The Reading List: Science, Sky and Generation Y

The Hireserve reading list: Where we share the interesting, inspiring and intriguing stories we’ve been reading this week.

1. New research about what drives Millennials 

Another day, another piece of research about what motivates Millennials in the workplace. This one caught our eye because it went beyond the usual rhetoric of Generation Y demanding high tech and constant connection.

“More than half of employees say they would not work for a company lacking a strong commitment to social or environmental causes, according to a study released on Wednesday by Cone Communications on employee engagement”

This study, featured on PRWeek.com, offers an insight not only into different generations’ mindsets, but also into how essential it is for employers to promote their CSR initiatives and other philanthropic or charitable aspects.

Read it now: Most employees won’t work for a company that doesn’t share their values

2. How to recruit using gaming

Developed by Arctic Shores as a ‘better way to identify suitable candidates’, Cosmic Cadet is one of several game-based alternatives to traditional applicant testing.

“We knew that you can collect lots of data about cognitive ability and decision-making styles from the way that people play games…We wondered whether we could create, from the ground up, a psychometrically valid game that could then be used in recruitment.”

In this article on The Guardian, the question is also asked whether taking a gamification approach could help to address gender imbalance. Research shows that women score lower than men on ability tests because of test anxiety and other factors – so could gaming-based assessments help to engage female candidates more effectively?

Read it now: It’s a game-changer

3. Recruiting young talent in tech

This case study in HR Review centered on an initiative developed by Sky to develop much sought-after tech talent: The Software Engineering Academy.

“There’s a gap between supply and demand which we needed to address through exploring untapped talent who could fill that gap. We open our recruitment and attraction to students from any technical background and this ensures the programme has flourished.”

Offering support and guidance to all particpants, to ensure that those who studied English or History have the same opportunities as those who arrived with IT and Computing qualifications, the Academy initiative has now seen 98.5% of participants going on to careers within Sky.

The shortage of young people studying STEM subjects continues to be a significant problem for employers. Sky’s approach removes the barrier of not having relevant qualifications and instead seeks to support and inspire students from all academic backgrounds who have a passion for technology.

Read it now: The sky’s the limit – how to recruit tech talent

4. The scientific way to calculate and measure trust

A fascinating look at the science behind the buzzwords of ‘company values’ and a ‘culture of trust’.

From research that began back in the 1990s, Paul J. Zak writes for ATD about the formulae and tools his team developed to effectively measure trust.

“Leaders should not try to make their colleagues happy at work. Full stop. Instead, they should create a culture in which the process of doing important work as a team results in a feeling of satisfaction.”

The data gathered from Zak and his team demonstrates the link between a culture of trust and business-relevant outcomes – whilst also shining a light on the negative impact of a lack of trust.

We loved this read for the incredible science that lays behind a seemingly fluffy and intangible concept. Well worth ten minutes.

Read it now: The science behind building a culture of trust