“The challenge isn’t just identifying skills, but ensuring the data is validated, diverse, and reflective of real-world performance."

• Greg Gasperin

Summary: My guest for this episode is Greg Gasperin, CEO and Co-Founder of Merify, a skills data verification platform.  Greg and I discuss the future of skills-based hiring, which we both agree requires a shift from traditional resumes and degree-based qualifications to more dynamic and validated assessments of a candidate’s Skills.  We discuss the fate of the skills based hiring movement as inexorably bound to the ability to have meaningful, quality evaluation of skills that is based on direct input from humans.   Greg discusses the genesis behind Merify based on the need for continuous feedback, data integrity, and community-based validation as essential components of modern talent evaluation. Of course we also also cover the role of AI in automating skill taxonomy updates, ensuring that assessments remain relevant and aligned with industry trends.  Topics Covered:

• Skills-Based Hiring:
  • Moving beyond traditional resumes and degree requirements to more accurate, validated skill assessments.
  • The importance of diverse, peer-reviewed feedback in creating a trustworthy skills database.
• Community-Based Skill Validation:
  • The role of continuous feedback and real-world performance data in building a dynamic skill assessment system.
  • How internal talent management can foster trust in skills data before expanding to external hiring.
• AI in Skill Taxonomies:
  • Leveraging AI to maintain up-to-date skill taxonomies and adapt to changing industry demands.
  • Balancing efficiency with transparency and explainability in AI-driven decision-making.

Takeaways:

• Trust in Data: A reliable skills-based hiring system requires validated, peer-reviewed data that accurately reflects a candidate's real-world abilities.
• Continuous Feedback: Regular, diverse feedback is essential for maintaining the accuracy and relevance of skill assessments.
• AI for Agility: AI can automate skill taxonomy updates, helping companies stay current with evolving industry needs.
• Start with Internal Trust: Focusing on internal talent management builds confidence in the system, paving the way for its broader application in external hiring.
• Transparency and Validation: A transparent, explainable system for skill validation is crucial to mitigating biases and fostering trust in AI-driven hiring decisions.

Articles Discussed in the "Take it or Leave it" Segment:

1. "Leveraging Professional Education as a Bridge Between School and Career"
   • Summary: This article from Fast Company explores the gap between academic learning and practical application in the workplace, emphasizing the need for higher education to incorporate more professional training to better prepare students for their careers.
   • Discussion: Greg and Charles discuss the importance of exposure to various career paths early in education and the benefits of integrating professional skills training into higher education.
   • Link: Fast Company Article

1. "To Make the Most of Credentials, We Need a Better Marketplace"
   • Summary: This article from Jobs for the Future highlights the need for a unified marketplace for credentials, where skills and credentials can be transparently evaluated and trusted by employers.
   • Discussion: Greg and Charles talk about the importance of having a trusted, centralized system for credentialing and the role of employer buy-in for the success of a skills-based hiring approach.
   • Link: Jobs for the Future Article