Globalization has expanded the opportunities of where we work and for whom we work. But how do global firms ensure that the people they hire locally are suited – from a standpoint of analytic skills, aptitude, and personality – for globally collaborative assignments?
According to hiring consultants and human-resources executives at international companies, it’s crucial for employers to hire firms that specialize in so-called psychometric testing. Only by working with those experts, who understand local cultural issues, can you devise a test that reveals an applicant’s capabilities. Maarten Van Beek, leadership and organizational effectiveness manager for international consumer-products firm Unilever in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, says, “Our competency model is used globally, but all tests are conducted locally. We need to assure that we take local or cultural differences into accordance.”
Sound simple? It’s not. Even experts disagree on the efficacy of such tests.
