Challenges

Hiring for an NGO presents distinct challenges due to the unique nature of the sector. Challenges include limited budgets, reliance on grants and donations, difficulty in finding candidates passionate about the cause, navigating complex regulatory environments, and addressing the need for a diverse skill set among staff. These organizations often require individuals with a strong commitment to their mission, adaptability, and the ability to work in resource-constrained settings.

Doctors Without Borders Canada faced a lot of challenges in their hiring process. Traditional hiring methods didn’t sufficiently assess qualities like adaptability, cultural sensitivity, and problem-solving skills, which are very much required in candidates joining NGOs. The need to identify individuals who not only had the required technical expertise but also the resilience and agility to sustain in challenging circumstances was hard to find. 

Solutions

The organization decided to integrate Testlify into their non-technical hiring process. They decided to choose Testlify for its ability to design and implement assessments, focusing on non-technical competencies. The collaboration with Testlify allowed MSF Canada to use pre-built tests plus create customized assessments that helped them examine candidates’ soft skills, emotional intelligence, and problem-solving abilities, aligning with the organization’s unique requirements.

Implementation

  • MSF Canada created customized assessments specific to the demands of their organization. Scenarios simulating real-world challenges were incorporated to evaluate candidates’ decision-making processes, adaptability, and interpersonal skills.
  • Testlify’s video interview questions feature helped MSF Canada to assess candidates’ communication skills, cultural sensitivity, and emotional intelligence. 
  • Testlify’s scoring and reporting features provided MSF Canada with valuable insights into candidates’ performance, allowing the recruitment team to make informed decisions based on data-driven assessments.

Results

The integration of Testlify into MSF Canada’s non-technical hiring process yielded significant results:

  • The assessments allowed MSF Canada to identify candidates with the right mix of technical and non-technical skills, ensuring a more comprehensive evaluation of each applicant.
  • The streamlined hiring process with features like video interview questions and role-specific assessments, reduced the time and resources required for candidate evaluations.
  • The assessments focused on cultural sensitivity, contributing to a more inclusive hiring process. This helped MSF Canada build a diverse team capable of navigating complex and diverse environments.

Conclusion

The collaboration between Doctors Without Borders Canada and Testlify demonstrated the effectiveness of using talent assessments for non-technical. By using Testlify’s assessment features MSF Canada not only overcame existing recruitment challenges but also enhanced the overall quality and efficiency of its hiring process, ensuring a workforce well-equipped to fulfill the organization’s humanitarian mission.