Imagine someone gives you a mystery box. What's the first thing you'd do? You'd likely assess the box and try to predict what is inside. 

Now imagine someone presents you with a few mystery boxes, each with different contents, and asks you to choose one. You'd probably repeat the process to try and understand the boxes better before choosing the right one. When you apply this same process when evaluating candidates, it is called a behavioral assessment.

More than a "yes or no" questionnaire

Is it actually necessary to conduct a behavioral assessment when hiring? The answer may not be straightforward.

Behavior is a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and environmental factors. Determining if a candidate is the right fit for the organization or team, especially in client-facing roles, goes beyond just looking at their resume, skills, work experiences, achievements, and career gaps. Behavioral assessments can help you be sure you're hiring someone who's right for the company's culture and needs.

80% of the Fortune 500 companies use MBTI personality test. 

Recruiters in the driver's seat

When recruiters make behavioral assessments a vital part of the hiring pipeline, they're able to land the right hire. Let's further explore the "why" behind adopting behavioral assessments.

Candidate authenticity beyond a resume

Each candidate possesses a distinct set of qualities—attitude, personality, values, strengths, and weaknesses—and behavioral assessments are designed to reveal these traits. Recruiters can gain deeper insights into the candidate's potential and empathize with their actions, motivations, and potential tendencies, giving them an added advantage beyond what can be seen on a resume.

Keep the bias at bay

When you look through a pink-tinted window, the world appears pink. The same works with prejudice and how our mind is conditioned to believe stereotypes. Behavioral assessments help reduce bias with a fair and data-driven process that focuses on roles, soft skills, and culture fit rather than appearance or background. This assures greater diversity in the workplace.

Find the perfect culture fit

Some argue that when recruiters identify the perfect culture fit, they are simply bringing in individuals who think alike, leading to overcrowding. In truth, recruiters discover distinctive candidates who mesh well, like fitting pieces of a puzzle. Behavioral assessments lend a hand in finding the unique fit by predicting the candidate's alignment with the company and culture, as well as their learning capacity, initiative, commitment, and future performance within the organization. 

Retaining top talent 

Finding the right talent in a competitive marketplace is one challenge, while retaining them is another. Using behavioral assessments can help ensure higher retention rates of top talent. This approach will be a recruiter's secret weapon, allowing for sustained talent pool growth. 

Behavioral assessment increases your probability of successful hiring to 80-90%.

Smarter moves, lower cost

Choose the right assessment

There are various types of behavioral assessments available, so it's crucial to select the one that aligns with your company's values and the specific job requirements. Zoho Recruit comes with customizable behavioral assessments and related integrations, so you can choose the assessment option that suits your needs.

Practice makes for better recruitment

Behavioral assessments can provide valuable insights when interpreted correctly. By conducting mock interviews and training team members on how to understand the results, you'll make more informed decisions and provide valuable feedback to candidates.

View assessments as a guide, not law

Behavioral assessments are not a definitive answer on a candidate's potential. They are meant to be used as a guide, along with other evaluation methods, to understand a candidate's fit for a role. The importance of critical thinking when choosing the right hire is paramount.

With tools like Zoho Recruit, predictability and accuracy shoot up. Now that you have the mystery box of behavioral assessment knowledge, it's your chance to make them part of your hiring strategy. 

Trust your gut, but make sure you have data backing you up—because the right hire can transform your organization!