How words predict performance

Every person speaks and writes in a slightly different way. The words we choose, the way we structure sentences, and even how often we use certain phrases make our language like a linguistic fingerprint. For decades, linguists have shown that language reflects personality, emotions, and how we think.

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The way we use language isn't random - it follows patterns that can reveal things about who we are. Studies in psychology and linguistics have shown that how we phase things can reflect our personality traits, emotional state, and even how we solve problems. For example, people who use more analytical words tend to be more logical, while those who use more social words often have stronger interpersonal skills. The words we choose tell a deeper story - and we know how to read it.

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People who perform well in a job often share certain language patterns. They don't just act differently, they speak differently. Research in organisational psychology has found that high achievers use confident, proactive language, while great leaders communicate with clarity, vision and purpose. Studies on linguistic analysis show that successful professionals use language that reflects traits such as confidence, analytical thinking, and emotional intelligence. Research in computational linguistics has shown that AI can detect leadership skills, teamwork abilities, and other workplace competencies from language.

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Pera has analysed the language of over 5 million professionals. Using 360-degree feedback and objective metrics, we uncovered the language patterns that consistently predict success. This data allows us to identify competencies that are linked to performance and analyse the linguistic patterns that predict these competencies. The result? The Pera digital interview: a science-backed, scalable way to spot top performers based on how they speak - not what's on their resume.

Our predictive models are not influenced by gender or cultural background. Our methodology reduces bias through three key strategies. We train our (data) models based on HR-performance data of various companies. This by using structured interviews to minimise the bias. This results in fair scores - regardless of gender, race, or cultural background. Therefore we guarantee objectivity in our assessments.

Structured interviews are widely recognized as one of the most predictive hiring tools. We improved the structured interview. By combining them with AI-driven language analysis, we have developed a scalable solution that is a powerful predictor of job performance – outperforming traditional cognitive and personality assessments.

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Companies using Pera’s assessments consistently experience that their hires excel and thrive in their roles. Our customer cases show that by identifying key competencies through language analysis, Pera helps organisations select candidates who are more productive and stay longer with the company.