Hiring for Executive Intelligence – The Limits of IQ Tests

Hiring managers have all but ignored standard IQ, but they remain the best predictor of managerial success. Here is how to design an interview that uncovers executive intelligence. A Harvard Business Review excerpt.

The Limits of IQ Tests

Until now, the only cognitive skills measured were those initially identified to predict schoolchildren’s academic performance—and traditionally such skills have been measured using IQ tests. Although IQ tests were not originally intended for use in business, studies have shown that these instruments predict work performance at least as well as competency interviews do (the most common assessment tool used today for hiring and promotion) and about ten times better than personality tests do. That’s because some of the thinking skills that support academic success are also crucial to executive performance.

by Justin Menkes

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