How Charter's Science-Based Hiring Transformation Earned Industry Recognition

Charter Communications has fundamentally reimagined its recruitment process, resulting in recognition from The Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) and The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) through the 2023 HRM Impact Award. This achievement marks the seventh consecutive win in eight years for organizations deploying Modern Hire’s advanced selection science platform.

The Challenge: Scaling Quality Hiring During Pandemic Pressure

During the pandemic, Charter faced a critical need to rapidly fill front-line roles—particularly Store Specialists—while maintaining hiring quality. The company needed to process thousands of monthly applications efficiently without sacrificing the candidate experience or reducing predictive accuracy for role fit. Traditional hiring methods were insufficient to meet both speed and quality demands.

The Multi-Stage Solution: From Application to Interview

Charter partnered with Modern Hire to deploy a comprehensive, science-backed hiring workflow:

Pre-Application Matching via Fit Finder

Before candidates formally apply, Fit Finder uses AI-driven assessments to evaluate job-seeker interests, work preferences, and career goals. The platform then recommends aligned roles from Charter’s database. During its first year alone, Fit Finder generated nearly 3,000 applications for front-line positions, with Store Specialist roles attracting the highest volume.

Realistic Job Preview Through Virtual Job Tryout (VJT)

Once candidates identify a target role, Charter implements the Virtual Job Tryout—a pre-hire assessment featuring simulated work scenarios and problem-solving tasks. Rather than abstract questions, candidates experience the role firsthand while the system flags high-potential performers. This dual benefit of candidate education and recruiter guidance has proven instrumental in identifying role-ready talent.

Candidate-Controlled Interview Scheduling

Leading candidates receive interview invitations they can schedule autonomously. Upon launch in early 2020, over 9,000 candidates scheduled interviews within the first year, with an average response time of 11 hours—demonstrating both engagement and efficiency.

Branded Digital Interviewing

Modern Hire’s virtual interview platform replaced traditional phone screens with branded online conversations, enabling recruiters to build rapport with candidates across any device or location.

Measurable Business Outcomes

The results vindicated Charter’s investment in intelligent hiring technology. The company achieved:

• Candidate Satisfaction: 99% of applicants reported feeling adequately informed about role requirements; 99% indicated they would recommend Charter as an employer
• Demographic Diversity: Notably increased gender representation in traditionally male-skewed roles such as Field Technician
• Retention Signals: Reduced candidate drop-out rates, suggesting better initial role-fit matching
• Scale: Successfully maintained quality hiring across all organizational levels during unprecedented operational disruption

Industry Validation and Forward Momentum

“This award demonstrates that data-driven, ethical hiring creates competitive advantage,” explained Mike Hudy, Ph.D., Chief Science Officer at Modern Hire. “Charter’s results—particularly the predictive strength of VJT in identifying successful performers—validate that scientific assessment beats intuition.”

Paul Marchand, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer for Charter, emphasized the strategic importance: “Rapid process adaptation enabled continuous hiring momentum. This recognition affirms our commitment to an employee-centric approach that attracts talent, supports career development, and drives organizational growth.”

Charter will receive formal recognition at the 2023 SIOP Annual Conference in Boston (April 19-22). For organizations seeking to strengthen hiring efficacy and candidate experience simultaneously, Charter’s case illustrates that modern selection science—combining assessment tools like Fit Finder, Virtual Job Tryout capabilities, and workflow automation—delivers both immediate operational gains and lasting cultural benefits. Learn more at vjt.modernhire.com.

About the Organizations

Modern Hire’s intelligent hiring platform serves over 700 global enterprises, including nearly half the Fortune 100, through advanced assessment and automation tools that enhance hiring effectiveness, efficiency, and fairness.

Charter Communications (NASDAQ:CHTR) operates Spectrum, serving 32+ million customers across 41 states with broadband, TV, mobile, and business services.