Business Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version
Business Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version |
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Info-Tech
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Human Resources Now, recruiters take to psychometric tests
V. Rishi Kumar Hyderabad, Feb. 11 Given the current day task to find right talent, recruiters have begun to take to psychometric tests. This helps assess skills that are normally missed out through oral and online interviews. However, this is a complementary approach to traditional hiring modes, feel recruiters. Though these tests are regularly deployed in the West, it has begun to make inroads in India, according to Mr Madan Padiki, Chief Executive Officer, MeritTrac Services. Mr Padiki told Business Line that enterprises are now turning to psychometrics for evaluating candidates in terms of their personality characteristics, inter-personal communication skills, both verbal and non verbal and more importantly, job-specific aptitudes. These are aimed at minimising untoward hiring or promotion decisions. Hitherto these tests were considered costly in India. The Head of Human Resources, Reliance Web World, Mr Prithwish Bose, said that its entire sales staff recruits are subjected to psychometric tests that enable it to better judge the candidate, his behaviour and values. Commenting on trends, the Head Recruitment, Standard Chartered Bank, Mr Samir Kapur, who is pursuing a doctorate in talent acquisition, said these tests are being administered in different formats for different requirements across organisations. These are not used for elimination but indicate certain capabilities. Nature of these tests vary depending upon what one is seeking to assess, Mr Kapur said. Nasscom tie-upMost companies particularly in the technology sector use this for promotions and recruitments at higher levels, but lately, this has crept into even entry level recruits, not just in the IT sector, but also in other services sector job profiles such as financial services and telecom. MeritTrac is partnering Nasscom for tests. Apart from recruitment itself, psychometric tests were conducted for promotions within an organisation, career and management development, team building, counselling and also training needs and analysis, he explained. Mr Padiki said MeritTrac assesses about 1.2 lakh candidates in a month for recruitment in IT, banking and financial services sectors. Of them, already 20 per cent are now being subjected to these tests. The outcome of a bad hire is more expensive than administering these technology-driven tests. Most enterprises which who are recruiting by 1000’s do not have the time and there is race to pick up what they feel are the best from campuses. Now they are pausing and seeking either outside help or they themselves are administering such tests for promotions and picking up leaders, he explained. The questionnaire and tools are often customised. These tests factor 16 parameters that are calibrated and guard against doctoring. Now public sector undertakings, which had different set of recruitment practices, are deploying these methods. More Stories on : Human Resources
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