How Job Simulations Ensure Quality Talent Acquisition

In 2022, there is an increasingly popular and straightforward parameter to rate a candidate's talent for a specific job opening. It is a targeted talent identification strategy where candidates are assessed based on their performance on a live project.

Here, the employer can preferably assign a task similar to a live project on which the selected candidate is supposed to work on getting hired. This method of candidate evaluation is called job simulation, and they help organizations and recruiters find suitable talent quickly. Probably one of the reasons why top recruiters are considering adding job simulations to their traditional CV screening and talent assessment methods.

What are Job Simulations?

Job simulations are candidate skill assessment strategies; or, in simple words, recruitment tests. It involves a predominantly virtual recreation of the work environment where the candidates are expected to perform the given tasks and tackle the challenges at work.

The task might be a replica of the work that the employees are expected to do daily, sample work, or a challenging situation that demands timely decision-making. Above all, job simulations help organizations set their expectations and display their work culture. At the same time, candidates could get an idea about the nature of the job and the company culture even before joining.

Job Simulations are Becoming an Integral Part of the Hiring Process

A conventional hiring process usually involves a few steps: CV screening, cover letter assessment, prescreening interviews, aptitude test, group discussions, technical round, interview, an HR round, etc. While CV screening and an interview round can only give a partial idea about the candidate's skills and potential, job simulations can give you the heads up that you will acquire the best cultural fit for the given open position.

A CV could be made attractive with apt keywords, understanding the best writing tricks, or even getting your CV done by a CV expert. Also, a candidate can impress their interviewer with exceptional communication skills. Therefore, smart recruiters made job simulations an integral part of their hiring process to assess the candidates' ability to perform the essential responsibilities in addition to their other skills.

Advantages of using Job Simulations
  1. Enables recruiters to test a candidate's job-relevant skills beforehand.
  2. It helps HR departments get deeper insights into the existing talent pool.
  3. It empowers candidates by providing a level playing field.
  4. It helps the onboarding team arrange for specific skill enhancement and personalized training for the candidates.
  5. It helps accelerate an organization's recruitment process.
Types of Job Simulation Techniques

1. Role-playing Job Simulation: This assessment is mainly done for managerial positions where experience and the comfort of being the best fit are vital factors. The tasks usually involve managing a team, professional communication, group discussions, strategy building, conducting an interview, etc. This helps you identify leadership skills and the initiative nature.

2. Work Sample Job Simulation: This is a traditionally used skill assessment technique where the candidates are tested to perform a specific task. This assessment covers a part of their core functionality and tests their theory and practical knowledge.

3. In-basket Job Simulation: This simulation technique is an efficient way to understand how a candidate deals with a critical responsibility that requires a time-limited specific approach.

4. Situational Job Simulation: This technique is used for selecting candidates for job positions that demand a problem-solving attitude. These tests usually comprise situational challenges which test the candidate's decision-making capability. An assessment is based on the reasoning behind the decision, time taken to arrive at the solution, problem-solving approach, and the net outcome of the decision.

Fast Fact!- Amazon's work Simulation is a 50-minute online assessment consisting of 5 modules. It is designed to put a candidate in the shoes of an Amazon employee and assess his/her problem-solving ability.

5. Take Home Assignments as Job Simulation: It is one of the most straightforward and widely used talent assessment strategies. This involves giving your selected candidates an assignment with instructions to complete the task along with a submission deadline.

Challenges of Implementing Job Simulations in Your Hiring Process

High or unpredictable costs, resource requirements, and the time involved in automating a job simulation within your existing recruitment pipeline are some of the most common challenges.

But organizations who outsource talent acquisition are concerned about whether a step such as job simulation can be implemented in the screening strategy of their recruitment partner working for them. To be sure, it is achievable using a client-centric recruitment platform solution that offers a customizable talent acquisition strategy where the client's needs are given prime importance.

To Sum up

Job simulations are increasingly becoming popular in growing organizations with specialized skill requirements. This assessment accurately evaluates a candidate's willingness to take up the job responsibilities and is a real-time indicator of how they will contribute to the company's growth. This also helps reduce candidate attrition rates and hiring cost and resources as it enables opting out from the candidate’s end and filtration from the recruiter’s end during an early stage of the talent acquisition process.

Considering its immense benefits, it is a must-try recruitment strategy for all enterprises ranging from start-ups looking to fill niche job roles to global corporations planning to hire in bulk successfully.

Fill this form by populating the Template Name with "Job simulation" to receive a go-to list as to which job simulation format can be used for various job roles.

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Vidhya V,

22th July 2022

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