News

Research reveals key competencies dictate success, not a person’s age

The generational age of an employee is not a critical as the skill set competency in making a good hire.

October 22, 2015

A white paper from Assess Systems reveals specific key competencies dictate success in the restaurant industry, not a person’s age. The paper, "Generational Differences: The Newest Way to Justify a Bad Hire," was written based on analysis of the work-related traits of more than 500,000 respondents, according to a company press release.

The company’s scientists and industrial and organizational psychologists discovered that whether people are good or bad in a particular restaurant position has far less to do with the generations they are members of than it has to do with whether they have or don’t have a core set of competencies and personality traits.

"While generational differences exist, their perceived impact has become overblown. Our research illustrates that personality and behavioral factors are much more significant, and determine if a person is the right fit for your restaurant," said Steve Sasser, president and CEO of Assess Systems, which offers 12 specific assessments for the restaurant industry. "It’s a must to use competency modeling, which ensures the people you’re hiring have the skills, knowledge, and characteristics necessary to perform well in their roles and as part of your team."

In addition to the broader finding about the importance of competencies, the white paper details the specific competencies Assess Systems has found to be important for multi-unit managers, general managers, assistant managers and kitchen managers, the release stated.