Where candidate potential meets career opportunity: CLARA now measures critical thinking, learning agility, and distance taveled

Today, employees need more than just technical skills to succeed. They need to think quickly, adapt easily, and learn and grow through challenges. Traditional screening methods, like resumes and boolean searches, often miss these key qualities in qualified candidates. That’s why CLARA has developed a new tool to measure critical thinking, learning agility, and the exciting, emerging construct of distance traveled. This tool isn’t just another set of assessments—it’s designed to challenge old ways of thinking and bring a fresh, inclusive approach to how companies evaluate talent.

While critical thinking and learning agility are well-known and accepted as crucial skills for both performance and potential, distance traveled is a newer concept that’s gaining traction. Most recently reflected in the work of Adam Grant, it helps measure qualities like grit, resilience, and resourcefulness—traits that don’t show up on a resume but are critical to success in today’s world.

Why these skills matter more than ever

The ability to think critically, adapt to new situations, and demonstrate personal growth isn’t just a nice-to-have in today’s workplace—it’s a necessity. And rarely included on a resume. CLARA closes that insight gap by identifying real-world skills and growth over time.

CLARA’s assessment tool is designed to find hidden talent at all levels—without adding too much friction to the hiring process. Even better, it’s fully integrated, and we’ve eliminated barriers that make other tools expensive, exclusive, or hard to understand.

What this tool measures

Critical Thinking: Critical thinking drives better decision-making and problem-solving. It includes asking good questions, analyzing information, making logical inferences, and finding effective solutions. It is a measure of how well one assesses situations and comes up with sound decisions.

Critical thinking abilities are on a spectrum and can be improved.

• Someone who initially scores low will likely benefit from an environment in which they are encouraged to a) ask more questions (even basic ones), b) solve more problems, c) learn new things, and d) listen to and learn from others about how they solve real-world challenges.

• Scoring in the medium range on critical thinking skills means one will likely benefit from an environment in which they can a) develop technical skills and expertise to identify problems more easily, b) practice breaking down complex problems into manageable components, c) practice active listening, and d) learn from others about solving real-world challenges.

• Even those who initially score high in critical thinking can continue to develop by a) questioning their assumptions, b) seeking out diverse perspectives, c) practicing self-reflection, and d) engaging in constructive and respectful debate.

Learning Agility: Learning agility includes the ability to absorb new information and, critically, transfer knowledge from one setting to another. This ability often sets high performers apart—being able to learn from experiences and quickly adapt to changing environments.

Learning agility can be improved with thought and intention.

• Someone who initially scores low can benefit from an environment in which they are encouraged to a) explore adjacent aspects of their current work, b) focus on gaining new knowledge, and c) reflect on what they’ve learned in different contexts.

• Those with medium learning agility benefit from a) taking calculated risks, b) seeking feedback from trusted sources, and c) owning, correcting, and learning from mistakes.

• With strong learning agility, you can continue to grow by a) giving and receiving feedback, b) embracing new challenges, and c) understanding and adapting to the working styles of others.

Distance Traveled: Distance traveled measures personal growth, accomplishments, and capacities in relation to where a candidate started and how far they’ve come. It considers traits like grit, resilience, and resourcefulness. Understanding distance traveled highlights candidates’ potential who may have taken non-traditional paths but are ready to thrive in dynamic workplaces.

Breaking the Mold: Simplicity in Application

This new tool is simple, real-world-focused, and designed to fit seamlessly into the application process. Unlike traditional assessments that are often seen as barriers—costly, complicated, and sometimes biased—CLARA’s approach ensures that candidates aren’t blocked by inaccessible language or outdated methods. We challenge the idea that assessments need to be reserved for top-tier or mid-level candidates. Instead, CLARA can unlock potential at every level, helping you spot and engage high-potential talent across your entire candidate pool.

Why Distance Traveled matters

Distance Traveled is a newer but powerful concept, especially valuable in identifying high-potential candidates from diverse backgrounds who might not fit the traditional mold but are ready to succeed. It’s the delta between realized and actual potential. Distance Traveled isn’t just theoretical—our research shows that it’s a reliable, measurable construct that can predict success in the workplace. While it’s still expanding, its potential for shaping the future of hiring is enormous.

Distance Traveled provides employers with new insights into candidates' personal growth and offers a more equitable way to evaluate talent. Understanding what someone has learned and how they’ve developed complements their qualifications. While skills and processes can be taught, self-efficacy, proactivity, and resilience are earned.

Looking ahead: the future of hiring

As the workforce and the nature of work continue to evolve, it’s time to rethink how we evaluate talent. CLARA offers a fresh perspective.

By integrating CLARA into your hiring strategy, you’ll gain a complete picture of each candidate’s potential and value. We promote diversity, equity, and inclusion by recognizing strengths in candidates from all backgrounds. With CLARA, you’re not just hiring for today—you’re building a team ready for the future.