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Importance of adaptability featured image

The COVID-19 pandemic shook the world to its core. Work-from-home policies, Zoom meetings, and the need to adapt took center stage.  When things calmed down, some companies rolled back on remote work and pushed return-to-office mandates, while others withdrew their Zoom Business subscriptions. But adaptability stuck around. It’s become essential in a world where change is constant and fast – and where businesses that can’t keep up risk falling behind.  Below, we break down what adaptability at w

Why is adaptability important in the workplace? 

Blog thumbnail Why is work ethic important

Sometimes, even companies with the latest tech, best processes, skilled talent, and market demand don’t work out.  While this leaves many scratching their heads, it often boils down to poor work ethics. When team members aren’t as committed and dedicated to their jobs as they should be, things can quickly go south.  Want to avoid this mess? We’re here to help.  In this guide, we break down what work ethic is and look at some eye-opening stats on why it’s non-negotiable. We also explore what lead

Why is work ethic important? The statistics

Blog thumbnail What is a personality hire

Popularized on TikTok, personality hires are usually known for their charming personalities, using their communication abilities and can-do attitude to build strong relationships and strengthen workplace culture.  However, sometimes hiring someone for their personality means overlooking their other abilities. And when they lack the skills needed for the job, this can put pressure on your team.  So, is hiring for personality really worth it? Read on to learn about the pros and cons of a personali

What is a personality hire?

Human resources

What is departmentalization featured image

Departmentalization is the process of splitting an organization into distinct units or departments where similar jobs and functions are grouped together. It's a way to organize work, responsibilities, and people to help your business run more efficiently. For example, a growing tech company might have separate departments for: Product development - where engineers build and improve the product Marketing - where the team handles promotion and brand awareness Customer support - where specialists h

What is departmentalization?

Hiring & recruiting

The word “workation” is a portmanteau – a blend of the words “work” and “vacation.” It’s when professionals work from places people typically visit on vacation. Like a traditional vacation, workations are temporary trips, often to a single location, after which the employee returns to their usual place of work. Data from the Survey of Working Arrangements and Attitudes shows that remote work is most common in finance, tech, and professional and business services and is usually associated with hy

What is a workation?

A recruitment drive is a short period of focused recruitment activity. Its purpose is to bring in new hires quickly or fill multiple roles simultaneously.  A recruiting drive usually occurs before a period of peak business activity or if a company needs to scale up operations quickly. For example, retail businesses may conduct a recruitment drive ahead of the holidays, or a tech start-up may ramp up recruitment before launching a new product. 

What is a recruitment drive?

Proximity bias is our natural tendency to favor people we see in person over those we don't. In the workplace, it means partiality to employees who work in the office over those who work remotely or in different locations.  While connecting more easily with people we see daily is natural, this bias can create unfair advantages in hybrid and remote work settings. 


What is proximity bias?

What are Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) featured image

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are quantifiable metrics that help you measure your progress toward specific business goals and strategic objectives. Think of them as the mini aims you can set for your team to help them reach organizational targets. For example, time to hire, turnover percentage per quarter, and annual employee engagement scores are all important HR KPIs.  KPIs usually have an X-per-Y relationship, where X is a metric, and Y is a timeframe or category. For example, if you work

What are Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)?

With a new US president, the continued rise of AI, and evolving employee expectations, the future is shaping up to be somewhat of a rollercoaster for the labor market. While challenges lie ahead, there are also exciting opportunities for growth.  Below, we look at six labor market trends to expect in the future – sharing our insights and practical advice on how to navigate the future of work and help your business and its workforce thrive. 

6 key labor market insights shaping the future of work

Employment screening is a process employers use to verify the skills, backgrounds, and qualifications of job applicants.  The most traditional ways to do this are through pre-employment background checks that look at a candidate's criminal record, employment history, and education, as well as reference checks to vet their skills and experiences with their previous employers. Depending on the role, some companies also put applicants through drug testing and credit checks – for instance, in the he

What is employment screening?

A positive onboarding experience can make or break a new hire’s decision to stay with your organization. It also has an ongoing impact on employee engagement, job satisfaction, and company culture.  But how? Read on to learn key onboarding statistics that explain this and more. 

