HR pros lack confidence in skills assessments, SHRM/Mercer study says

HR professionals don't have much confidence in their organizations' ability to assess entry-level candidates' skills, according to a new report from Mercer and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). Entry-Level Applicant Job Skills Survey reports that only one-fifth of the more than 520 survey respondents trusted assessment methods. The survey also found that less than half of employers use selection tests for entry-level hiring (42%), which is described as one of the most accurate indicators of performance, and few test for personality (13%) and cognitive ability (10%). Instead, most rely on resumes and interviews.