The Science of Hiring

Steven Lindner, Ph.D., is a prominent figure in the field of talent acquisition and human resources. He is the Managing Partner of The WorkPlace Group, a company specializing in recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) and talent acquisition solutions. With a Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, Dr. Lindner has dedicated his career to understanding and improving the hiring process.

Dr. Lindner is recognized as one of the creators of the RPO industry. He pioneered innovative approaches to streamlining and enhancing recruitment processes, and his contributions have significantly shaped the way organizations manage their talent acquisition strategies.

In addition to his groundbreaking work in RPO, Dr. Lindner has authored over 85 HR business and research articles in leading media outlets and academic journals. He also served as a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Talent Acquisition Expert Panel and is a contributing author to the American National Standard, “Cost-Per-Hire”. This standard provides a comprehensive framework for calculating the cost associated with hiring new employees, helping organizations better understand and manage their recruitment expenses.

Dr. Lindner’s work focuses on evidence-based recruitment strategies. He has co-authored studies on resume characteristics that influence interview decisions, highlighting the importance of relevant work experience, educational background, and achievements in securing job interviews. He has published scientific studies on loneliness at work, work-from-home, sources of hire, job search strategies, hiring costs, candidate assessments and a range of related talent acquisition topics. His research emphasizes the need for a scientific approach to hiring, ensuring that candidates are selected based on objective criteria rather than subjective biases.

Through his innovative methodologies, Dr. Lindner has empowered employers with more effective hiring practices. By leveraging data-driven insights and advanced recruitment technologies, he has enabled organizations to identify and attract top talent more efficiently. His strategies allow employers to respond swiftly to their hiring needs, ensuring they can fill critical positions with qualified candidates in a timely manner.

When asked how he and his organization, The WorkPlace Group, do it better, Dr. Lindner said, “Anyone can recruit, but few know how to do it well. There is a science to selecting candidates who will perform well, add value to the business, and stay committed.” But apart from the science, isn’t it about knowing good job candidates and having a strong network of people? To this, Dr. Lindner remarked, “It’s no longer about the size of your ‘Rolodex,’ LinkedIn connections or the ‘number of candidates in your database. It’s about knowing how to select the right talent with the competencies, work experiences, and work philosophies to succeed within your organization.”

“Succeed within your organization” is a key phrase. To further explain his view, Dr. Lindner uses the example of Employee Referrals. Employee Referral programs are a common recruitment strategy. They account for approximately one-third of most companies’ new hires. Furthermore, employees generally receive a financial incentive for recommending candidates who are hired. However, he quickly points out that employee referrals are not always the best hire. There is a difference between knowing someone and having objective knowledge and first-hand observations of how someone performed during critical decision-making or make-or-break moments of getting work done. Furthermore, we all know great people who did great work elsewhere but failed to do so in the same or similar job with the next employer.

But can’t Artificial Intelligence (AI) hire better? Do we still need Organizational Psychologists and Recruiters to make good hires? To this, Dr. Lindner responded, ‘While AI helps automate repetitive recruiting tasks, recruitment methodology and human decision-making are key to successful hiring.’ Jokingly, he said, “When recruitment AI fails, who do you call? Answer: A human.” For now, solutions to how to do it better and the creation of novel ideas and solutions remain strictly a human ability.

Recognizably, most employers don’t have the recruitment, selection and hiring capabilities or expertise Dr. Lindner speaks about. When companies need to hire job candidates, most handle it using job ads and internal staff to review resumes and interview candidates. Larger companies may have additional resources such as recruiters, HR professionals and talent acquisition managers to sort resumes and screen job candidates.

When the do-it-yourself (DIY) approach fails, employers turn to staffing firms, contingent search groups and recruiting agencies. These are all very expensive options that often come with simple, cursory or uninformed reviews of job candidates’ qualifications. Staffing firms, contingent search groups, and recruiting agencies are in the business of acting as agents for candidates. As agents, they promote their candidates to multiple employers.

In contrast, Dr. Lindner’s organization, The WorkPlace Group, flips the paradigm and strictly represents the employer. This means candidates are being recruited and carefully assessed specifically for job openings in your organization. Dr. Lindner explains that his teams use all the same recruiting tactics, and then some, employed by headhunters, agencies, and staffing firms in addition to The WorkPlace Group’s database and network of over 700,000 job candidates.

The RPO industry that Dr. Lindner helped create has produced many RPO providers offering a myriad of choices and industry specializations for employers to consider. The WorkPlace Group’s model provides recruiting solutions for both small and large employers. Small companies can now have the same scalability, recruiting technologies, assessment abilities, job market intelligence and hiring capabilities as larger employers. Large companies can customize support options for managing and filling thousands of job openings across various locations and departments.

Steven Lindner, Ph.D., has profoundly impacted the talent acquisition industry through his innovative methodologies and scientific approach to hiring. By leveraging data-driven insights and advanced recruitment technologies, he has empowered employers to identify and attract top talent more efficiently. His emphasis on objective criteria and evidence-based practices ensures that candidates are selected based on their competencies, work experiences, and alignment with organizational values.

Dr. Lindner’s organization, The WorkPlace Group, stands out by strictly representing the employer, providing tailored recruitment solutions for both small and large companies. This approach allows smaller companies to access the same advanced recruiting technologies and market intelligence as larger firms, while large companies benefit from scalable support to manage extensive hiring needs.

As the recruitment landscape continues to evolve, Dr. Lindner’s and The WorkPlace Group’s contributions will remain pivotal in shaping effective and efficient talent acquisition strategies. Their commitment to excellence in hiring practices underscores the importance of combining human decision-making with technological advancements to achieve successful outcomes in the ever-changing job market.

For more information, contact:

Steven Lindner, Ph.D., [email protected]

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