Onboarding statistics: Everything you need to know

Several large organizations – including Dell and Amazon – recently announced mandatory, full-time return-to-office mandates. Despite this, hybrid work remains a popular compromise for many employers and their employees.  But what benefits does hybrid work offer businesses and workers, what challenges does it raise, and how can employers implement it strategically? In this article, we answer these questions and more by diving into key hybrid work statistics.  How we researched this topic We revie

Hybrid work statistics: Everything you need to know

employment verification letter featured image

Asking for an employment verification letter can feel a little nerve-wracking, but it’s a normal request – no need to stress or put it off. The process is also more straightforward than you might think. This guide outlines four easy steps for requesting an employee verification letter. Keep reading, and you’ll be able to do it in no time! Key takeaways Find the right contact and process. Figure out who handles employment verification and follow any required forms or procedures. Use company resou

How to ask for an employment verification letter

Skills-based hiring

are graduates career ready featured image 

A recent survey revealed that over 60% of employers aren’t confident that their current talent pipeline solutions will meet their workforce needs in the next 5-10 years. One particular solution they're concerned about is the education-to-workforce pipeline – many employers (40%) feel that graduates aren’t career-ready when they join the workforce.[1] Employers must do something about their lost confidence in the graduate pipeline. The question is – what? In this article, we take a deep dive into

Are graduates career-ready? 40% of employers don’t think so. What’s going on?

Job restructuring involves changing a job's duties, responsibilities, or setup to better meet the needs of a business or its employees.  Here are a few common types of job restructuring strategies.  Task changes: Adjusting the nature of the work – for example, asking writers to switch from traditional to AI-assisted writing.  Schedule changes: Tweaking shifts or work hours – for instance, to accommodate an employee’s caregiving responsibilities.  Combining roles: Merging two roles into one, such

What is job restructuring?

Remote work statistics Everything you need to know featured image

The rise of remote work is the biggest change the workforce has experienced in recent years – and it’s still evolving. Although the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically accelerated the development, recent statistics show that working from home in some form is the new normal for millions of Americans. Managing remote teams effectively can be difficult. The lack of physical presence can raise concerns about employee engagement, productivity, and company culture. In this guide, we explore remote work sta

Remote work statistics: Everything you need to know

work life balance statistics featured image

Work-life balance is a big topic for workplaces today, but what do the numbers say?  We’ve created this research-packed article on work-life balance statistics to show how balance affects employees and companies. We also share tips on how to measure work-life balance and how you can improve it at your company. 

Work-life balance statistics: Everything you need to know

How to deal with surges in application volume featured image

Today’s recruiters and hiring managers are often buried under a mountain of job applications – many of which aren’t even close to a good fit for the role.  We’ve been there and know how frustrating it is. You spend hours sifting through resumes and cover letters – time you could have used to develop and implement key talent acquisition strategies. Worse, the panic to get through these applications often leads to rushed decisions, hiring mistakes, and missed opportunities.   But there’s good news

How to deal with surges in application volume 

company culture statistics featured image

“Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” This quote by management consultant Peter Drucker sums up the importance of an effective workplace culture for organizational success. But how does culture affect employees and businesses, and what can they do to improve it? Read our complete list of company culture statistics for these insights and more.  


Company culture statistics: Everything you need to know

Employee onboarding is the process of helping new hires settle into their roles and feel like part of the team. It's not just about filling out paperwork or covering policies. Good onboarding programs also introduce new joiners to the company’s culture and mission, give them the right tools and training, and help guarantee they know what’s expected of them.  Done right, the employee onboarding process helps new hires hit the ground running and sets them up for long-term success. 

What is employee onboarding?

Background screening involves checking that your applicant is exactly who they say they are on paper. This might include checking identifying documents like passports, public records, previous employment, qualifications, and criminal history to ensure they’ve been honest on their application.  There’s no legal requirement to conduct background checks (other than an identity check), but vetting a candidate thoroughly helps you avoid any nasty surprises down the line, especially once you’ve alread

What is background screening?

