate-first policies.

Trend #3—Focus on candidate-driven market

The pandemic drastically increased the skills gap, making tech recruitment more challenging. With the severe shortage of tech talent, candidates now hold more power and can afford to be selective.

Competitive pay is no longer enough. Use data to understand what candidates want—work-life balance, remote options, learning opportunities—and adapt accordingly.

Recruiters need to think creatively to attract and retain top talent.

Recommended read: What NOT To Do When Recruiting Fresh Talent

Trend #4—Have a diversity and inclusion oriented company culture

Diversity and inclusion have become central to modern recruitment. While urgent hiring can delay D&I efforts, long-term success depends on inclusive teams. Our survey shows that 25.6% of HR professionals believe a diverse leadership team helps build stronger pipelines and reduces bias.

McKinsey’s Diversity Wins report confirms this: top-quartile gender-diverse companies see 25% higher profitability, and ethnically diverse teams show 36% higher returns.

It's refreshing to see the importance of an inclusive culture increasing across all job-seeking communities, especially in tech. This reiterates that D&I is a must-have, not just a good-to-have.

—Swetha Harikrishnan, Sr. HR Director, HackerEarth

Recommended read: Diversity And Inclusion in 2022 - 5 Essential Rules To Follow

Trend #5—Embed automation and AI into your recruitment systems

With the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT, automation is being adopted across every business function—including recruiting.

Manual communication with large candidate pools is inefficient. In 2024, recruitment automation and AI-powered platforms will automate candidate nurturing and communication, providing a more personalized experience while saving time.

Trend #6—Conduct remote interviews

With 32.5% of companies planning to stay remote, remote interviewing is here to stay.

Remote interviews expand access to global talent, reduce overhead costs, and increase flexibility—making the hiring process more efficient for both recruiters and candidates.

Trend #7—Be proactive in candidate engagement

Delayed responses or lack of updates can frustrate candidates and impact your brand. Proactive communication and engagement with both active and passive candidates are key to successful recruiting.

As recruitment evolves, proactive candidate engagement will become central to attracting and retaining talent. In 2023 and beyond, companies must engage both active and passive candidates through innovative strategies and technologies like chatbots and AI-powered systems. Building pipelines and nurturing relationships will enhance employer branding and ensure long-term hiring success.

—Narayani Gurunathan, CEO, PlaceNet Consultants

Recruiting Tech Talent Just Got Easier With HackerEarth

Recruiting qualified tech talent is tough—but we’re here to help. HackerEarth for Enterprises offers an all-in-one suite that simplifies sourcing, assessing, and interviewing developers.

Our tech recruiting platform enables you to:

  • Tap into a 6 million-strong developer community
  • Host custom hackathons to engage talent and boost your employer brand
  • Create online assessments to evaluate 80+ tech skills
  • Use dev-friendly IDEs and proctoring for reliable evaluations
  • Benchmark candidates against a global community
  • Conduct live coding interviews with FaceCode, our collaborative coding interview tool
  • Guide upskilling journeys via our Learning and Development platform
  • Integrate seamlessly with all leading ATS systems
  • Access 24/7 support with a 95% satisfaction score

Recommended read: The A-Zs Of Tech Recruiting - A Guide

Staying ahead of tech recruiting trends, improving hiring processes, and adapting to change is the way forward in 2024. Take note of the tips in this article and use them to build a future-ready hiring strategy.

Ready to streamline your tech recruiting? Try HackerEarth for Enterprises today.

(Part 2) Essential Questions To Ask When Interviewing Developers In 2021

The first part of this blog stresses the importance of asking the right technical interview questions to assess a candidate’s coding skills. But that alone is not enough. If you want to hire the crème de la crème of the developer talent out there, you have to look for a well-rounded candidate.

Honest communication, empathy, and passion for their work are equally important as a candidate’s technical knowledge. Soft skills are like the cherry on top. They set the best of the candidates apart from the rest.

Re-examine how you are vetting your candidates. Identify the gaps in your interviews. Once you start addressing these gaps, you find developers who have the potential to be great. And those are exactly the kind of people that you want to work with!

Let’s get to it, shall we?

Hire great developers

What constitutes a good interview question?

An ideal interview should reveal a candidate’s personality along with their technical knowledge. To formulate a comprehensive list of questions, keep in mind three important characteristics.

  • Questions are open-ended – questions like, “What are some of the programming languages you’re comfortable with,” instead of “Do you know this particular programming language” makes the candidate feel like they’re in control. It is also a chance to let them reply to your question in their own words.
  • They address the behavioral aspects of a candidate – ensure you have a few questions on your list that allow a candidate to describe a situation. A situation where a client was unhappy or a time when the developer learned a new technology. Such questions help you assess if the candidate is a good fit for the team.
  • There is no right or wrong answer – it is important to have a structured interview process in place. But this does not mean you have a list of standard answers in mind that you’re looking for. How candidates approach your questions shows you whether they have the makings of a successful candidate. Focus on that rather than on the actual answer itself.

