Verifying Skills Without Wasting Time – Smarter Screening Methods for Modern Hiring

Introduction

Screening resumes manually is an extremely laborious and time-consuming task and the problem with that is you never know if the candidates who applied are qualified for the positions they submitted their resumes for until you go through it. That is why employers are looking for ways to verify skills without wasting time; in essence they are looking for smarter screening methods for hiring in the modern age.

Just this year, more than 76% of companies have shifted to skills assessments and other tests to verify candidates before shortlisting them for interviews. This is up from 55% in 2022. The fact is in this competitive age, where acquiring top-tier talent is the priority of companies, wasting time in screening can be detrimental to this goal.

In this blog we’ll look at the top 5 smart hiring methods to increase screening efficiency, so without further ado, let’s begin.

The Case for Smarter Screening

Since there is always dollar value assigned to a vacancy, the longer the position stays empty productivity in some way is affected. From other people working together to ensure the tasks for that position are completed, to overall efficiency of tasks getting completed all are affected. That is why hiring managers and recruiters are under pressure to find the right people quickly without sacrificing quality.

The short introductory call that were utilized to get an idea about a potential candidate no longer makes the cut. In today’s fast paced business environment, the need to filter a potential employee needs to happen before the first call.

Here’s why traditional methods fall short:

• Written resumes can be embellished or misleading.

• Manual phone screens drain recruiter bandwidth.

• Top candidates drop out while you’re still reviewing paperwork.

That is why emphasis is placed on processes and screening tools for recruiters that can carry out skill verifications fast, fairly and accurately. 

1. Skills Testing – Objective Proof Before the Interview

Skills-based hiring is the future, and the present. Skills testing platforms like Vervoe and Toggl let you build quick, role-specific assessments to evaluate real competencies.

For example, instead of relying on a developer’s GitHub link, give them a 10-minute coding test tailored to your stack. You’ll instantly filter out unqualified applicants.

Benefits of skills testing:

• Objective scoring

• Automated ranking

• Faster shortlisting

When done right, skills testing saves hours of guesswork and ensures only job-ready candidates move forward.

2. One-Way Video Interviews; Utilizing Asynchronous Efficiency

Video interviews offer a time-saving middle ground between phone screens and full interviews. Instead of booking a live call, candidates record answers to predefined questions.

Platforms like DigitalHire allow recruiters to:

• Screen for communication skills and confidence

• Review answers on their own schedule

This method works especially well for roles where soft skills, presence, or articulation matter. You’ll spot top talent early, without burning time on no-shows or dead-end conversations.

3. Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) – Your Workflow Backbone

A reliable ATS is more than a database—it's the nerve center of your hiring process. With built-in automation, an ATS can:

• Auto-sort candidates

• Flag duplicates or missing info

• Streamline communications

Smart systems like Greenhouse, Lever, and Workable now integrate with skill tests and video tools. That means one interface, no chaos, and fewer manual tasks clogging your calendar.

To summarize ATS is a critical tool for small teams or high-volume hiring.

4. Social Media Screening

Yes, it’s okay to Google your candidates. A quick scan of public profiles can reveal red flags or positive alignment with your company’s tone and values.

But this isn’t about snooping—it’s about protecting your brand and understanding cultural signals.

What to look for:

• Thought leadership (LinkedIn posts, GitHub activity)

• Communication style

• Interests aligned with your team’s mission

Use this step as a supplement, not a filter.

5. Culture and Skill Fit Assessments

Even if a candidate checks all the technical boxes, poor culture fit can derail productivity and morale. That’s where structured fit assessments come in.

These tools assess how someone thinks, collaborates, and reacts under pressure. For example:

• Cognitive or personality tests (e.g., DiSC, Predictive Index)

• Behavioral scenarios

• Team-based problem solving

Companies like Crosschq use reference data and AI models to verify culture fit alongside skill sets. When you screen for both, you hire better—and retain longer.

Bonus: AI-Powered Virtual Recruiters Are Now Screening First

One emerging trend is the use of AI screening agents to conduct first-round interviews automatically. These digital assistants ask structured questions and summarize candidate responses.

The Washington Post reported that companies are using bots named Robin, Jamie, and Sam to run interviews 24/7 and cut down screening time by over 60%.

These tools are especially helpful for high-volume roles where recruiters don’t have time for repetitive conversations. DigitalHire offers an AI Recruiter too, that helps employers shortlist faster while keeping the candidate experience simple and seamless.

Potential Risks to be Aware of

Smarter screening is powerful—but not without risks. Keep these in mind:

• Don’t eliminate the human touch: Use tech to assist, not replace, your intuition.

• Watch for bias: Regularly audit your tools for fairness.

• Protect privacy: Be transparent with candidates about what you’re screening and why.

Trust, fairness, and communication still matter.

In Conclusion – Screen Smarter; Hire Faster

As we conclude, let us just say that if you are still carrying out screenings the old way, you will have issues scaling up. Plus you’ll be missing on top resources as most of them will be filtered out through automated screening processes and tools and picked up much sooner by other companies.

That is why focusing on a skills-based hiring method along with utilizing the correct tools such as ATS, video interviews, and skills tests and culture fit assessments.

Furthermore. platforms like DigitalHire now combine AI matching with video resumes to help employers make better calls before even scheduling an interview.