Hiring trends for 2025 Challenges and opportunities for employers featured image

Last year, we called some of the top hiring trends in 2024, including replacing resumes with skills-based hiring, focusing on internal mobility, and embracing virtual hiring.  So, what does next year hold for hiring teams and employers?  Discover our 7 predictions for 2025 and expert tips for staying ahead and standing out as an employer.  


Hiring trends for 2025: Challenges and opportunities for employers

what is cultural alignment featured image

A company’s culture is its unique personality – its shared values, beliefs, goals, and practices. Cultural alignment occurs when all members of the organization are on the same page with: Why things are done – the company's mission What things are done – its goals and objectives, and   How things are done – the company’s working practices, preferred communication styles, and work ethics Cultural alignment is often confused with “culture fit.” While they’re related concepts, culture fit looks at 

What is cultural alignment?

When hiring, you might wonder whether personality type matters when selecting a candidate. And if it does, when is it relevant?  Traditional hiring processes often favor extroverts, who are generally more outgoing and confident, particularly during interviews. This bias means you might miss out on a highly-skilled, introverted candidate. And when we consider that 56% of Americans say they prefer introversion, you’re really limiting your talent pool.  But how do you ensure you evaluate candidates

Hiring introverts vs. extroverts: 4 things to consider

What is internal consistency? Internal consistency is a term that describes how well the different parts of something align or fit together. The term is often used in the context of organizations and testing.  Internal consistency within an organization could refer to how well its code of conduct, corporate policies, and leaders’ behaviors line up and reinforce one another.  In the context of testing and assessments, internal consistency refers to how well test items or sets of test items measur

What is internal consistency and how can you use it to improve your skills assessments?

Top qualities of a good employer featured image

The definition of a good employer has changed significantly over time, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. Where “good” was once synonymous with high pay, today's talent wants more than just money.  The tricky part? Employers are still focusing on things employees no longer care about, and it’s costing them their best people.

But don’t sweat it – we’re here to help. Below, we show you what being a good employer means today from both the employer and employee perspectives. Plus, we’ll share 

Top qualities of a good employer

For job seekers

how to learn about company culture featured image

Whether you’ve snagged a job offer or are seeking opportunities, you might ask yourself: Is this company right for me? And if you’re not, you should. Researching your next employer’s company culture is vital for making sure it fits your values, development trajectory, and work-life balance needs. Otherwise, you risk joining a workplace with high burnout levels and underappreciation – and you’ll likely rejoin the job market sooner than expected. In this article, we break down how to learn about c

How to learn about company culture (before you take the job!) + free checklist

What is a skills audit?   A skills audit is a process where you evaluate the skills and abilities of your employees through a mix of assessments and feedback.  It typically involves looking at technical skills, soft skills, and other qualities to get a complete picture of each team member’s strengths and areas for improvement. This insight helps businesses make data-driven decisions about employee development, hiring, and team restructuring. 

What is a skills audit and how do you conduct one?

Several organizations have committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). In fact, the DEI global market was $10.9 billion in 2023 and is projected to increase to $24.4 billion by 2030. [1] However, a commitment to building a diverse workforce won’t lead to results without a considered approach.  The key to accessing the benefits of diversity? We believe it’s intentional inclusion.  Below, we dive into intentional inclusion – what it is, its benefits, and how to use this approach to ensure

Intentional inclusion: What it is and how to implement it at work

Job-relatedness is a key concept in recruiting. It looks at whether the requirements (AKA “criteria”) of a job – including skills and qualifications – are related or relevant enough to the job to justify the company requiring them. This concept is important to various aspects of hiring – where your job requirements inform everything from your recruitment materials to your candidate assessments.  

What is job relatedness and how can you use it to create better skills assessments?

What makes a good employee featured image

What makes an employee “good” has evolved dramatically over time and is continuing to change rapidly – even in a matter of a few years. Companies have hired people who were perfect for their jobs at the time, but their qualities became obsolete as things evolved. Maybe they couldn’t keep up or just didn’t fit in anymore.  To complicate matters, employers and employees don’t always agree on what makes a “good” worker – leading to mismatches in workplace expectations and satisfaction.  These issue

Top qualities of a good employee

What is the horn effect, and how does it impact hiring featured image

Despite their best efforts, many employers hire the wrong candidates for their open positions, leading to confusion and frustration. One culprit? A cognitive bias called the “horn effect.“ So, how can you prevent this bias? With our help – that's how! Below, we explain what the horn effect is and how it impacts your hiring process. We also share practical tips for curbing it and other hiring biases so you can attract and hire the best talent for your company. 

