The traditional ways of hiring people have always been the norm. But it also eliminates any highly talented individuals that may not have the best degree in town. Thankfully this old way of thinking is slowly fading away. Still a lot of companies use it till this day and suffer in the long run. And that is the exact reason why today we will discuss how companies can hire great talents without being obsessed with Resume and numbers on the degrees.

Let’s break it down why it works. With the old ways, it was much easier to be biased based on gender, age and marks in exams. We have all seen some high class ladies at work who have no idea what they are doing, yet they manage to get into the workforce somehow. Meanwhile, highly talented men get forced to gather waste and sell them. Yes, this is a pure reference to India’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani.

If those HR guys focused more on the real skills, maybe some random startups would have become as big as Reliance Digitals. So yeah, the old ways have caused more chaos than none, and that’s why some highly talented people came up with skill based hiring rather than CV or resume.

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This new style has multiple layers of processes that aim at maximising the modern tools. So without further ado, let’s see how these stages look:

1. Pure Transparency: The first step will always be to breakdown the skill and responsibilities in a way that nothing else is shadowed.

2. Skill-based Assessments: Designing the assessment test based on the role comes next, where a preset of questionnaires are presented to the candidate. This makes the filtering part easier.

3. Mark System: Introduce a mark system for evaluation which mitigate any remaining biasness and reduce the chances of hiring undervalued candidates.

4. Emphasize Communication: Being concise and clear while explaining the assessment or anything else is crucial, instead of expecting the candidates to figure out things on their own.

5. Training your Team: Always make sure to train your team of recruiters so the old ways are completely annihilated.

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Hiring without a CV definitely sounds weird at first. But once realised, this would feel like the most logical way. Because previously, literacy rates weren’t that good, so the CVs played a big role. But now things have changed and most youth have a similar literacy rate, meanwhile it has stopped representing their true capabilities. That’s why it is really important to adapt to new ways and give everyone a fair opportunity at a fresh start.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Why should I stop using CVs? Aren’t they the standard?

Ans. Using CV was definitely the standard, but it is no longer anymore. Because when hiring on the basis of a resume, it is easy to feel comfortable with a particular gender, age or even educational background. This creates biased practices that poise the workforce from within.

Q2. What should be used instead of CVs?

Ans. Use new methods like cognitive tests, small work samples, a set of questionnaires designed to check the skill sets, small online challenges and so on. The interviewer can tailor the meeting based on the initial impression of the CV, and that’s it. The role of these CVs should end there.

Q3. How to get qualified candidates without seeing their expertise listed out?

Ans. It’s simple, just tailor the interview and test the skills and abilities on the spot. Because it is easier to lie on CV, which results in unqualified candidates being hired on the basis of good numbers. But with the new way, only those who have real skills can make the cut, and those candidates with high numbers but no real-world skills will be out of the equation.

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Q4. Will this process take longer than the old ways?

Ans. Initially, yes, it will take longer to take interviews and shortlist candidates. But once the learning curve is over and you are well versed in the new way, it will take even less than the CV way. Because now you aren’t going through thousands of resumes, instead now you are taking quick interviews that may last as low as 5 minutes.

Q5. How should be the submission phase? Won’t candidates get confused without CV?

Ans. That’s a good question, adding CV definitely makes it easier for the candidates. But that is in the past. Just like you changed, the candidates must too. Use tools like google forms and create a sample questionnaire with a few personal details. This will replace the CV and give you the much needed profiling to get started. If someone catches your eye, send them some sample works and start shortlisting based on that.

Sources:

1. Hiring Without Resumes: Companies That Tried "No Resume" Hiring Method

2. Recruiting without CVs: everything you need to know!

3. Five Tactics for Successful Hiring Without CVs | Harver

4. No-CV Recruitment Process | Why HR and Recruiters are Moving Away from Traditional Applications

5. Still Hiring Based on a CV? By 2025, You Will Have a Big Problem. - Equalture