Wake County Public School System Selects Kenexa to Implement Web-Based Behavioral Assessment and Interview Solutions

Market Wire, 20050229

Kenexa®, a global leader in innovative human resource solutions, today announced that the Raleigh, North Carolina-based Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) has chosen Kenexa to assist with the hiring and retention of educational staff. WCPSS includes 127 schools and employs 7,500 teachers.

Using Web-based Kenexa Selector™, WCPSS will gain performance predictions for teachers applying for job openings, based on their talents such as, student relator, empathy, belief and situational judgment. WCPSS has also partnered with Kenexa to conduct structured Kenexa Insight Interviews™ that screen school administrator candidates and train human resource staff to interview candidates for all other positions. Both Kenexa Selector and Insight Interviews will be rolled out during May 2004.

According to the National Education Association, a historic turnover is taking place in the teaching profession. While student enrollments are rising rapidly, more than one million veteran teachers are nearing retirement. Experts predict that more than 2 million new teachers will be needed in the next decade.

"With the ongoing shortage of teachers, it has become difficult to both hire and retain the right teachers," said Toni Patterson, assistant superintendent at Wake County Public School System. "Through partnering with Kenexa, we gain valuable insight into an applicant's potential before they are hired and can better match that person to our hiring needs. By matching the right applicant to the right job, we'll increase the probability of their success and increase retention in the school district."

Prior to developing the Kenexa Selector assessments and Insight Interviews, Kenexa performed focus groups with district teachers to learn which traits are indicative of top teachers. This information formed the basis for both the Selector and Insight tools. Kenexa Selector will be used to screen applicants via Kenexa's Web-hosted solution, which is graphically consistent with the design of the WCPSS recruiting Web site.

Both Kenexa Selector and Kenexa Insight rely on a broad range of proven performance predicting questions that are designed to elicit responses that reveal candidate personality traits, problem solving ability and situational judgment. The responses are then translated into a candidate profile of strengths as well as a developmental blueprint. All Kenexa Selector behavioral assessments have proven validity and conform to current standards and laws regarding adverse impact.

Patterson added, "WCPSS needed to have a system in place to locate the best candidates quickly and efficiently, particularly because there is a short window for screening, interviewing and hiring candidates." She continued, "For example, an average of 6 candidates are interviewed for every one open position. We chose to partner with Kenexa because of their proven ability to rapidly screen and interview talent, ensure improved applicant to job quality, reduce recruiting costs, and shorten time-to-hire."

About Wake County Public School System

Based in Raleigh, North Carolina, Wake County Public School System is a leader in education. Wake County Public School System includes 127 schools and employs 7,500 teachers. For more information, visit http://www.wcpss.net/.

About Kenexa

Kenexa (www.kenexa.com) provides software and services for comprehensive talent acquisition and performance management. Kenexa services include employment process outsourcing, behavioral assessment, employee engagement surveys and linkage research. Kenexa's award-winning software solutions may be used in concert with Kenexa services and integrate with existing HR management systems, providing proven, short-term return on investment through direct cost reduction, fast implementation and process improvement.

After 16 years in business, Kenexa's customers vary in size and include more than 100 of the Fortune 500 and half of the Dow 30. In October 2003, Kenexa was named by Forbes magazine to its competitive "Best of the Web." Headquartered in Wayne, Pennsylvania (outside Philadelphia), Kenexa employs 400 people worldwide.

Note to Editors: Kenexa, Kenexa Selector and Insight Interviews are trademarks or registered trademarks of Kenexa Corporation. Other product or service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.

CONTACT: Sarah Teten Kenexa 1-800-391-9557 sarah.teten@kenexa.com Shannon Sullivan The Devon Group 732-542-2000, ext. 16 Shannon@devonpr.com