Episode 303: Growing A Soft Skills Assessment Platform For High-Volume Hiring – with Stephane Rivard from HiringBranch

When companies use realistic job simulations, they can finally see beyond CVs and surface true talent, regardless of background.

Removing bias from recruitment isn’t theoretical; it’s achievable. Grounding hiring decisions in real-world, data-driven simulations gives every candidate a fair shot and helps teams identify who will actually succeed in the role.

Smart hiring isn’t about who interviews best. It’s about who performs best.

Stephane Rivard, CEO and co-founder of HiringBranch, a Montreal-based company using AI and job simulations to transform high-volume recruitment, shares the evolution of Hiring Branch, why traditional interviews fall short, and how data-driven, skill-based hiring can result in fairer, and more consistent outcomes.

Other topics we covered in our conversation:

• Evolution from language and soft-skills training to data-driven, skills-based assessments.

• Why success in customer-facing roles goes beyond empathy to skills like rapport, grit, and critical thinking.

• The difficulty of replacing traditional interviews and reducing bias in hiring.

• How HiringBranch adapts its platform across industries using deep, role-specific data.

• Go-to-market insights: experimentation, conferences, networking, and customer outcomes.

• Advice for HR tech firms on partnerships, focus, and differentiation.

• And much more!

If you’re interested in fair and effective hiring practices, data-driven HR, or the future of skills assessment, this conversation offers a grounded, experience-based look at what works and what’s changing in the world of recruitment.

Website: www.hiringbranch.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/stephane-rivard-entrepreneur

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