Companies Ditch CVs for Skill Tests in Remote Work Era

The Accelerated Shift to Skills-Based Hiring

Last year’s pandemic-induced changes compelled businesses to rapidly adapt, notably accelerating the transition to remote work. This swift change fundamentally altered talent acquisition strategies.

The central question became whether managers would continue relying on traditional CV reviews during a crisis, or prioritize a faster approach focused on evaluating skills directly.

TestGorilla's Response to the Changing Landscape

Recognizing this need, the Netherlands-based HR tech startup, TestGorilla, developed a solution centered around short, skills-based assessments.

This approach offered the benefit of mitigating unconscious biases often present in CV evaluations, potentially preventing less-qualified candidates with polished resumes from gaining an advantage while excluding highly skilled individuals lacking extensive formal qualifications.

The company reports a successful outcome, claiming to have secured over 1,500 corporate clients within nine months, including prominent organizations like the NHS, Sony, PepsiCo, and Bain & Company.

Seed Funding and Key Investors

TestGorilla has recently completed a $10 million seed funding round.

The investment was led by a consortium of prominent venture capital firms and individual investors, including Notion Capital (a SaaS specialist), Partech, Next Play Ventures (founded by Jeff Weiner), Indeed co-founder Paul Forster, Peakon co-founder Phil Chambers, and Justworks co-founder Isaac Oates.

Sources indicate the round was highly competitive, closing within just two weeks despite multiple offers.

Platform Capabilities and Benefits

Founded by serial entrepreneur Wouter Durville and former Bain & Company Partner Otto Verhage, TestGorilla’s platform remotely assesses a wide range of attributes.

These include cognitive abilities, soft skills, specific job skills, cultural alignment, motivation levels, and language proficiency.

By substituting CV screening with objective assessments, the platform actively works to reduce unconscious biases in the recruitment process.

Data-Driven Hiring and Improved Candidate Selection

“We’re removing bias because we’re making hiring very data-driven,” explained Durville to TechCrunch.

“Rather than relying on CVs, brand recognition, or personal connections, we emphasize testing for factors demonstrably linked to job success, such as cognitive ability and cultural fit.

This data-driven approach allows for automated candidate ranking, facilitating informed decisions about who to invite for further evaluation.”

Industry Validation and Future Outlook

Jos White, general partner at Notion Capital, commented, “They are literally upending the hiring process with a platform that is more democratic, more global and ultimately a much better predictor of job success.”

“Companies are facing intense competition for talent, yet are often equipped with inadequate tools. TestGorilla can unlock access to new talent pools, dismantle barriers, and connect candidates with the right opportunities.”