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Google: STEM is the building block, but soft skills make the difference

Through its OXYGEN and ARISTOTLE projects, tech giant Google examined its hiring practices to identify the factors that lead to success. Surprise, surprise!

The hypothesis regarding hiring success showed that approximately eight key competencies are responsible for the positive impact of hiring new staff. Last on the list... STEM expertise, that is, specific and outstanding skills in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

The remaining seven qualities with a higher impact are all so-called soft skills:

-being a good coach

-being able to communicate and listen well

-empathy, i.e., the ability to put oneself in the shoes of others and understand their perspectives

-teamwork and support for teammates

-critical thinking

-problem-solving skills

-the ability to establish connections between complex ideas and situations

Google allowed ethnographers and anthropologists—who otherwise rarely set foot in the company—to delve even deeper into the data. Recruitment practices were subsequently adjusted and expanded. Professionals with backgrounds in the humanities, MBAs, and other fields were also specifically hired. Four years after OXYGEN, the ARISTOTLE project examined Google teams based on the factors of innovation and productivity. ARISTOTLE demonstrated that so-called B-teams tend to perform much better. B-teams are work and development groups that often consist of members who do not necessarily have the best STEM credentials. These top-performing teams also stood out particularly for competencies such as curiosity, empathy, emotional intelligence, and others. At the top of the list: emotional security—that is, positive team players who create a positive team atmosphere, place trust in all group members, and consciously foster a work and team culture that is tolerant of mistakes.

The publication of the study results is attributed to Cathy N. Davidson, founder of “The Futures Initiatives” and author of “The New Education: How to Revolutionize the University to Prepare Students for a World in Flux.”

Source: Valerie Strauss (2017). Washington Post. The surprising thing Google learned about its employees — and what it means for today’s students. https://www.nationalsoftskills.org/not-surprising-thing-google-learned-employees/

STEM skills are crucial in a tech company like Google. Or so you might think. Flashback: In 2013, Google examined the success of its standard hiring practices at the time based on performance factors. The study was based on the hypothesis that tech skills drive success in the form of innovation, productivity, and development. The project was called OXYGEN and not only revealed some surprises but also breathed new life into the overhaul of recruitment practices. What happened?