Winter for C-suite hiring as psychometric trials and AI tests become the new norm

AI and technology-led disruption, which naturally makes the hiring process more rigorous."This scrutiny has introduced new hurdles for candidates, including psychometric testing. Once reserved for the top rung, these assessments are now standard for middle management.Peer-level reviews are in too."Peer group evaluations are now done in seven out of 10 mandates at the middle and senior levels," says Pranshu Upadhyay, regional director at Michael Page India.

This involves interviewing a candidate's to-be colleagues and subordinates to gauge cultural fit and soft skills.In fact, startups backed by global PE/VC firms “take slightly longer” due to global rounds and multiple stakeholders involved. “However, on the bright side, new profiles like that of AI ethicists, virtual reality experience managers and AI tutors are emerging, giving a boost to the recruitment trends and outlook,” said Upadhyay.The "lethargy" in the market is also driven by candidate hesitation.

With global macroeconomic jitters persisting, many executives fear the "last man in, first man out" phenomenon, where the newest hires are the first to be pruned during a downturn.The slowdown is visible in the data. While the previous fiscal year saw a 30% to 40% surge in CXO mandates, that growth is expected to crater to just 10% in the coming year, according to Upasana Agarwal, partner at ABC Consultants.

"Companies want to retain existing talent because the cost of business loss during a six-month vacancy is too high," she noted.The hiring lag is particularly acute in the startup ecosystem. Backed by private equity and venture capital, these firms now require multiple rounds of global stakeholder approvals before signing off on a new lead.However, the news isn't