Designing a conversation around these buckets of interview questions brings you to my next question, “What should you look for in each candidate to spot the best ones?”

Hire GREAT developers by asking the right questions

Before we dive deep into the interview questions, we have to think about a few things that have changed. COVID-19 has rendered working from home the new normal for the foreseeable future. As a recruiter, the onus falls upon you to understand whether the developer is comfortable working remotely and has the relevant resources to achieve maximum productivity.

#1 How do you plan your day?

Remote work gives employees the option to be flexible. You don’t have to clock in 9 hours a day as long as you get everything done on time. A developer who hasn’t always been working remotely, but has a routine in place, understands the pitfalls of working from home. It is easy to get distracted and having a schedule to fall back on ensures good productivity.

#2 Do you have experience using tools for collaboration and remote work?

Working from home reduces human interaction heavily. There is no way to just go up to your teammate’s desk and clarify issues. Virtual communication is key to getting work done. Look for what kind of remote working tools your candidate is familiar with and if they know what collaborative tools to use for different tasks.

Value-based interview questions to ask

We went around and spoke to our engineering team, and the recruiting team to see what questions they abide by; what they think makes any candidate tick.

The result? – a motley group of questions that aim to reveal the candidate’s soft skills, in addition to typical technical interview questions and test tasks.

Recommended read: How Recruiting The Right Tech Talent Can Solve Tech Debt

#3 Please describe three recent projects that you worked on. What were the most interesting and challenging parts?

This is an all-encompassing question in that it lets the candidate explain at length about their work ethic—thought process, handling QA, working with a team, and managing user feedback. This also lets you dig enough to assess whether the candidate is taking credit for someone else's work or not.

#4 You’ve worked long and hard to deliver a complex feature for a client and they say it’s not what they asked for. How would you take it?

A good developer will take it in their stride, work closely with the client to find the point of disconnect, and sort out the issue. There are so many things that could go wrong or not be to the client’s liking, and it falls on the developer to remain calm and create solutions.

#5 What new programming languages or technologies have you learned recently?

While being certified in many programming languages doesn't guarantee a great developer, it still is an important technical interview question to ask. It helps highlight a thirst for knowledge and shows that the developer is eager to learn new things.

#6 What does the perfect release look like? Who is involved and what is your role?

Have the developer take you through each phase of a recent software development lifecycle. Ask them to explain their specific role in each phase in this release. This will give you an excellent perspective into a developer’s mind. Do they talk about the before and after of the release? A skilled developer would. The chances of something going wrong in a release are very high. How would the developer react? Will they be able to handle the pressure?

SUBSCRIBE to the HackerEarth blog and enrich your monthly reading with our free e-newsletter – Fresh, insightful and awesome articles straight into your inbox from around the tech recruiting world!

#7 Tell me about a time when you had to convince your lead to try a different approach?

As an example of a behavioral interview question, this is a good one. The way a developer approaches this question speaks volumes about how confident they are expressing their views, and how succinct they are in articulating those views.

#8 What have you done with all the extra hours during the pandemic?

Did you binge-watch your way through the pandemic? I’m sure every one of us has done this. Indulge in a lighthearted conversation with your candidate. This lets them talk about something they are comfortable with. Maybe they learned a new skill or took up a hobby. Get to know a candidate’s interests and little pleasures for a more rounded evaluation.

Over to you! Now that you know what aspects of a candidate to focus on, you are well-equipped to bring out the best in each candidate in their interviews. A mix of strong technical skills and interpersonal qualities is how you spot good developers for your team.

If you have more pressing interview questions to add to this list of ours, please write to us at contact@hackerearth.com.

(Part 1) Essential Questions To Ask When Recruiting Developers In 2021

The minute a developer position opens up, recruiters feel a familiar twinge of fear run down their spines. They recall their previous interview experiences, and how there seems to be a blog post a month that goes viral about bad developer interviews.

While hiring managers, especially the picky ones, would attribute this to a shortage of talented developers, what if the time has come to rethink your interview process? What if recruiters and hiring managers put too much stock into bringing out the technical aspects of each candidate and don’t put enough emphasis on their soft skills?

A report by Robert Half shows that 86% of technology leaders say it’s challenging to find IT talent. Interviewing developers should be a rewarding experience, not a challenging one. If you don’t get caught up in asking specific questions and instead design a simple conversation to gauge a candidate’s way of thinking, it throws up a lot of good insight and makes it fun too.

Developer Hiring Statistics

Asking the right technical interview questions when recruiting developers is important but so is clear communication, good work ethic, and alignment with your organization’s goals.

