India Inc to leverage psychometrics for selecting employees

New Delhi, Oct 17: India Inc is keen to leverage advanced psychometrics as its benefits in selecting employees have been unrealised among top organisations in India, said a study released on Monday.

The findings of "The State of Psychometric Assessments in India" study conducted by global advisory, broking and solutions company Willis Towers Watson showed that "recognised benefits of psychometrics largely remain unrealised as almost half the companies acknowledge not using it".

The study polled over 100 of India's top organisations and human resource (HR) leaders to understand why companies in India lagged their mature market counterparts in realising the benefits of psychometrics, also said, "As many as one in three have never explored it."

"Only, nine per cent companies are unwilling to explore a new tool indicates a keenness among the vast majority to leverage advanced psychometrics and signals a need for improved awareness and access to superior tools," the study said.

Psychometric assessment is the science of applied psychology which is intended to identify specific personality traits that could highlight the suitability for specific roles. Currently, the tool is primarily used for recruitment and selection in India.

Interestingly, more Indian domestic organisations use psychometrics as compared to MNCs. 

The study said that despite succession planning being a key stated challenge for companies in India, the application of psychometrics in addressing this was low with only 28 per cent using it at senior management and 13 per cent for middle management.

"Imagine how valuable it would be to hire only those employees likely to be engaged? Psychometrics, as a science, is yet to be fully explored and leveraged in India. In an increasingly competitive world, only traditional methods such as interviews or aptitude tests may not be enough," aid advisory company's Director (Rewards, Talent and Communication) Shatrunjay Krishna.

"Identifying, retaining and developing the right talent requires a precision that psychometric assessments can provide," he said.