From Paper to Proficiency: How Acceptance Insurance Modernized Their Hiring Process

Hiring Challenges

Acceptance targeted three key areas in the hiring process that needed improvement:

• Outdated paper assessments
• Time-consuming reference checks
• High fail rate among new hires

The processes in place for assessing candidates and checking references required recruiters to do all the early and late stage screening work manually. As a result, positions typically remained open for 40 days or more.

After positions were filled, 70% of new hires were failing the state licensing exam required for employment. At $300-$400 per exam, Acceptance was losing $175,000 each year on employees who couldn’t continue in the role.

“The time saved was phenomenal. Our recruiters were spending 90-120 minutes per day identifying potential candidates, then that number dropped to zero. When you calculate time saved over the course of a week, it adds up to a full 8-hour work day.”

-Clay Stallings, VP of Talent Acquisition and Development at Acceptance Insurance

Automating the Process

Assessments. Acceptance replaced the existing paper assessment with an online assessment that targets key traits and skills necessary for success in the insurance industry.

Reference Checking. They also replaced phone and email based reference checking with automated reference checking, which enables references to provide feedback online in under two minutes.

Integration. Acceptance integrated both solutions with their applicant tracking system (ATS) to provide a seamless experience for candidates, as well as comprehensive reporting for recruiters and hiring managers.

Adding Efficiency & Predictability

By automating two key areas of the hiring process (assessments and reference checking), and integrating these solutions with the ATS, Acceptance significantly reduced the workload for recruiters. Improved efficiency saves each recruiter eight hours per week, and reduces overall time to hire by 10 days.

In addition to time savings, these solutions also deliver higher quality candidates—candidates who are more likely to pass the state licensing exam and succeed in the role. By screening out candidates who lack key traits and skills, Acceptance has achieved a pass rate and a retention rate of 80%.