Dive Brief:
- Thirty employers are working with General Assembly (GA) to identify candidates for marketing careers, according to a report sent to HR Dive. The team will use an industry assessment, the Certified Marketer Level 1 (CM1), developed by the Marketing Standards Board. Participating companies include: Bonobos, Calvin Klein, L'Oréal, Lyft, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, Pinterest and Sailthru.
- In addition to opening the door for a wider, more diverse, array of job seekers, the CM1 assesses candidates based on their response to problems a marketer might face. "This initiative builds a broader talent pipeline by letting anyone interested show off their skills, and provides common standards that the marketing professional has lacked," Vikram Bhaskaran, Head of Market Development at Pinterest, said.
- To date, 4,000 job seekers have registered to take the test. GA has provided them with access, a study guide and sample assessment at no charge. Candidates who score within the top 10% will be eligible for interviews with the employers in the group.
Dive Insight:
The skills and talent gaps are creating a perfect storm for employers who are looking to staff up for today's needs as well as tomorrow's. With so few applicants available, many are lowering their requirements when it comes to hiring, while trying not to lower their standards. Testing and certification, like the CM1 instituted by GA, can help. In addition to qualifying candidates who may not have a traditional background, measures like this can open the door to job seekers who may have the skills and experience needed, but may have previously been overlooked because of a lack of a degree or another traditional red flag.
Many have questioned whether GPA is an arbiter of success for job seekers. Some believe that once an applicant is five years out of school, a degree is no longer a guarantee of skills. By that time, job experience typically offers better indication of the skills and abilities of an employee. Even some of the biggest players in business are moving away from degree-required hiring to a skills-based model.