Let us first see what kind of technical interview questions are well-suited to revealing the coding skills and knowledge of any developer, and then tackle the behavioral aspects of the candidate that sets them apart from the rest.

Recruit GREAT developers by asking the right questions

Here are some technical interview questions that you should ask potential software engineers when interviewing.

#1 Write an algorithm for the following

  1. Minimum Stack - Design a stack that provides 4 functions - push(item), pop, peek, and minimum, all in constant order time complexity. Then move on to coding the actual solution.
  2. Kth Largest Element in an array - This is a standard problem with multiple solutions of best time complexity orders where N log(K) is a common one and O(N) + K log(N) is a lesser-known order. Both solutions are acceptable, not directly comparable to each other, and better than N log(N), which is sorting an array and fetching the Kth element.
  3. Top View of a Binary Tree - Given a root node of the binary tree, return the set of all elements that will get wet if it rains on the tree. Nodes having any nodes directly above them will not get wet.
  4. Internal implementation of a hashtable like a map/dictionary - A candidate needs to specify how key-value pairs are stored, hashing is used and collisions are handled. A good developer not only knows how to use this concept but also how it works. If the developer also knows how the data structure scales when the number of records increases in the hashtable, that is a bonus.

Algorithms demonstrate a candidate’s ability to break down a complex problem into steps. Reasoning and pattern recognition capabilities are some more factors to look for when assessing a candidate. A good candidate can code his thought process of the algorithm finalized during the discussion.

Looking for a great place to hire developers in the US? Try Jooble!

#2 Formulate solutions for the below low-level design (LLD) questions

  • What is LLD? In your own words, specify the different aspects covered in LLD.
  • Design a movie ticket booking application like BookMyShow. Ensure that your database schema is tailored for a theatre with multiple screens and takes care of booking, seat availability, seat arrangement, and seat locking. Your solution does not have to extend to the payment option.
  • Design a basic social media application. Design database schema and APIs for a platform like Twitter with features for following a user, tweeting a post, seeing your tweet, and seeing a user's tweet.

Such questions do not have a right or wrong answer. They primarily serve to reveal a developer’s thought process and the way they approach a problem.

Recommended read: Hardest Tech Roles to Fill (+ solutions!)

#3 Some high-level design (HLD) questions

  • What do you understand by HLD? Can you specify the difference between LLD and HLD?
  • Design a social media application. In addition to designing a platform like Twitter with features for following a user, tweeting a post, seeing your tweet, and seeing a user's tweet, design a timeline. After designing a timeline where you can see your followers’ tweets, scale it for a larger audience. If you still have time, try to scale it for a celebrity use case.
  • Design for a train ticket booking application like IRCTC. Incorporate auth, features to choose start and end stations, view available trains and available seats between two stations, save reservation of seats from start to end stations, and lock them till payment confirmation.
  • How will you design a basic relational database? The database should support tables, columns, basic field types like integer and text, foreign keys, and indexes. The way a developer approaches this question is important. A good developer designs a solution around storage and memory management.
Here’s a pro-tip for you. LLD questions can be answered by both beginners and experienced developers. Mostly, senior developers can be expected to answer HLD questions. Choose your interview questions set wisely, and ask questions relevant to your candidate’s experience.

#4 Have you ever worked with SQL? Write queries for a specific use case that requires multiple joins.

Example: Create a table with separate columns for student name, subject, and marks scored. Return student names and ranks of each student. The rank of a student depends on the total of marks in all subjects.

Not all developers would have experience working with SQL but some knowledge about how data is stored/structured is useful. Developers should be familiar with simple concepts like joins, retrieval queries, and the basics of DBMS.

#5 What do you think is wrong with this code?

Instead of asking developer candidates to write code on a piece of paper (which is outdated, anyway), ask them to debug existing code. This is another way to assess their technical skills. Place surreptitious errors in the code and evaluate their attention to detail.

Now that you know exactly what technical skills to look for and when questions to ask when interviewing developers, the time has come to assess the soft skills of these candidates. Part 2 of this blog throws light on the how and why of evaluating candidates based on their communication skills, work ethic, and alignment with the company’s goals.

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Best Pre-Employment Assessments: Optimizing Your Hiring Process for 2024

In today's competitive talent market, attracting and retaining top performers is crucial for any organization's success. However, traditional hiring methods like relying solely on resumes and interviews may not always provide a comprehensive picture of a candidate's skills and potential. This is where pre-employment assessments come into play.

What is Pre-Employement Assessment?

Pre-employment assessments are standardized tests and evaluations administered to candidates before they are hired. These assessments can help you objectively measure a candidate's knowledge, skills, abilities, and personality traits, allowing you to make data-driven hiring decisions.

