Google may not be that much of a stickler for grades, but that doesn't mean that every company feels the same way. According to The Wall Street Journal, there's one metric that's still of importance to employers: the SAT scores of an applicant.
The source not only uses some real-life examples to show that some CEOs have above-average scores, it notes that this may require a new form of thinking for candidates. Because most job applicants will have taken the SATs long ago, the process of digging scores up again and re-assessing them could change the tenor of the job search. An executive search firm might also need to pay strict attention to this.
The author of the article, Melissa Korn, noted that standardized test scores might also be used as a form of differentiation rather than as a measure of candidate worth.
"[Hiring managers] say they believe SATs and other college entrance exams like the ACT help when comparing candidates with differing backgrounds or figuring out whether someone has the raw brainpower required for the job," Korn writes.
Bloomberg View, perhaps echoing the sentiments of Google, criticized this idea in response to the Journal article, saying that "about 80 percent" of a college student's early performance goes unmeasured by the SAT's metrics.
YES Partners is flexible enough that we can work with your company's criteria and emphasize the elements that you find most pressing in your global executive search.
When dealing with candidates for an executive position, a strong academic background might be particularly important. However, it's crucial to consider the overall merits and demerits of each candidate when hiring for any influential role.
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