Part 2: Candidate Selection & Assessment

Часть 2: Отбор и оценка кандидатов

Comprehensive Guide to Evaluating and Selecting Top Talent

Introduction to Candidate Selection

Введение в отбор кандидатов

Candidate selection (отбор кандидатов) is the systematic process of evaluating applicants to identify the best fit for a position. In the United States, selection processes are highly structured to ensure legal compliance, reduce bias, and predict job performance accurately.

🇷🇺 Cultural Context for Russian HR Professionals:
American selection processes are typically more formal and standardized than in Russia. While Russian companies may rely heavily on personal connections (связи) and informal interviews, US companies use multiple assessment methods, structured interviews, and documented evaluation criteria to ensure fairness and legal defensibility.

The Selection Process Overview

A typical American selection process includes these stages:

  1. Application Review (Проверка заявок) - Initial screening of resumes and applications
  2. Phone Screening (Телефонное интервью) - Brief 15-30 minute conversation to verify basic qualifications
  3. Assessment Testing (Тестирование) - Skills tests, personality assessments, cognitive ability tests
  4. Structured Interviews (Структурированные интервью) - Multiple rounds with different stakeholders
  5. Reference Checks (Проверка рекомендаций) - Verification of past employment and performance
  6. Background Checks (Проверка биографии) - Criminal records, education verification, credit checks (for certain roles)
  7. Job Offer (Предложение о работе) - Formal written offer with terms and conditions

🇺🇸 United States

  • Average time: 23 days from application to offer
  • Interview rounds: 2-4 rounds typical
  • Background checks: 95% of employers conduct them
  • Skills testing: 76% use some form of assessment
  • Legal focus: Heavy emphasis on avoiding discrimination claims
  • Documentation: Extensive record-keeping required

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

  • Average time: 27-30 days from application to offer
  • Interview rounds: 2-3 rounds typical
  • Background checks: DBS checks for certain roles only
  • Skills testing: 57% use personality tests (higher than US)
  • Legal focus: GDPR compliance, Equality Act 2010
  • Documentation: Right to Work checks mandatory
⚖️ Legal Compliance Warning

All selection methods must be job-related and consistent with business necessity. The EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) requires that selection procedures do not have "adverse impact" on protected classes. If a selection method disproportionately screens out a protected group, the employer must prove it's essential for job performance.

Resume and Application Screening

Скрининг резюме и заявок

Resume screening (скрининг резюме) is the first filter in the selection process. In the US, this process has become increasingly automated through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).

Understanding American Resumes vs CVs

📄 US Terminology:
In the United States, a resume (резюме) is a 1-2 page summary of work experience, education, and skills. A CV (Curriculum Vitae) (биография) is a longer, more detailed document used primarily in academic, medical, and research positions. For 95% of jobs, candidates submit resumes, not CVs.

Feature 🇺🇸 US Resume 🇬🇧 UK CV 🇷🇺 Russian Резюме
Length 1-2 pages (strict) 2-3 pages acceptable 1-2 pages typical
Photo ❌ Never included (discrimination risk) Optional (increasingly discouraged) ✅ Usually included
Date of birth ❌ Never included (age discrimination) ❌ Not included ✅ Often included
Marital status ❌ Never included ❌ Not included Sometimes included
Format Reverse chronological most common Reverse chronological or skills-based Varies widely

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

An Applicant Tracking System (система отслеживания кандидатов) is software that automates resume screening and candidate management. In the US, 98% of Fortune 500 companies and 66% of large companies use ATS.

💡 Popular ATS Platforms in the US:
  • Workday - Enterprise-level, used by large corporations
  • Greenhouse - Mid-market favorite, strong analytics
  • Lever - Modern interface, popular with tech companies
  • iCIMS - Comprehensive, highly customizable
  • Taleo (Oracle) - Legacy system, still widely used
  • SmartRecruiters - User-friendly, good for SMBs

How ATS Works

  1. Parsing (Разбор) - ATS extracts information from resumes (name, contact info, work history, education, skills)
  2. Keyword Matching (Сопоставление ключевых слов) - System searches for specific keywords from the job description
  3. Scoring (Оценка) - Candidates receive scores based on keyword matches and qualifications
  4. Filtering (Фильтрация) - System automatically rejects candidates below threshold score
  5. Ranking (Ранжирование) - Qualified candidates are ranked for recruiter review
⚠️ ATS Limitations

ATS can reject qualified candidates due to formatting issues, missing keywords, or parsing errors. Studies show that up to 75% of qualified candidates are rejected by ATS before a human reviews their resume. This is why keyword optimization is critical in American job applications.

Phone Screening Interviews

Телефонные интервью для отбора

A phone screen (телефонное интервью) is a brief preliminary interview, typically 15-30 minutes, conducted by a recruiter or HR professional to verify basic qualifications before investing time in a full interview.

