What Is a Software Skills Test? Why Businesses Are Moving Beyond Resumes in 2025

What Is a Software Skills Test, and Why It Matters

Hiring today is harder than it should be. Businesses are struggling to find the right people, while job seekers are struggling to get noticed. But this isn’t a talent shortage. It’s a match-making problem.

At TestInvest, we help fix that. We give employers a simple way to verify the software skills that matter before making a hire. And we help job seekers stand out by proving what they can actually do.

This isn’t theory. It’s a practical solution to one of the most expensive and frustrating parts of running a business.

The Resume Isn’t Cutting It

More and more employers are realising that traditional methods like resume screening aren’t working. Too many good candidates get overlooked, while others interview well but can’t perform on the job. In fact, a majority of employers now say the hardest part of hiring is figuring out whether someone actually has the right skills.

The problem is simple. Resumes tell us what someone claims to know. They don’t prove whether they can do the work.

Enter: Software Skills Tests

TestInvest creates job-specific software skills tests that are practical, easy to use, and actually reflect what a candidate would need to do in the role. These aren’t generic multiple choice questions. They’re built around real-world tasks.

We’re currently developing tests for software like Xero, MYOB, and QuickBooks, but our platform is expanding rapidly across industries. Whether your business runs on spreadsheets, creative tools, or CRM platforms, our goal is to make sure you hire people who are ready to work from day one.

Each test provides a detailed breakdown of results, so employers can clearly see where a candidate is strong and where there may be gaps.

Where TestInvest Began

Our story starts with Kristen Kubank, a long-time business owner who spent over 20 years running a successful bookkeeping and accounting firm. She kept running into the same problem. Candidates would say they knew the software, but once hired, they’d struggle with even basic tasks.

She didn’t need a better resume. She needed a better way to assess real-world capability. That frustration turned into action. Together, we created TestInvest to give business owners and hiring managers the clarity they’ve been missing.

Why This Matters Now

Across the hiring landscape, skills-based approaches are gaining ground. More employers are removing degree requirements, using practical assessments, and prioritising real capability over traditional credentials. In fact, recent data shows that over 75 percent of employers now use skills tests in some form, and a growing number are reporting faster time-to-hire, fewer mis-hires, and better retention.

Employers also report that hiring based on skills is more predictive of job performance than relying on resumes or interviews alone. That’s the shift TestInvest is part of.

Why TestInvest Was Built for Business Owners

If you’re hiring someone to use key software, it makes sense to test them on it first.

With TestInvest, businesses can:

• Identify candidates who already know how to use the tools your team relies on

• Reduce the cost and disruption of bad hires

• Onboard faster by hiring people who can hit the ground running

• Avoid hiring decisions based on gut feeling or guesswork

Hiring someone who doesn’t work out can cost a business up to two and a half times that person’s annual salary. Our goal is to help you avoid that.

A Tool for Candidates Too

TestInvest isn’t just for employers. It also gives candidates a chance to stand out with proof.

Each candidate who completes a test receives:

• A professional report they can include in applications or interviews

• A personalised development plan showing areas for improvement

• A confidence boost in knowing where they stand

This is especially valuable for:

• University graduates, who often face the catch-22 of needing experience to get hired, but needing a job to gain experience

• Career changers, looking to break into new industries

• Freelancers or offshore candidates, wanting to build trust quickly

• Job seekers from non-traditional backgrounds, who may be overlooked by resume-first screening processes

When you give people a chance to show what they can do, the playing field gets a little more fair and businesses make better decisions as a result.

Looking Ahead

We’re starting with software skills because that’s where the pain is greatest, but our mission is broader. TestInvest will continue expanding into new industries, tools, and test types. As more businesses shift toward hiring based on capability, we’ll be ready with the assessments that make that possible.

If you’ve ever hired someone who wasn’t the right fit, or if you’ve ever felt overlooked as a candidate, you already understand why we’re building this. Hiring doesn’t have to be such a gamble. TestInvest is here to make it smarter, simpler, and fairer for everyone involved.

Whether you're hiring your first admin or scaling your team, the right tools make all the difference.

👉 Join the waitlist now at www.testinvest.com.au and be one of the first users to access our platform.