My personal journey of job hunting has been fraught with numerous unwarranted and time-consuming obstacles. A recurring issue has been the mandatory pre-employment assessments conducted by commercial entities, such as Korn Ferry. Despite applying for positions across the spectrum, even those with lower pay scales, I find myself ensnared by these assessments time and again. But what is the purpose of these? A hoop to jump through, or a genuine tool to measure potential?

Korn Ferry's Talent Q Assessments, boasting of 47% prediction accuracy, are employed by organisations in varied sectors. While they claim to provide an unbiased and fair platform, the effectiveness of these assessments has become a subject of debate. Studies have indicated that some individuals, often high-potential candidates, may be unfairly weeded out due to these barriers at the initial stages of employment (Riggi, B., et al. 2021).

Furthermore, the predatory nature of these pre-employment assessments is seen in their approach, often leaving candidates with harsh feedback that affects their confidence and dare to dream. This is not an isolated issue. Countless others, like me, are facing similar experiences in their job search.

This is not a call to scrap assessments altogether but a demand for fairness and transparency in the recruitment process. Employers ought to use assessments that are comprehensive, empathetic, and accurate. Over-reliance on narrow measures can exclude potentially right-fit employees, based on misleading profiling.

Let's end the usage of these misleading predatory pre-employment assessments. Sign the petition to foster a more objective, empathetic, and accurate hiring process.