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{"theme":"toeic-xlight","enableAnimation":false,"columnDistribution":"1:1","Cards":[{"line":false,"lineColor":"yellow","description":"\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan class\u003d\"heading2\" style\u003d\"font-weight: normal;\"\u003eWhy communication matters in recruitment and talent decisions\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/h2\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eHiring decisions often rely on multiple sources of information, including resumes, interviews, academic credentials and professional experience.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eWhile these inputs provide valuable insights, many organizations continue to face challenges when evaluating the communication skills required for workplace success.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAs workplaces become increasingly collaborative and interconnected, employers are looking for more consistent ways to understand whether candidates possess the workplace communication skills needed for a role.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eBy combining communication insights with existing hiring processes, organizations can make more informed recruitment and talent decisions.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n","assetType":"image","imageUrl":"/content/dam/ets-org/brands/toeic/women-with-specs-smiling.jpg","contentReverse":false,"formConfiguration":{},"formMessage":{}}],"dataLayer":{}}
The challenge of evaluating communication skills
Assessing communication skills is often more complex than evaluating technical knowledge or professional experience.
Interviews provide only part of the picture
Interviews offer valuable insight into a candidate's experience and communication style. However, interview performance may be influenced by factors such as interview format, interviewer expectations and the specific questions being asked.
As a result, interviews may not always provide a complete picture of a candidate's workplace communication skills.
Communication requirements vary by role
Different jobs require different communication abilities.
A customer-facing position may require extensive verbal communication, while other roles may rely more heavily on written communication, collaboration or information sharing.
Understanding the communication demands of a role helps organizations establish more relevant evaluation criteria.
Consistency matters
When managers, departments or hiring teams apply different standards, candidate evaluations may become more difficult to compare.
A structured approach to evaluating communication skills helps organizations create greater consistency across the recruitment process and support more informed decision-making.
{"theme":"toeic-xlight","enableAnimation":false,"columnDistribution":"1:1","Cards":[{"line":false,"lineColor":"yellow","description":"\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan class\u003d\"heading2\"\u003eAcademic English and workplace English are not always the same\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/h2\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eEducational achievement can provide valuable information about a candidate\u0027s knowledge and learning experiences. However, academic success does not always indicate readiness for workplace communication demands.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAcademic English often focuses on classroom learning, coursework and examinations.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWorkplace English may require employees to:\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cul\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eInterpret instructions without a teacher’s clarification\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eRespond to real customer and client expectations\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eAdjust tone and formality for different business contexts\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eCommunicate clearly under time pressure\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eNavigate real-world business situations\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003c/ul\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eUnderstanding this distinction helps organizations align communication expectations with the realities of workplace performance.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n","assetType":"image","imageUrl":"/content/dam/ets-org/brands/toeic/women-and-men-discussing-with-ipad.jpg","contentReverse":false,"formConfiguration":{},"formMessage":{}}],"dataLayer":{}}
Aligning communication requirements with role requirements
Organizations often benefit from defining communication expectations before evaluating candidates.
This may include understanding:
- Who the employee will communicate with
- How frequently communication occurs
- Whether communication is primarily spoken, written or both
- The complexity of the information being communicated
- The consequences of misunderstanding information
A role-based approach helps employers establish clearer expectations and support more effective candidate evaluation.
By aligning communication expectations with business requirements, organizations can strengthen the consistency and quality of hiring decisions.
{"theme":"toeic-xlight","enableAnimation":false,"columnDistribution":"1:1","Cards":[{"line":false,"lineColor":"yellow","description":"\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan class\u003d\"heading2\"\u003eSupporting more informed hiring decisions\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/h2\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eEnglish proficiency data should not replace interviews, experience or professional qualifications. Instead, it provides an additional source of information that helps organizations:\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cul\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eSupport more consistent candidate evaluation\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eBetter understand communication capability\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eAlign hiring requirements with job responsibilities\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eImprove the recruitment process\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eMake more informed hiring decisions\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003c/ul\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAs organizations compete for talent in an evolving workforce, communication capability remains an important consideration in successful recruitment.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n","assetType":"image","imageUrl":"/content/dam/ets-org/brands/toeic/men-and-women-discussion.jpg","contentReverse":false,"formConfiguration":{},"formMessage":{}}],"dataLayer":{}}
{"theme":"toeic-white-green","headingTag":"h3","disableMultiClose":false,"title":"Frequently asked questions","searchEnable":false,"tableborder":true,"dataLayer":{},"questions":[{"title":"What is the difference between academic English and workplace English?","accordionContent":"\u003cp\u003eAcademic English is often associated with educational settings, coursework and examinations. Workplace English focuses on communication tasks employees encounter in real-world business environments.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n"},{"title":"What is the most effective way to assess communication skills before hiring?","accordionContent":"\u003cp\u003eNo single method tells the whole story. Interviews reveal how a candidate communicates in the moment, but they can be affected by nerves, format and the specific questions asked. Combining interviews with a structured assessment of communication skills gives employers a more complete, comparable picture across all candidates for a role.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n"},{"title":"How can organizations improve hiring decisions using English proficiency data?","accordionContent":"\u003cp\u003eEnglish proficiency data gives hiring teams a consistent way to compare candidates against the communication demands of a role, rather than relying solely on subjective impressions from an interview. Used alongside experience, education and interview performance, it helps organizations make more informed, defensible hiring decisions.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n"},{"title":"What English level do employers typically require for different roles?","accordionContent":"\u003cp\u003eRequired English levels vary by role. Customer-facing positions often call for strong spoken communication to handle real-time conversations, while roles focused on documentation or technical writing may prioritize written proficiency. Defining the specific communication demands of a role before hiring helps employers set requirements that match the job rather than applying a single standard across the organization.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n"},{"title":"What language metrics should HR teams track to support talent decisions?","accordionContent":"\u003cp\u003eHR teams can track metrics such as English proficiency scores, communication skills assessment results and consistency of evaluation across hiring teams. These metrics support quality-of-hire decisions by giving hiring teams comparable, objective information alongside interviews and experience.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n"}]}