By exploring and evaluating the best pre-employment assessment tools and tests available, you can:

  • Improve the accuracy and efficiency of your hiring process.
  • Identify top talent with the right skills and cultural fit.
  • Reduce the risk of bad hires.
  • Enhance the candidate experience by providing a clear and objective evaluation process.

This guide will provide you with valuable insights into the different types of pre-employment assessments available and highlight some of the best tools, to help you optimize your hiring process for 2024.

Why pre-employment assessments are key in hiring

While resumes and interviews offer valuable insights, they can be subjective and susceptible to bias. Pre-employment assessments provide a standardized and objective way to evaluate candidates, offering several key benefits:

  • Improved decision-making:

    By measuring specific skills and knowledge, assessments help you identify candidates who possess the qualifications necessary for the job.

  • Reduced bias:

    Standardized assessments mitigate the risks of unconscious bias that can creep into traditional interview processes.

  • Increased efficiency:

    Assessments can streamline the initial screening process, allowing you to focus on the most promising candidates.

  • Enhanced candidate experience:

    When used effectively, assessments can provide candidates with a clear understanding of the required skills and a fair chance to showcase their abilities.

Types of pre-employment assessments

There are various types of pre-employment assessments available, each catering to different needs and objectives. Here's an overview of some common types:

1. Skill Assessments:

  • Technical Skills: These assessments evaluate specific technical skills and knowledge relevant to the job role, such as programming languages, software proficiency, or industry-specific expertise. HackerEarth offers a wide range of validated technical skill assessments covering various programming languages, frameworks, and technologies.
  • Soft Skills: These employment assessments measure non-technical skills like communication, problem-solving, teamwork, and critical thinking, crucial for success in any role.

2. Personality Assessments:

These employment assessments can provide insights into a candidate's personality traits, work style, and cultural fit within your organization.

3. Cognitive Ability Tests:

These tests measure a candidate's general mental abilities, such as reasoning, problem-solving, and learning potential.

4. Integrity Assessments:

These employment assessments aim to identify potential risks associated with a candidate's honesty, work ethic, and compliance with company policies.

By understanding the different types of assessments and their applications, you can choose the ones that best align with your specific hiring needs and ensure you hire the most qualified and suitable candidates for your organization.

Leading employment assessment tools and tests in 2024

Choosing the right pre-employment assessment tool depends on your specific needs and budget. Here's a curated list of some of the top pre-employment assessment tools and tests available in 2024, with brief overviews:

  • HackerEarth:

    A comprehensive platform offering a wide range of validated skill assessments in various programming languages, frameworks, and technologies. It also allows for the creation of custom assessments and integrates seamlessly with various recruitment platforms.

  • SHL:

    Provides a broad selection of assessments, including skill tests, personality assessments, and cognitive ability tests. They offer customizable solutions and cater to various industries.

  • Pymetrics:

    Utilizes gamified assessments to evaluate cognitive skills, personality traits, and cultural fit. They offer a data-driven approach and emphasize candidate experience.

  • Wonderlic:

    Offers a variety of assessments, including the Wonderlic Personnel Test, which measures general cognitive ability. They also provide aptitude and personality assessments.

  • Harver:

    An assessment platform focusing on candidate experience with video interviews, gamified assessments, and skills tests. They offer pre-built assessments and customization options.

Remember: This list is not exhaustive, and further research is crucial to identify the tool that aligns best with your specific needs and budget. Consider factors like the types of assessments offered, pricing models, integrations with your existing HR systems, and user experience when making your decision.

Choosing the right pre-employment assessment tool

Instead of full individual tool reviews, consider focusing on 2–3 key platforms. For each platform, explore:

  • Target audience: Who are their assessments best suited for (e.g., technical roles, specific industries)?
  • Types of assessments offered: Briefly list the available assessment categories (e.g., technical skills, soft skills, personality).
  • Key features: Highlight unique functionalities like gamification, custom assessment creation, or seamless integrations.
  • Effectiveness: Briefly mention the platform's approach to assessment validation and reliability.
  • User experience: Consider including user reviews or ratings where available.

Comparative analysis of assessment options

Instead of a comprehensive comparison, consider focusing on specific use cases:

  • Technical skills assessment:

    Compare HackerEarth and Wonderlic based on their technical skill assessment options, focusing on the variety of languages/technologies covered and assessment formats.

  • Soft skills and personality assessment:

    Compare SHL and Pymetrics based on their approaches to evaluating soft skills and personality traits, highlighting any unique features like gamification or data-driven insights.

  • Candidate experience:

    Compare Harver and Wonderlic based on their focus on candidate experience, mentioning features like video interviews or gamified assessments.

Additional tips:

  • Encourage readers to visit the platforms' official websites for detailed features and pricing information.
  • Include links to reputable third-party review sites where users share their experiences with various tools.

