Latest news with #TestGorilla
Independent Singapore
6 days ago
- Business
- Independent Singapore
Majority of employers now value soft skills more than hard skills
Photo: Depositphotos/ imtmphoto (for illustration purposes only) Soft skills are no longer just 'nice-to-have.' According to a recent report from TestGorilla, published by HR Dive, 60% of companies say that having soft skills is now more imperative than it was five years ago. The change is clear—while technical skills are crucial, especially in today's world, employers are increasingly giving more priority to personal attributes, such as critical thinking, adaptability, and collaboration, when making hiring choices. Wouter Durville, CEO and co-founder of TestGorilla, underscores this new mentality. According to him, employers today want people who are able to think critically, can adapt to any situation, especially during emergencies, and know how to collaborate. The best hiring approaches now combine unbiased facts with an all-inclusive assessment of the candidate, their abilities, competencies, values, and cultural orientation. The full-picture approach to hiring At present, hiring managers appraise job seekers not just through what's written on their CVs and their actual technical expertise. Over 70% believe evaluating the 'whole candidate,' which includes the candidate's personality and cultural fit, leads to better hires. Seventy-eight percent of employers admitted that, in many cases in the past, they hired technically proficient candidates but later floundered due to a lack of soft skills or cultural misalignment. See also Jamus Lim Advocates for Positive Use of Generative AI in Education Thus, there has been a conspicuous shift toward skills-based hiring, with 85% of U.S. and U.K. business owners now employing such methods. Over half of global corporations have even abolished degree requirements for specific roles. This larger assessment of talent mirrors a more profound understanding of what propels continuing employee achievement and engagement. AI is changing the game—but not the essentials Currently, artificial intelligence (AI) is playing an increasing role in hiring, with 70% of U.S. business owners employing AI tools in the recruitment process. Of those, an outstanding 92% say AI has improved their hiring results, yet even as AI becomes more ubiquitous, employers are still confronted with several challenges—63% say that it's now harder than last year to find top-quality talent. Remarkably, the call for AI-specific skills is diminishing, falling from 52% in the previous year to 38% in 2025. Instead, the importance of people skills has risen. According to LinkedIn, the most sought-after abilities are conflict management, public speaking, adaptability, and stakeholder engagement. Employees possessing these soft skills are more likely to advance in their careers faster and excel more in leadership roles. With the evolution of AI tools, clarity and openness about their use will become indispensable for both job seekers and business owners, but one thing remains constant: while computerization can aid in sorting and sifting through candidates, human qualities are what truly set top talent apart.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
3 in 5 employers say soft skills are more important than ever
This story was originally published on HR Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily HR Dive newsletter. Employers are increasingly focused on soft skills during the job hunt, with 60% saying soft skills are more important today than five years ago, according to a June 9 report from TestGorilla. More than 70% of employers said evaluating the whole candidate — both skills, personality and cultural fit — leads to better results. In fact, 78% said they hired a candidate with strong technical skills who didn't perform well because of a lack of soft skills or cultural fit. 'Employers want people who can think critically, adapt and collaborate,' said Wouter Durville, CEO and co-founder of TestGorilla, in a press statement. 'The best hiring strategies now combine objective data with a holistic view of the candidate — their skills, values and cultural alignment.' In a survey of more than 1,000 U.S. and UK hiring decision-makers, 85% said they use skills-based hiring methods; more than half of U.S. employers said they've removed degree requirements from roles. Employers also indicated a major shift in skills priorities amid a labor market transformed by artificial intelligence. About 70% of U.S. employers said they now use AI in hiring, and 92% of those said it has improved their hiring. At the same time, many employers said they still struggle to find talent, with 63% finding it harder than last year to secure prime talent. Meanwhile, employer demand for AI-specific skills has declined, dropping from 52% in 2024 to 38% in 2025. Workers with soft skills get promoted faster than those who lack skills such as problem-solving, decision-making and good communication abilities, according to a LinkedIn report. For talent professionals, this means upskilling initiatives and the hiring process should include a focus on soft skills. AI tools will transform talent acquisition during the next few months, and companies and job seekers alike will increasingly use AI in the hiring process, according to a LinkedIn Talent Blog post. Employers and applicants can expect to demonstrate more transparency about AI use. The top in-demand skills in the U.S. include AI literacy and conflict management, according to another LinkedIn report. The list also heavily features other 'people' skills such as adaptability, innovative thinking, public speaking, customer engagement and stakeholder management. Recommended Reading 3 insights into how Gen Z manages people
