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Hire smarter not harder. We bring you the best advice and guides on talent assessments, skills-based hiring technology, and remote work.
What is coffee badging?
Coffee badging occurs when employees briefly appear at the office – long enough to grab a cup of coffee or be noticed by their managers and colleagues – before heading out to work remotely from home or elsewhere. Frank Weishaupt, CEO of video conferencing company Owl Labs, coined the term for this workplace trend. The behavior has emerged as a response to the recent return-to-office mandates that require at least some, if not full-time, in-office presence. A 2023 survey by Owl Labs found that o
What is a recruitment drive?
A recruitment drive is a short period of focused recruitment activity. Its purpose is to bring in new hires quickly or fill multiple roles simultaneously. A recruiting drive usually occurs before a period of peak business activity or if a company needs to scale up operations quickly. For example, retail businesses may conduct a recruitment drive ahead of the holidays, or a tech start-up may ramp up recruitment before launching a new product.
What is proximity bias?
Proximity bias is our natural tendency to favor people we see in person over those we don't. In the workplace, it means partiality to employees who work in the office over those who work remotely or in different locations. While connecting more easily with people we see daily is natural, this bias can create unfair advantages in hybrid and remote work settings.
What is a workation?
The word “workation” is a portmanteau – a blend of the words “work” and “vacation.” It’s when professionals work from places people typically visit on vacation. Like a traditional vacation, workations are temporary trips, often to a single location, after which the employee returns to their usual place of work. Data from the Survey of Working Arrangements and Attitudes shows that remote work is most common in finance, tech, and professional and business services and is usually associated with hy
Universal skills: Why they matter and how to test for them using TestGorilla's Universal Skills Profiler
The modern workplace is often described as VUCA: Volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous. To successfully navigate this challenging environment, organizations need employees whose knowledge, skills, and behaviors enable them to thrive in such contexts. The accelerated pace of AI and digital transformation has made universal skills like adaptability, resilience, and collaboration essential for success in any role. Thus, success in a job is no longer just about what you do – it’s about how yo
What are Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)?
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are quantifiable metrics that help you measure your progress toward specific business goals and strategic objectives. Think of them as the mini aims you can set for your team to help them reach organizational targets. For example, time to hire, turnover percentage per quarter, and annual employee engagement scores are all important HR KPIs. KPIs usually have an X-per-Y relationship, where X is a metric, and Y is a timeframe or category. For example, if you work
6 key labor market insights shaping the future of work
With a new US president, the continued rise of AI, and evolving employee expectations, the future is shaping up to be somewhat of a rollercoaster for the labor market. While challenges lie ahead, there are also exciting opportunities for growth. Below, we look at six labor market trends to expect in the future – sharing our insights and practical advice on how to navigate the future of work and help your business and its workforce thrive.
The future of middle management: Will it evolve or end?
Technology, AI, and new work practices have shaken things up and sparked a hot debate: Are middle managers still relevant? While some argue these roles will vanish, others insist they remain crucial – but that they’re on the brink of complete transformation. You must grasp the shifts in middle management and strategize so you’re not left behind by more adaptive market leaders. That’s where we come in. Below, we define what middle management is, dive into eight ways it's changing, and discuss w
R&D engineer job description template: Everything you need to include
R&D engineers are masters of product improvement. Whether they work in the engineering, manufacturing, or the tech industry, these problem-solving experts are all about making things better, faster, and more efficient. But, this expertise makes writing a solid job description for this role tricky. How can you be sure you’re capturing everything without overwhelming job-seekers or missing key details? We can help. Below, we include a comprehensive R&D engineer job description. We also discuss w
What is employment screening?
Employment screening is a process employers use to verify the skills, backgrounds, and qualifications of job applicants. The most traditional ways to do this are through pre-employment background checks that look at a candidate's criminal record, employment history, and education, as well as reference checks to vet their skills and experiences with their previous employers. Depending on the role, some companies also put applicants through drug testing and credit checks – for instance, in the he
What is an Employee Net Promoter Score (eNPS)?
An Employee Net Promoter Score (eNPS) measures how likely your employees are to recommend your company as a place to work. When employees recommend their workplace to others, it usually means they're happy, engaged, and believe in the company. When they don't, it often signals deeper problems that need attention. An eNPS survey asks employees one simple question: "On a scale of 0-10, how likely are you to recommend [Company Name] as a place to work?" Based on their responses, employees fall int
Introducing TestGorilla's Abstract Reasoning test
Introducing our new Abstract Reasoning test. Designed to identify candidates who can recognize patterns, solve problems, and make logical decisions on the fly, this test helps you future-proof your workforce by identifying agile learners and innovative thinkers.
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