Best practices for using pre-employment assessment tools

Integrating pre-employment assessments effectively requires careful planning and execution. Here are some best practices to follow:

  • Define your assessment goals:

    Clearly identify what you aim to achieve with assessments. Are you targeting specific skills, personality traits, or cultural fit?

  • Choose the right assessments:

    Select tools that align with your defined goals and the specific requirements of the open position.

  • Set clear expectations:

    Communicate the purpose and format of the assessments to candidates in advance, ensuring transparency and building trust.

  • Integrate seamlessly:

    Ensure your chosen assessment tool integrates smoothly with your existing HR systems and recruitment workflow.

  • Train your team:

    Equip your hiring managers and HR team with the knowledge and skills to interpret assessment results effectively.

Interpreting assessment results accurately

Assessment results offer valuable data points, but interpreting them accurately is crucial for making informed hiring decisions. Here are some key considerations:

  • Use results as one data point:

    Consider assessment results alongside other information, such as resumes, interviews, and references, for a holistic view of the candidate.

  • Understand score limitations:

    Don't solely rely on raw scores. Understand the assessment's validity and reliability and the potential for cultural bias or individual test anxiety.

  • Look for patterns and trends:

    Analyze results across different assessments and identify consistent patterns that align with your desired candidate profile.

  • Focus on potential, not guarantees:

    Assessments indicate potential, not guarantees of success. Use them alongside other evaluation methods to make well-rounded hiring decisions.

Choosing the right pre-employment assessment tools

Selecting the most suitable pre-employment assessment tool requires careful consideration of your organization's specific needs. Here are some key factors to guide your decision:

  • Industry and role requirements:

    Different industries and roles demand varying skill sets and qualities. Choose assessments that target the specific skills and knowledge relevant to your open positions.

  • Company culture and values:

    Align your assessments with your company culture and values. For example, if collaboration is crucial, look for assessments that evaluate teamwork and communication skills.

  • Candidate experience:

    Prioritize tools that provide a positive and smooth experience for candidates. This can enhance your employer brand and attract top talent.

Budget and accessibility considerations

Budget and accessibility are essential factors when choosing pre-employment assessments:

  • Budget:

    Assessment tools come with varying pricing models (subscriptions, pay-per-use, etc.). Choose a tool that aligns with your budget and offers the functionalities you need.

  • Accessibility:

    Ensure the chosen assessment is accessible to all candidates, considering factors like language options, disability accommodations, and internet access requirements.

Additional Tips:

  • Free trials and demos: Utilize free trials or demos offered by assessment platforms to experience their functionalities firsthand.
  • Consult with HR professionals: Seek guidance from HR professionals or recruitment specialists with expertise in pre-employment assessments.
  • Read user reviews and comparisons: Gain insights from other employers who use various assessment tools.

By carefully considering these factors, you can select the pre-employment assessment tool that best aligns with your organizational needs, budget, and commitment to an inclusive hiring process.

Remember, pre-employment assessments are valuable tools, but they should not be the sole factor in your hiring decisions. Use them alongside other evaluation methods and prioritize building a fair and inclusive hiring process that attracts and retains top talent.

Future trends in pre-employment assessments

The pre-employment assessment landscape is constantly evolving, with innovative technologies and practices emerging. Here are some potential future trends to watch:

  • Artificial intelligence (AI):

    AI-powered assessments can analyze candidate responses, written work, and even resumes, using natural language processing to extract relevant insights and identify potential candidates.

  • Adaptive testing:

    These assessments adjust the difficulty level of questions based on the candidate's performance, providing a more efficient and personalized evaluation.

  • Micro-assessments:

    Short, focused assessments delivered through mobile devices can assess specific skills or knowledge on-the-go, streamlining the screening process.

  • Gamification:

    Engaging and interactive game-based elements can make the assessment experience more engaging and assess skills in a realistic and dynamic way.

Conclusion

Pre-employment assessments, when used thoughtfully and ethically, can be a powerful tool to optimize your hiring process, identify top talent, and build a successful workforce for your organization. By understanding the different types of assessments available, exploring top-rated tools like HackerEarth, and staying informed about emerging trends, you can make informed decisions that enhance your ability to attract, evaluate, and hire the best candidates for the future.

Tech Layoffs: What To Expect In 2024

Layoffs in the IT industry are becoming more widespread as companies fight to remain competitive in a fast-changing market; many turn to layoffs as a cost-cutting measure. Last year, 1,000 companies including big tech giants and startups, laid off over two lakhs of employees. But first, what are layoffs in the tech business, and how do they impact the industry?

Tech layoffs are the termination of employment for some employees by a technology company. It might happen for various reasons, including financial challenges, market conditions, firm reorganization, or the after-effects of a pandemic. While layoffs are not unique to the IT industry, they are becoming more common as companies look for methods to cut costs while remaining competitive.

