With online recruitment growing*, SHL, the world-leading provider of psychometric assessment and development solutions, is to launch a tool that it believes will solve the problem of potential dishonesty in remote tests.

Called SHL Verifyâ„¢, the new tool is designed to make HR directors feel confident in online testing without having to face significant increases in time or costs.

Recent SHL research showed that whilst HR directors recognised that online testing delivered time savings in sifting and selecting candidates and even improved the likelihood of choosing the right candidate, they were still wary due to the remoteness and security of the test. This is not helped by research results which also showed that, 85% of people believe that it is easier to cheat in an online test and 94% of HR Directors expect candidates to bend the truth during an interview.

The HR challenge, says SHL, is to cut through the volume of candidates to identify those most suitable for the more expensive stages of the recruitment process.

Earlier research among existing SHL customers brought to light the need for greater security against possible fraudsters who either get help in the online test or ask someone else to sit it in its entirety.

SHL Verify was developed in response to this customer feedback in the hope of providing recruiters and candidates alike with a new and fair online solution that it believes will revolutionise recruitment by eliminating the risk whilst still offering a modern, online solution.

Kevin Kerrigan, Managing Director of SHL UK, commented, “In our experience there is no doubt that companies using online assessment testing have improved their organisation’s ability to identify suitable candidates early on. Testing allows for a transparent, fair, scientifically based and independent assessment of these large volumes of candidates.

“However warning bells are obviously ringing with HR directors when they hear that around 85% of UK adults think that it is easier to cheat in a test if it is taken online. Although this may be true with some online tests it is no longer an option with SHL Verify.”

Kerrigan added: “The verification process is scientifically-based and SHL Verify is supported by unprecedented levels of security and data forensics to ensure the integrity and reliability of the online process is protected.”

Whilst HR directors recognise that online testing delivers time-savings in sifting and selecting candidates and improves the likelihood of choosing the right individual, they are still wary and uncomfortable with deploying these tools for two main reasons:
1. The remoteness and security of the test ie, “how do I know that the candidate in front of me produced that online test result earlier in the process?

2. The impression of the employer brand left with the candidate during and after the process.
Kerrigan continues, “Earlier research among existing SHL customers brought to light the need for greater security against possible cheats who either get help in the online test or ask someone else to sit it in its entirety.

“SHL Verify was developed in response to this customer feedback to provide recruiters and candidates alike with a new and fair online alternative that will revolutionise recruitment by eliminating the risk, whilst still offering a modern, online solution. Removing this last major hurdle will lead to better candidate selection, improved productivity and an increase in diversity of the workforce – this is the potential that has existed but eluded recruiters in the past.

“The employer brand is ultimately protected by a fair and transparent process which delivers a positive candidate experience, which increasingly they demand be online.”

SHL Verify is packaged in a 2-stage testing process:

1. The Verify Ability Test

This is a rigorous ability test that is taken unsupervised online, allowing candidates from all over the world to complete it. This test introduces a greater degree of quality, security and flexibility over current screening tools.

2. The Verification Test

This revolutionary second test has been designed to scientifically verify the performance of the short-listed applicants who completed the first online test. It can be completed in minutes and is automatically cross checked requiring no additional analysis by the recruiter

Kerrigan adds, “SHL Verify removes the need for lengthy supervised testing sessions, allowing companies to bring the full power of an ability test to the front of the hiring process and only invest time in the very best candidates.”

The benefits of using SHL Verify over traditional offline / online methods are numerous:

• Randomised Item Content – candidates receive a unique set of questions which ensures that tests do not suffer due to over-exposure

• Protection against ‘cheating’ as the verification test double-checks the results of the initial unsupervised online test

• The time and cost of the resources required to manage offline, supervised testing process is significant. SHL Verify online testing significantly reduces these time and cost drains.

SHL Verify will provide employers with more accurate and powerful results, providing a measure of an applicant’s ability in a shorter amount of time than traditional ability tests, making it suitable for selection and speeding up the hiring of new employees. Because each applicant receives a unique test, content security is improved preventing test contents being shared across candidates, thus reducing the risk of cheating.

Kerrigan concludes, “SHL is aware of the reservations held by employers regarding online testing and has responded by providing an even more advanced solution in SHL Verify. Organisations can now use online testing knowing that while they are saving time and money they are identifying the candidates with most ability while protecting the integrity of their hiring process.”

About SHL Group PLC

SHL is the world-leading provider of psychometric assessment and development solutions.

Tags: online psychometric tests, recruitment, interviews,

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