Hiring challenges across all levels seen among Indian employers: Pearson Vue survey

A multi-sector survey by Pearson Vue (computer-based testing firm) of India's top 100 employers has showed that there are unique hiring challenges at every level - entry/middle/senior manager - and demand for more credible certification pathways.

The key challenges for hiring managers across levels — ascertaining ability of entry level candidates (56 per cent); finding (69 per cent) and retaining (61 per cent) middle managers; and finding senior managers (53 per cent) with the right qualifications (61 per cent) — all shared a common solution.

Whilst the ongoing investment in up-skilling young people was seen to be closing the skills gaps for young people (56 per cent), 7 in 10 participants urged investment into both more specialist certifications and more advanced certifications. Instead, almost 6 in 10 hiring managers (58 per cent) are currently forced to make hiring compromises.

Divyalok Sharma, director of client development at Pearson VUE, said: "Beyond university and entry-level certifications, there is a greater call for life-long learning and certification so that middle managers in particular can better progress and improve productivity and address talent shortages."

Across all levels, candidate credibility was a major concern - with 7 in 10 hiring managers believing the majority of candidates make false claims in their resume.

Many even believe that candidates may have cheated on a professional exam (58 per cent). But those figures dramatically improved if the candidate had earned their credential through a computer-based test (CBT). Most hiring managers (82 percent) were confident that CBT is more secure and easier to validate.