The consequences of layoffs in technology may be catastrophic for employees who lose their jobs and the firms forced to make these difficult decisions. Layoffs can result in the loss of skill and expertise and a drop in employee morale and productivity. However, they may be required for businesses to stay afloat in a fast-changing market.

This article will examine the reasons for layoffs in the technology industry, their influence on the industry, and what may be done to reduce their negative impacts. We will also look at the various methods for tracking tech layoffs.

What are tech layoffs?

The term "tech layoff" describes the termination of employees by an organization in the technology industry. A company might do this as part of a restructuring during hard economic times.

In recent times, the tech industry has witnessed a wave of significant layoffs, affecting some of the world’s leading technology companies, including Amazon, Microsoft, Meta (formerly Facebook), Apple, Cisco, SAP, and Sony. These layoffs are a reflection of the broader economic challenges and market adjustments facing the sector, including factors like slowing revenue growth, global economic uncertainties, and the need to streamline operations for efficiency.

Each of these tech giants has announced job cuts for various reasons, though common themes include restructuring efforts to stay competitive and agile, responding to over-hiring during the pandemic when demand for tech services surged, and preparing for a potentially tough economic climate ahead. Despite their dominant positions in the market, these companies are not immune to the economic cycles and technological shifts that influence operational and strategic decisions, including workforce adjustments.

This trend of layoffs in the tech industry underscores the volatile nature of the tech sector, which is often at the mercy of rapid changes in technology, consumer preferences, and the global economy. It also highlights the importance of adaptability and resilience for companies and employees alike in navigating the uncertainties of the tech landscape.

Causes for layoffs in the tech industry

Why are tech employees suffering so much?

Yes, the market is always uncertain, but why resort to tech layoffs?

Various factors cause tech layoffs, including company strategy changes, market shifts, or financial difficulties. Companies may lay off employees if they need help to generate revenue, shift their focus to new products or services, or automate certain jobs.

In addition, some common reasons could be:

Financial struggles

Currently, the state of the global market is uncertain due to economic recession, ongoing war, and other related phenomena. If a company is experiencing financial difficulties, only sticking to pay cuts may not be helpful—it may need to reduce its workforce to cut costs.

Also, read: 6 Steps To Create A Detailed Recruiting Budget (Template Included)

Changes in demand

The tech industry is constantly evolving, and companies would have to adjust their workforce to meet changing market conditions. For instance, companies are adopting remote work culture, which surely affects on-premises activity, and companies could do away with some number of tech employees at the backend.

Restructuring

Companies may also lay off employees as part of a greater restructuring effort, such as spinning off a division or consolidating operations.

Automation

With the advancement in technology and automation, some jobs previously done by human labor may be replaced by machines, resulting in layoffs.

Mergers and acquisitions

When two companies merge, there is often overlap in their operations, leading to layoffs as the new company looks to streamline its workforce.

But it's worth noting that layoffs are not exclusive to the tech industry and can happen in any industry due to uncertainty in the market.

Will layoffs increase in 2024?

It is challenging to estimate the rise or fall of layoffs. The overall state of the economy, the health of certain industries, and the performance of individual companies will play a role in deciding the degree of layoffs in any given year.

But it is also seen that, in the first 15 days of this year, 91 organizations laid off over 24,000 tech workers, and over 1,000 corporations cut down more than 150,000 workers in 2022, according to an Economic Times article.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a huge economic slowdown and forced several businesses to downsize their employees. However, some businesses rehired or expanded their personnel when the world began to recover.

So, given the current level of economic uncertainty, predicting how the situation will unfold is difficult.

Also, read: 4 Images That Show What Developers Think Of Layoffs In Tech

What types of companies are prone to tech layoffs?

2023 Round Up Of Layoffs In Big Tech

Tech layoffs can occur in organizations of all sizes and various areas.

Following are some examples of companies that have experienced tech layoffs in the past:

Large tech firms

Companies such as IBM, Microsoft, Twitter, Better.com, Alibaba, and HP have all experienced layoffs in recent years as part of restructuring initiatives or cost-cutting measures.

Market scenarios are still being determined after Elon Musk's decision to lay off employees. Along with tech giants, some smaller companies and startups have also been affected by layoffs.

Startups

Because they frequently work with limited resources, startups may be forced to lay off staff if they cannot get further funding or need to pivot due to market downfall.

Small and medium-sized businesses

Small and medium-sized businesses face layoffs due to high competition or if the products/services they offer are no longer in demand.

Companies in certain industries

Some sectors of the technological industry, such as the semiconductor industry or automotive industry, may be more prone to layoffs than others.

Companies that lean on government funding

Companies that rely significantly on government contracts may face layoffs if the government cuts technology spending or contracts are not renewed.

How to track tech layoffs?

