In HRchat episode 802, assessment expert Dr. Deborah Kerr dives into why the science of hiring remains “broken” despite decades of research and how validated assessment tools can transform results.
Dr. Kerr and I discuss the startling statistics: managers get hiring decisions wrong approximately 80% of the time, according to Gallup research, with human cognitive biases being the primary culprit. Your brain’s natural tendencies toward confirmation bias, overconfidence, and anchoring on first impressions sabotage objective decision-making in ways most hiring managers never recognize.
Perhaps most surprisingly, many common hiring practices lack scientific validity. Experience as indicated on resumes shows almost no correlation with future job performance. Those “years of experience required” in your job descriptions? Research suggests they’re nearly worthless as predictors of success.
What actually works? Validated, predictive assessments that measure cognitive ability (the strongest predictor across all jobs), followed by personality traits and work culture fit. When these assessments form the foundation of a structured hiring process – complete with targeted interview questions and job simulations – organizations experience dramatically better outcomes.
For HR professionals, this episode provides actionable insights to transform hiring processes, reduce costly turnover, and make the business case for evidence-based hiring practices. The technical knowledge exists – now it’s time to close the research-practice gap and revolutionize how we match people to jobs.