Purpose of Phone Screens

🇷🇺 Cultural Note:
Phone screens are less common in Russia, where companies often move directly to in-person interviews. In the US, phone screens are standard practice to save time and resources. With remote work becoming more common, video screens (Zoom, Teams) are increasingly replacing phone screens.

⚖️ Salary History Bans

As of 2025, the following states and cities have banned employers from asking about salary history:

Instead, ask: "What are your salary expectations for this role?" or provide the salary range upfront.

Pre-Employment Assessment Testing

Тестирование перед приемом на работу

Pre-employment assessments (тесты перед приемом на работу) are standardized tests used to evaluate candidates' skills, abilities, personality traits, and job fit. In the US, 76% of organizations with 100+ employees use some form of assessment testing.

🇷🇺 Cultural Context:
Assessment testing is more prevalent and sophisticated in the US than in Russia. American companies use scientifically validated assessments to predict job performance and reduce hiring mistakes. These tests must meet strict legal standards to avoid discrimination claims.

Types of Pre-Employment Assessments

1. Cognitive Ability Tests

Cognitive ability tests (тесты когнитивных способностей) measure general mental ability, including reasoning, problem-solving, and learning capacity. Research shows these are the best predictors of job performance across all job types.

💡 Popular Cognitive Ability Tests in the US:
  • Wonderlic Personnel Test - 50 questions in 12 minutes; measures general intelligence
  • Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test (CCAT) - 50 questions in 15 minutes; verbal, math, and logic
  • Predictive Index Cognitive Assessment - 50 questions in 12 minutes; abstract reasoning focus
  • Raven's Progressive Matrices - Non-verbal, culture-fair test of abstract reasoning
Test Type What It Measures Best For Validity
General Mental Ability (GMA) Overall cognitive capacity, learning ability, problem-solving All roles, especially complex jobs Very High (r = 0.51)
Verbal Reasoning Language comprehension, vocabulary, verbal logic Communication-heavy roles, management High (r = 0.45)
Numerical Reasoning Math skills, data interpretation, quantitative analysis Finance, analytics, engineering High (r = 0.43)
Abstract Reasoning Pattern recognition, logical thinking, non-verbal intelligence Technical roles, problem-solving positions High (r = 0.47)
⚖️ Legal Compliance - Adverse Impact

Cognitive ability tests can have adverse impact on certain racial and ethnic groups. The EEOC closely scrutinizes these tests. To use them legally:

2. Personality Assessments

Personality assessments (тесты личности) measure behavioral traits, work styles, and cultural fit. These are less predictive than cognitive tests but useful for team fit and development.

💡 Popular Personality Assessments in the US:
  • Big Five (OCEAN) - Measures Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Neuroticism
  • Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) - 16 personality types; popular but less scientifically valid
  • DISC Assessment - Measures Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, Conscientiousness
  • Hogan Personality Inventory (HPI) - Predicts job performance and leadership potential
  • Caliper Profile - Measures 22 personality traits related to job performance

Work Sample Tests and Job Simulations

Тесты рабочих образцов и симуляции

Work sample tests (тесты рабочих образцов) require candidates to perform tasks that closely resemble actual job duties. These have the highest validity of all selection methods (r = 0.54) because they directly measure job performance.

Types of Work Samples

Role Type Work Sample Examples Duration Evaluation Criteria
Software Developer • Coding challenge (build a feature)
• Debug existing code
• Code review exercise
• System design whiteboard
1-4 hours • Code quality and organization
• Problem-solving approach
• Technical accuracy
• Communication of thought process
Writer/Content Creator • Write article on assigned topic
• Edit provided content
• Create social media posts
• Develop content strategy
2-3 hours • Writing quality and style
• Grammar and accuracy
• Creativity and originality
• Adherence to brand voice
Sales Representative • Mock sales call/presentation
• Handle objections role-play
• Develop sales strategy for scenario
• Analyze sales data
30-60 min • Persuasion and communication
• Product knowledge
• Objection handling
• Closing techniques
Customer Service • Handle difficult customer role-play
• Respond to customer emails
• Troubleshoot technical issue
• De-escalate angry customer
30-45 min • Empathy and patience
• Problem-solving
• Communication clarity
• Company policy knowledge
💡 Designing Effective Work Samples:

1. Job Analysis:

  • Identify the most critical tasks performed in the role
  • Select tasks that differentiate high vs. low performers
  • Ensure tasks are observable and measurable

2. Realistic Scenarios:

  • Use actual problems or situations from the job
  • Provide realistic constraints (time, resources, information)
  • Include typical challenges and ambiguities

3. Standardization:

  • Give all candidates the same task and instructions
  • Provide same resources and time limits
  • Use structured scoring rubrics

4. Reasonable Scope:

  • Keep work samples to 2-4 hours maximum
  • Consider compensating candidates for extensive work (4+ hours)
  • Balance thoroughness with respect for candidate's time
⚠️ Work Sample Pitfalls to Avoid