The John Lewis Partnership is using online assessments to reduce the time to hire new recruits and make recruitment processes faster and more efficient.

The retailer is working with SHL to implement the programme after it found it was losing talented applicants through a time-consuming, paper-based recruitment process.

And the new system has helped to identify the candidates most suited to the roles more quickly, make the process much faster for candidates and reduce administration time and costs for John Lewis.

John Lewis uses SHL's Talent Screener, an online sifting tool that provides candidates with a realistic preview of the role for which they have applied and produces a single fit score, as well as SHL's Verify numerical and verbal ability tests.

Sue Gilbert, manager, recruitment, manpower planning & career development, at John Lewis's head office in Victoria, said: "We receive thousands of applications for these roles and it is essential we manage the process efficiently.

"SHL's range of assessments, its ability to integrate online assessments into our existing e-recruitment system and its outstanding customer service means that we are implementing an immediate solution while developing a long-term relationship to ensure we efficiently recruit the right people for these important roles."