What is the horn effect, and how does it impact hiring?

How ghost jobs kill successful hiring featured image

Ghost jobs – job postings for roles that don’t exist – are on the rise. While many employers think they’re just gathering market intel or staying relevant, ghost jobs can seriously backfire. They not only shake candidates’ trust in fair hiring practices but can also damage your company’s reputation and employer brand.  We get it – the market is tough, and you want to stay competitive. But posting ghost jobs is risky business. In this article, we dive deep into ghost jobs and their dangers for em

How ghost jobs kill successful hiring

How to use strategic HR data analysis featured image

According to human capital consulting firm Aon, “harnessing data and analytics to make better workforce decisions” is one of the top five HR trends in 2024. [1]  While many organizations have quickly jumped on this trend, only 22% of HR professionals feel their company uses HR or people analytics effectively. [2]  If you’re one of the 78% of HR professionals who believe their organization is underutilizing these tools, read on. We explore how HR analytics is a powerful tool for delivering detail

How to use strategic HR data analysis to unlock long-term success

what is counterproductive behaviour featured image

Ever caught an employee swiping office supplies? Have you noticed a team member regularly slacking off? If so, you’re witnessing counterproductive work behavior (CWB).  CWB can crop up in several ways for various reasons – and it seriously impacts your company's productivity, morale, and more.  But don’t panic – we have your back. In this guide, we break down what CWB is, why it happens, and how to stop it. Plus, we'll show you how to build a team that's less likely to cause trouble in the first

What is counterproductive work behavior (CWB)? + How to fix & prevent it

How to be an equal opportunity employer featured image

Being an equal opportunity employer is crucial to attracting top talent and avoiding costly legal issues. However, knowing where to start when navigating your obligations and creating a fair and inclusive workplace can be challenging.  To help you out, we’ve created this guide to being an equal opportunity employer, including the laws you need to know and strategies you can start implementing today.

How to be an equal opportunity employer

How to write a letter of recommendation featured image

It’s a privilege to write a letter of recommendation and help someone snag their dream job. But it’s not exactly effortless. Your letter must strike the right tone, answer employers’ top questions, and feel personal enough to stand out. Plus, a growing emphasis on skills-based hiring makes it doubly important to write a letter of recommendation that’s backed up with detailed achievements and examples. But don’t worry, while writing recommendation letters is an art, it’s not rocket science. In th

How to write a letter of recommendation: Templates, examples, and tips

9 steps to effective competency mapping featured image


Creating an effective competency mapping process is essential to ensure your team has the skills needed to hit your company’s goals. Without a solid approach, you’re likely to waste resources on a process that doesn’t truly identify skills gaps, leading to underperformance and missed targets. Don’t worry, though! This article will walk you through building a competency mapping framework that works, helping you avoid the costly cycle of continuous underperformance. We’ve even included a free cust

9 steps to effective competency mapping

Talent assessment

What is competency mapping featured image

As a hiring manager, your biggest fear is probably hiring the wrong person for the job. But it shouldn’t be. Your biggest fear should be hiring the wrong person for the job over and over again without understanding why it keeps happening. Without a clear and systematic approach to hiring, how could anyone expect to consistently find the right candidates? This is where competency mapping comes in. It gives hiring managers a reliable framework to eliminate the dreaded costly mis-hires. In this gui

What is competency mapping?

What is skill issue in the workplace featured image

At a time when business needs and technology are shifting at breakneck speed, skill issues are on the rise. A recent survey found that 70% of leaders reported skill issues in the workplace that are halting innovation and productivity.

But what is a skill issue, and how can you identify, address and prevent them? Fear not – we’ve written this article to break down everything you need to know. You’ll learn the different types of skill issues, how to identify them with TestGorilla, and the best wa

What is a skill issue in the workplace?

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