Hiring in 2025 isn’t about filling positions. It’s about finding people who help your business grow—and knowing how to do that in today’s new normal.

The job market looks different now. Remote work is standard. AI screens resumes. Soft skills matter as much as hard ones. If you’re still hiring like it’s 2015, you’re behind.

Here’s how to stay ahead.

Why Hiring Changed (and What You Need to Know)

Hiring used to be about résumés and interviews. Not anymore. Here’s what’s driving the shift:

• Remote Work is Normal: Candidates expect flexibility. Your hiring strategy needs to account for hybrid and remote setups.

• AI is the First Screener: If your process doesn’t involve automation, you’re wasting time.

• Soft Skills Are the Decider: You’re not just hiring a resume. You’re hiring a mindset.

This evolution matters. Remote work means your team may never meet face-to-face. So you need people who can communicate clearly and manage themselves. AI can help, but it also means the human parts of hiring—culture, fit, purpose—matter even more. And soft skills? They’re not “nice to have.” They’re how people adapt, stay motivated, and solve real problems. These shifts are why hiring today is less about checking boxes and more about understanding who someone really is.

Use AI the Right Way (Not Just Because It’s Trendy)

AI can make hiring easier, but only if you use it right.

Here’s what it’s great at:

• Scanning Resumes Fast: Tools like Manatal or Paradox can sort through hundreds of resumes in minutes.

• Predicting Success: Platforms like Pymetrics use neuroscience-based games to measure traits like memory and risk tolerance.

• Fighting Bias: When set up correctly, AI can help eliminate bias by focusing on data—not gut instinct.

But don’t forget: AI is a tool, not a crystal ball. It helps narrow the list, but it can’t replace real conversation or gut instinct. The trick is knowing when to trust the software and when to trust your team. AI can show patterns and flag issues, but only people can decide who fits your mission. Balance the tech with your leadership judgment, and you’ll make faster, better calls.

Use Video—But Use It Well

Video isn’t just for Zoom interviews anymore. It’s a first impression.

Best ways to use video in hiring:

• Ask for Video Intros: A 1–2 minute video helps you see a candidate’s energy, communication skills, and confidence.

• Use Pre-Recorded Interviews: Have candidates answer key questions on video. It’s more objective—and easier to review.

• Try Video Analysis Tools: Platforms like HireVue can analyze tone, facial expressions, and more (if you’re into that kind of thing).

Video lets you evaluate presence and tone—stuff a résumé will never show. You get to see how someone thinks on their feet, how they express ideas, and how they come across. That insight is gold. Just make sure your video process is fair. Keep it short, give clear prompts, and always review submissions consistently. Done right, video saves time and adds depth.

Don’t Just Hire for the Résumé—Hire for How They Think

What someone did last year doesn’t always tell you how they’ll handle next year. You want thinkers, not just doers.

Here’s how to hire for that:

• Cognitive Tests: Tools like Wonderlic or Criteria Corp can measure logic, attention to detail, and problem-solving.

• Situational Interviews: Ask real questions like: “What would you do if a client ghosted you mid-project?”

• Live Simulations: One of the best methods—give them a real-world problem and watch them work.

This is where you see who’s got the grit. Not everyone will love being tested or challenged, and that’s okay. You’re not hiring everyone. You’re hiring people who want to contribute, grow, and solve problems in real time. The best hires usually aren’t the ones with the prettiest LinkedIn profile—they’re the ones who show up when it counts.

Interview Questions That Actually Matter in 2025

Skip the “Tell me about yourself” fluff. Ask what reveals mindset and potential:

• How do you approach new problems?

• When have you had to learn a skill fast? How’d you do it?

• What drives you to do your best work?

• Tell me about a time you disagreed with a coworker. What happened?

• How do you juggle multiple priorities under pressure?

These questions work because they ask for more than memorized stories. They push people to reflect, explain, and share how they operate under pressure. And that’s what matters—because challenges don’t show up on paper. If a candidate can walk you through how they solved something tough, that tells you more than any fancy job title ever could.

Tools to Make Your Hiring Better (and Faster)

You don’t need a full HR team to hire smart. You need the right tools.

Some to check out:

• Applicant Tracking: Workable, Greenhouse, or Breezy HR

• Pre-Hire Assessments: Pymetrics, Wonderlic, TestGorilla

• Video Interview Platforms: Spark Hire, VidCruiter

• AI Resume Screeners: Paradox, Manatal

The goal isn’t to add more tools—it’s to add the right ones. Each tool should remove friction, not create more. If it saves your time and gives you better insight, it’s worth it. But always remember: a tool is only as good as the person using it. Use them to enhance, not replace, your judgment.

Final Take

Hiring in 2025 means adapting. You’re hiring people—not just skills. Use AI to save time. Use video to get a real sense of the person. Test how they think, not just what they’ve done.

Smart hiring builds culture, not just headcount. It sets the tone for how your company grows. And if you want help building a system that works, the team at Accountability Now has guided leaders through hiring, scaling, and growing teams that perform. We don’t do hype—we do what works.

Let us know when you’re ready.