Hiring with Bite: Use a Benchmark or Make Your Own Secret Sauce
You know the drill. A new role opens up, CVs start pouring in and you’re expected to magically spot the standout candidates. Trouble is, they all look decent on paper so how do you choose?
That’s where benchmarks can be a game-changer.At Big 5, we’ve developed over 180 benchmarks based on real job data. Each one reflects the key behaviours and traits linked to success in a specific type of role from frontline sales to senior leadership.
You can use any of them straight away. No need to build anything from scratch. Just pick the one that fits and you’ve got a clear, data-driven way to compare candidates. It’s fair, structured and takes the pressure off your gut instinct.
But let’s say the role is a bit… different.
Maybe it’s evolved over time. Maybe it’s a hybrid of two job types. Or maybe your company has a particular way of doing things and you want to capture that in your hiring process.
That’s where Secret Sauce™ comes in.
It lets you create a custom benchmark based on your top performers — the people who already do the job brilliantly in your world. We take that insight, turn it into a benchmark and load it straight into your dashboard. So now, when you assess candidates, you’re comparing them to what ‘great’ actually looks like for you.
Whether you stick with one of our 180 benchmarks or decide to build your own, the point is: you have options. And that flexibility means better hiring decisions, more confident shortlisting and far fewer head-scratching moments.
Curious about creating your own Secret Sauce™?
Contact karen@big5assessments.com and let’s chat about what success looks like for your team.
About the Author: Nikky Van Bommel
Nikky van Bommel is the Marketing Director for Big 5 Assessments and has worked in the Psychometric Testing industry for over 10 years. Nikky is responsible for all marketing and social media for the organisation. 
