Hiring Leaders Smarter: The Best Assessments for Executive Search

Growth requires change, and every successful transformation starts at the top. According to a study by McKinsey & Company, organizations are far more likely to capture value when leaders are carefully chosen and equipped to guide change. In fact, using the right assessments for executive search makes hiring strong leadership candidates 2.7 times more likely. 

 

That’s because executive hires carry the greatest impact. The right leader can set strategy, inspire teams, and accelerate results. The wrong fit, however, stalls growth and creates costly turnover. To reduce risks, many organizations turn to executive assessments, scientifically validated tools that dig deeper than resumes and interviews. Assessments such as Hogan, Wonderlic, PXT Select, and SHL reveal personality, cognitive ability, and leadership potential, helping companies select leaders who meet role requirements while aligning with organizational culture. 

 

Hogan Assessments for Leadership Potential

The Hogan Assessments are an entire suite of assessments, letting organizations measure personality traits and motivators. They offer insight into strengths, weaknesses, and how potential candidates will respond to high-pressure situations. 

 

 

For example, let’s look at ambition. Ambition can translate to stronger leadership or overextension, and Hogan helps reveal which. Hogan assessments also provide insight into each candidate’s interpersonal style and whether it aligns with organizational culture. By offering this high level of insight into potential candidates, organizations can avoid costly missteps and select leaders that seamlessly fit into their company and who have the vision to succeed long-term. 

 

The Wonderlic Test for Cognitive Agility

The Wonderlic Test measures cognitive ability, problem-solving, and learning agility. It’s one of the more valuable assessments for executive search because it measures how quickly a candidate can process information, adapt to new challenges, and make decisions that propel the company forward. 

 

 

This cognitive agility is especially important in fields like technology or finance, where things are constantly changing. The Wonderlic Test also has a straightforward format that makes it easy to compare candidates objectively, giving hiring teams a clear benchmark for evaluating executive-level talent. 

 

PXT Select for Comprehensive Job Fit Analysis

PXT Select examines thinking style, behavioral traits, and occupational interests, going beyond surface-level evaluations. It paints a detailed picture of how a candidate will approach leadership responsibilities, interact with teams, and align with an organization’s culture. 

 

 

For executive search, PXT Select works well to match candidates to the unique demands of a role, while identifying areas they’d benefit from growth and development. It makes it easy for companies to make hiring decisions that are strategic and sustainable by offering practical, role-specific insights. 

 

SHL Executive Assessments for Leadership Potential

SHL’s Executive Assessments use exercises to test cognitive ability, behavior, and situational judgment, all benchmarks that can translate to leadership potential. They use global data sets, allowing organizations to see how potential candidates measure up against industry standards. 

 

 

A major strength of SHL is the way the test simulates real-world leadership challenges and provides insight into how candidates perform under pressure. It’s also very objective, using globally validated data that offers a reliable framework for executive selection. 

 

Choosing the Right Leadership Assessment Strategy

Each of the executive search assessments provides powerful insights, but no single assessment can capture the full scope of what makes an executive successful. Instead, the best recruitment strategies use a layered approach that lets organizations assess candidates from multiple angles, balancing technical expertise with cultural alignment and leadership style. 

 

At Squadron, we help organizations tailor their assessment strategies to find the right leaders for today and prepare for tomorrow. By incorporating various assessments as part of the executive search process, we help reduce risk, improve retention, and secure leaders who are qualified, while still aligning with your organization’s vision and culture. Book a consultation today to find out how using these tools strategically translates into real results.