Craft the perfect job description: Ensure your candidates have the right English proficiency

Samantha Ball
A group of business people stood around a board with sticky notes on smiling
Reading time: 3 minutes

English is the international language of business and a foundational skill for many roles. The right level of English proficiency is key for individuals and businesses to excel.

But what is the “right” level?

English is not a one-size-fits-all skill. Customer Service Representatives need different English skills to IT Systems Managers. Senior staff will often need more advanced English skills than junior staff.

Enhance your hiring process with GSE Job Profiles
Play
Privacy and cookies

By watching, you agree 色猫AV can share your viewership data for marketing and analytics for one year, revocable by deleting your cookies.

We know that, for hiring professionals, it can be a challenge to work out your specific language requirements. You aren’t English assessors, so you may default to using vague descriptions, like “strong English skills” or always asking for a B2-level English certification.

But taking this approach means you might be asking for more or less proficiency than the role needs. The knock-on effect? You miss out on great candidates for your roles, spend more money upskilling new hires and waste time on unsuitable applicants.

Understanding the right level of English for your business

Being precise about the English skills needed for specific roles enables hiring managers to get the right candidate(s). It can help you:

  • Identify best-fit top talent quickly
  • Set insight-driven cut scores and progress the right percentage of quality candidates
  • Make more confident hiring decisions
  • Ensure new hires have the right skills for the role from day one

笔别补谤蝉辞苍’蝉 GSE Job Profiles gives professionals accurate English language skill profiles for almost 1400 roles, so you can identify applicants with role-fit English skills.

GSE Job Profiles gives talent acquisition professionals a competitive advantage to finding the best staff. It helps you go beyond generic language skill requirements for candidates, set targeted cut scores based on global standards and reduce the risk of mis-hires. A bad hire can cost you of the employee's salary, an expense that typically increases with job level.

Powered by?笔别补谤蝉辞苍’蝉 GSE?and?, GSE Job Profiles is the first and only tool mapping English skills to roles, giving you trusted global benchmarks for English language assessments. It’s the result of over 30 years of language learning, developed using real English test responses and validated by industry experts.

Defining the role requirements

Defining the role requirements is a crucial step in the hiring process. It involves identifying the key tasks, skills and qualifications needed for the role. A well-defined description helps attract the right applicant and ensures that the hiring process is focused on finding the best fit for the position.

To define the role requirements, managers should consider the following:

  • The key responsibilities and tasks associated with the role
  • The skills and qualifications required to perform the role successfully, including the precise English skills needed
  • The company culture and values that the candidate should align with
  • The long-term goals and objectives of the role

This will help attract qualified candidates and ensure that the process is efficient and effective.

How can I use the GSE Job Profiles in my job description?

Here’s how to integrate GSE Job Profiles insights into your hiring processes and hire best-fit candidates for your roles fast.

1. Identify the English skills needed for your roles:?Remove the guesswork and find out the right level of English for your roles using our?GSE Job Profiles?demo or by getting in touch with our experts.

2. Assess candidates’ language ability: Use a fast, accurate and business-relevant English test, like Versant by 色猫AV, to get a complete picture of your potential candidates’ language competency.

3. Compare candidate results with cut scores: Progress candidates that meet the agreed-upon required English level for the role.

4. Ensure a fast start with upskilling recommendations: Use GSE Job Profile insights to make targeted language learning recommendations for new hires and help them thrive in their roles.

Get started with the GSE Job Profiles for your hiring process

GSE Job Profiles is a game-changer for HR professionals looking to hire top employees. By leveraging this powerful tool, you can make data-driven hiring decisions, enhance candidate-role fit, and ultimately drive business success.

Ready to revolutionize your hiring?

Or, for access to the full GSE Job Profiles database,?book a free consultation?with our experts now.

More blogs from 色猫AV

  • Children sat next to their teacher in a classroom, smiling at eachother

    Tailoring language learning for diverse needs with the GSE

    By Heba Morsey
    Reading time: 5 minutes

    Why inclusive language teaching matters more than ever

    You’ve probably heard the word “inclusive” more and more in recent years, though I first encountered it over 20 years ago. (I say 20 because that’s when I graduated, and we had a course on diverse learners called “individual differences.” But back then, actually meeting their needs wasn’t nearly as comprehensive as it is today.)

    Today, learners come with a wide range of proficiency levels, cognitive styles, educational background, and personal goals. That’s why — it’s essential. In simple terms, inclusive teaching means making sure all learners feel they belong and can succeed.

    It calls for differentiated instruction, flexible assessment and learning materials that respect individual needs. That’s where the Global Scale of English (GSE) comes in.

  • A woman stood outside in a square holding a map smiling

    3 traveling tips your English dictionary won’t teach you

    By Steffanie Zazulak
    Reading time: 3 minutes

    Traveling to a new country is a wonderful way to practice your English skills, but sometimes speaking English in a foreign country can be a little daunting—and an can only help so much. That’s why we’re sharing these three traveling tips: try them the next time you travel to an English-speaking country. They’re sure to make communicating in English with others more interesting and fun.

    Learn how to “break the ice”

    While you’re exploring, you’ll likely come across strangers you might want to “break the ice” with or speak to. A simple “hi” or “hello” along with telling them where you’re from is a great way to start a conversation.? Next, ask them for “insider tips” about their city, like their favorite places to visit or not-to-be-missed restaurants.

    If they seem friendly and are willing to share more information, make sure you ask for their name and use it when asking more questions. Most people appreciate it when others call them by their names in conversation.

    Learn how to ask people for help

    It's normal to get lost during your trip, but don't worry. Most English-speaking countries will have tourist centers near popular destinations with trained staff who can help you with any questions.

    If you can’t find a tourist center quickly enough, approach a friendly-looking person (students with backpacks are a pretty safe bet) and use the skills that you’ve already learned about approaching new people. You can include additional questions like “I’m lost, could you help me?” or “Do you know where I can find _________?” to let them know that you need their help. It’s also not uncommon for strangers to come up to you, especially when you’re carrying a map and look lost, to ask if you need help finding your way.

    Learn to express gratitude

    You will likely want to thank many people during your travels, like the new friends who just helped you when you were lost—and there are many ways to express gratitude.

    Saying “thanks” or “thanks so much” is an informal form of “thank you” in many English-speaking countries. You can also add the phrase “I appreciate it” or say “Thank you. I really appreciate your help” if the person you are thanking did something really special for you, like helping you out with directions.

    For some people, talking to someone you don’t know can be a little scary, especially in a second language. But don’t worry?— most people will be pretty responsive to you. In fact, many people welcome visitors to their cities with open arms, just remember to be polite and have a smile on your face when approaching them.

  • woman uses highlighter on book

    Grammar 101: tips and tricks to help improve your Engish writing

    By Hannah Lawrence
    Reading time: 4 minutes

    I've always been fascinated by language and writing: as a child, I wrote newsletters for my classmates and books about my imaginary friends' adventures. That love of words eventually led me into a career as a writer, editor and proofreader. Over my career, I've checked thousands of reports, articles and blogs – and I see the same grammatical mistakes time and time again.

    In this blog series, I'll share my favourite tips and tricks to help you remember those tricky grammar rules; whether you're writing for work, to learn or just for fun, these posts will help you improve your English and write with more confidence. Here are the top three grammar rules that people ask me to explain:

    1) "Which" or "that"?

    2) "Less" or "fewer"??

    3)?"Me" or "I"?