You can’t stop tech company layoffs, but you should be keeping track of them. We, HR professionals and recruiters, can also lend a helping hand in these tough times by circulating “layoff lists” across social media sites like LinkedIn and Twitter to help people land jobs quicker. Firefish Software put together a master list of sources to find fresh talent during the layoff period.

Because not all layoffs are publicly disclosed, tracking tech industry layoffs can be challenging, and some may go undetected. There are several ways to keep track of tech industry layoffs:

Use tech layoffs tracker

Layoff trackers like thelayoff.com and layoffs.fyi provide up-to-date information on layoffs.

In addition, they aid in identifying trends in layoffs within the tech industry. It can reveal which industries are seeing the most layoffs and which companies are the most affected.

Companies can use layoff trackers as an early warning system and compare their performance to that of other companies in their field.

News articles

Because many news sites cover tech layoffs as they happen, keeping a watch on technology sector stories can provide insight into which organizations are laying off employees and how many individuals have been affected.

Social media

Organizations and employees frequently publish information about layoffs in tech on social media platforms; thus, monitoring companies' social media accounts or following key hashtags can provide real-time updates regarding layoffs.

Online forums and communities

There are online forums and communities dedicated to discussing tech industry news, and they can be an excellent source of layoff information.

Government reports

Government agencies such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) publish data on layoffs and unemployment, which can provide a more comprehensive picture of the technology industry's status.

How do companies reduce tech layoffs?

Layoffs in tech are hard – for the employee who is losing their job, the recruiter or HR professional who is tasked with informing them, and the company itself. So, how can we aim to avoid layoffs? Here are some ways to minimize resorting to letting people go:

Salary reductions

Instead of laying off employees, businesses can lower the salaries or wages of all employees. It can be accomplished by instituting compensation cuts or salary freezes.

Implementing a hiring freeze

Businesses can halt employing new personnel to cut costs. It can be a short-term solution until the company's financial situation improves.

Also, read: What Recruiters Can Focus On During A Tech Hiring Freeze

Non-essential expense reduction

Businesses might search for ways to cut or remove non-essential expenses such as travel, training, and office expenses.

Reducing working hours

Companies can reduce employee working hours to save money, such as implementing a four-day workweek or a shorter workday.

These options may not always be viable and may have their problems, but before laying off, a company owes it to its people to consider every other alternative, and formulate the best solution.

Tech layoffs to bleed into this year

While we do not know whether this trend will continue or subside during 2023, we do know one thing. We have to be prepared for a wave of layoffs that is still yet to hit. As of last month, Layoffs.fyi had already tracked 170+ companies conducting 55,970 layoffs in 2023.

So recruiters, let’s join arms, distribute those layoff lists like there’s no tomorrow, and help all those in need of a job! :)

What is Headhunting In Recruitment?: Types & How Does It Work?

In today’s fast-paced world, recruiting talent has become increasingly complicated. Technological advancements, high workforce expectations and a highly competitive market have pushed recruitment agencies to adopt innovative strategies for recruiting various types of talent. This article aims to explore one such recruitment strategy – headhunting.

What is Headhunting in recruitment?

In headhunting, companies or recruitment agencies identify, engage and hire highly skilled professionals to fill top positions in the respective companies. It is different from the traditional process in which candidates looking for job opportunities approach companies or recruitment agencies. In headhunting, executive headhunters, as recruiters are referred to, approach prospective candidates with the hiring company’s requirements and wait for them to respond. Executive headhunters generally look for passive candidates, those who work at crucial positions and are not on the lookout for new work opportunities. Besides, executive headhunters focus on filling critical, senior-level positions indispensable to companies. Depending on the nature of the operation, headhunting has three types. They are described later in this article. Before we move on to understand the types of headhunting, here is how the traditional recruitment process and headhunting are different.

How do headhunting and traditional recruitment differ from each other?

Headhunting is a type of recruitment process in which top-level managers and executives in similar positions are hired. Since these professionals are not on the lookout for jobs, headhunters have to thoroughly understand the hiring companies’ requirements and study the work profiles of potential candidates before creating a list.

In the traditional approach, there is a long list of candidates applying for jobs online and offline. Candidates approach recruiters for jobs. Apart from this primary difference, there are other factors that define the difference between these two schools of recruitment.

AspectHeadhuntingTraditional RecruitmentCandidate TypePrimarily passive candidateActive job seekersApproachFocused on specific high-level rolesBroader; includes various levelsScopeproactive outreachReactive: candidates applyCostGenerally more expensive due to expertise requiredTypically lower costsControlManaged by headhuntersManaged internally by HR teams

All the above parameters will help you to understand how headhunting differs from traditional recruitment methods, better.

Types of headhunting in recruitment

Direct headhunting: In direct recruitment, hiring teams reach out to potential candidates through personal communication. Companies conduct direct headhunting in-house, without outsourcing the process to hiring recruitment agencies. Very few businesses conduct this type of recruitment for top jobs as it involves extensive screening across networks outside the company’s expanse.

