Skills-based hiring requires skills-based assessment. This guide walks through proven approaches states and cities are using to evaluate candidate abilities across the entire employee lifecycle—from screening through promotion.

You'll find detailed guidance on hiring assessments, onboarding strategies, learning and development, and real examples from Colorado, California, Louisiana, Maryland, and the federal government. See how states are designing job descriptions, conducting skills-focused interviews, using work simulations, and building career pathways based on demonstrated capability.

What's in this resource

Overview of skills assessment throughout the talent lifecycle. Setting up for success—defining skills, updating job classifications, distinguishing between minimum, required, and preferred qualifications. Hiring assessment best practices including preparation, execution, and fairness. Onboarding assessment including apprenticeships and probationary period strategies. Learning and development approaches for retention and internal mobility. Real-world examples from multiple states. Additional resources for skills validation tools and platforms.

Who this is for

HR teams and hiring managers designing assessment processes. Government leaders implementing skills-based hiring. Talent acquisition professionals building skills-focused job descriptions and interview frameworks. State and local officials modernizing public sector hiring.