Why Google’s Hiring Process for Top Technical Talent is Genius

When it comes to hiring, most companies use this rule of...

The Woman

September 6, 2022

4

min read

When it comes to hiring, most companies use this rule of thumb: you speak with an HR representative, sit for an interview with your potential boss and other senior managers, and they will make the final hiring decision.

If you ever applied for a job, you would probably know how tiresome and full of hassle the process might get. A freshly clicked photo, a shiny resume template, enlisting all the requirements and skill set you have, can wear you off. This experience can be entirely different if you apply to Google.

According to a study by Universum, Google is one of the world’s desirable employers attracting some of the world’s most talented brains. The funny thing is, it’s not just the search giant’s name and reputation that tempt candidates to get into this company, but rather its role requirements or lack thereof.

Candidates no longer need a sophisticated dazzling resume with a mouthful cover letter, Ivy League accolades, or years of direct experience. The company doesn’t even require any degree or experience at all.

The tech mogul Elon Musk started the trend. He used the “two-hands test” to find top talent without academic degrees. Furthermore, the billionaire took it one step further by eliminating the need for experience.

Google is dismantling the traditional method of employment with programs like the Google Project Management Degree, an online and self-paced professional certificate course offered for free through self-learning platforms such as Coursera, Skillshare, etc.

Google’s recruitment process is fascinating. After completing its certification course, potential candidates get the chance to work in one of its project management jobs. Instead of evaluating candidates based on academic certificates and experience, the company evaluates individuals based on their coursework quality.

In exchange, Google is not only discovering the best project managers in the world but also the highly competent technical staff. To find those top talents, Google employs three key components.

Chase down the innovators

To find the polar bear in the snowstorm, google eliminates the typical requirements such as higher education, direct experience, and other qualifications that seem unnecessary to them. Project manager roles at Google are now accessible to everyone, thanks to the company’s free project management certification course.

Honestly speaking, there are a lot of jobs that don’t need a college degree to perform. In that case, overlooking candidates without a specific degree or no degree can be a struggle to find the perfect candidate who can add significant value to a company.

The same rule can be applied to firsthand experience. In many cases, a lack of prior knowledge can be an advantage for the employer. This is especially true for creative teams or businesses that like to do things differently than they have in the past.

Or when companies strive to differentiate themselves from the competition by acting uniquely. Candidates with no prior experience have the potential to bring new insights. According to Fast Company, one business discovered that individuals with no experience beat those with 10 to 15 years of sales expertise.

Prioritize aptitude assessment

Google’s objective is to find the best fit for the company rather than attract many applicants. If Google didn’t have a way to screen applicants and determine fit, it wouldn’t help with its efforts to receive more applications to sort through. Its online training program is well organized; the best part is that it can be used as a portfolio.

This process gives Google a ton of information regarding a candidate from the collection of finished assignments. It shows their ability, leadership style, communication skill, thought process, etc. Most importantly, the course imitates the job to get a fair idea about a candidate’s suitability.

Basic screening questions can give you an idea of a candidate and provide information you can use to compare a candidate with another candidate. Small-scale enterprises of practically any size can utilize screening questions to evaluate prospective employees and test projects to evaluate final applicants.

Effective employee training

Every organization is different, so businesses must engage in staff training regardless of their hiring function. Neither a formal education nor prior experience indicates that an employee is ready to ace immediately. No matter the industry, maintaining your workers’ professional knowledge gaps is crucial for ensuring their continued productivity and happiness. That is what a top-notch training program can do. According to Bob Nelson, author of 1,001 Ways to Engage Employees, learning and development are among the essential variables in employee engagement.

It’s true that not every company can develop an online certification program like Google. Still, ways to enhance the recruiting process emphasize aptitude more than prior experience and a formal degree. A simple approach is to prioritize training new workers how you want them to function, rather than hiring new employees and having them work the way their previous company educated them.