Indirect headhunting: This method involves recruiters getting in touch with their prospective candidates through indirect modes of communication such as email and phone calls. Indirect headhunting is less intrusive and allows candidates to respond at their convenience.Third-party recruitment: Companies approach external recruitment agencies or executive headhunters to recruit highly skilled professionals for top positions. This method often leverages the company’s extensive contact network and expertise in niche industries.

How does headhunting work?

Finding highly skilled professionals to fill critical positions can be tricky if there is no system for it. Expert executive headhunters employ recruitment software to conduct headhunting efficiently as it facilitates a seamless recruitment process for executive headhunters. Most software is AI-powered and expedites processes like candidate sourcing, interactions with prospective professionals and upkeep of communication history. This makes the process of executive search in recruitment a little bit easier. Apart from using software to recruit executives, here are the various stages of finding high-calibre executives through headhunting.

Identifying the role

Once there is a vacancy for a top job, one of the top executives like a CEO, director or the head of the company, reach out to the concerned personnel with their requirements. Depending on how large a company is, they may choose to headhunt with the help of an external recruiting agency or conduct it in-house. Generally, the task is assigned to external recruitment agencies specializing in headhunting. Executive headhunters possess a database of highly qualified professionals who work in crucial positions in some of the best companies. This makes them the top choice of conglomerates looking to hire some of the best talents in the industry.

Defining the job

Once an executive headhunter or a recruiting agency is finalized, companies conduct meetings to discuss the nature of the role, how the company works, the management hierarchy among other important aspects of the job. Headhunters are expected to understand these points thoroughly and establish a clear understanding of their expectations and goals.

Candidate identification and sourcing

Headhunters analyse and understand the requirements of their clients and begin creating a pool of suitable candidates from their database. The professionals are shortlisted after conducting extensive research of job profiles, number of years of industry experience, professional networks and online platforms.

Approaching candidates

Once the potential candidates have been identified and shortlisted, headhunters move on to get in touch with them discreetly through various communication channels. As such candidates are already working at top level positions at other companies, executive headhunters have to be low-key while doing so.

Assessment and Evaluation

In this next step, extensive screening and evaluation of candidates is conducted to determine their suitability for the advertised position.

Interviews and negotiations

Compensation is a major topic of discussion among recruiters and prospective candidates. A lot of deliberation and negotiation goes on between the hiring organization and the selected executives which is facilitated by the headhunters.

Finalizing the hire

Things come to a close once the suitable candidates accept the job offer. On accepting the offer letter, headhunters help finalize the hiring process to ensure a smooth transition.

The steps listed above form the blueprint for a typical headhunting process. Headhunting has been crucial in helping companies hire the right people for crucial positions that come with great responsibility. However, all systems have a set of challenges no matter how perfect their working algorithm is. Here are a few challenges that talent acquisition agencies face while headhunting.

Common challenges in headhunting

Despite its advantages, headhunting also presents certain challenges:

Cost Implications: Engaging headhunters can be more expensive than traditional recruitment methods due to their specialized skills and services.

Time-Consuming Process: While headhunting can be efficient, finding the right candidate for senior positions may still take time due to thorough evaluation processes.

Market Competition: The competition for top talent is fierce; organizations must present compelling offers to attract passive candidates away from their current roles.

Although the above mentioned factors can pose challenges in the headhunting process, there are more upsides than there are downsides to it. Here is how headhunting has helped revolutionize the recruitment of high-profile candidates.

Advantages of Headhunting

Headhunting offers several advantages over traditional recruitment methods:

Access to Passive Candidates: By targeting individuals who are not actively seeking new employment, organisations can access a broader pool of highly skilled professionals.

Confidentiality: The discreet nature of headhunting protects both candidates’ current employment situations and the hiring organisation’s strategic interests.

Customized Search: Headhunters tailor their search based on the specific needs of the organization, ensuring a better fit between candidates and company culture.

Industry Expertise: Many headhunters specialise in particular sectors, providing valuable insights into market dynamics and candidate qualifications.

Conclusion

Although headhunting can be costly and time-consuming, it is one of the most effective ways of finding good candidates for top jobs. Executive headhunters face several challenges maintaining the g discreetness while getting in touch with prospective clients. As organizations navigate increasingly competitive markets, understanding the nuances of headhunting becomes vital for effective recruitment strategies. To keep up with the technological advancements, it is better to optimise your hiring process by employing online recruitment software like HackerEarth, which enables companies to conduct multiple interviews and evaluation tests online, thus improving candidate experience. By collaborating with skilled headhunters who possess industry expertise and insights into market trends, companies can enhance their chances of securing high-caliber professionals who drive success in their respective fields.

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