Reference guide

Reading a Huntsly profile

How to interpret candidate scores, and what to do with them for different kinds of roles.

01

The Huntsly Index

One score out of 100 that combines problem solving, conscientiousness, honesty and resilience. Find the band a candidate falls in to decide what to do next.

72High

Exceptional

80–100

Likely to learn quickly, act ethically and work diligently.

Next stepConduct a structured interview and prioritise hiring the candidate.

High

50–80

Strong candidate, likely to add significant value to any team.

Next stepConduct a structured interview and consider hiring if they are a good team fit.

Moderate

40–50

Solid performer who meets expectations across key traits.

Next stepSuitable for many roles. Assess fit with the team and the job’s complexity.

Low

0–40

Mixed profile: may have strengths in one area but gaps in another.

Next stepUse targeted interviews or additional assessments to explore role fit. Consider for structured, routine roles.

02

What predicts performance

The correlation (r) between each area of the Huntsly Predictive Framework and job performance. Longer bars predict more.

Huntsly Index

r > .60

Problem solving, conscientiousness, honesty and resilience combined.

Problem solving

r ≈ .50–.60

The strongest single predictor, crucial for roles requiring complex problem solving, learning and adaptability.

Conscientiousness

r ≈ .30–.40

A robust personality predictor tied to diligence, organisation and strategic problem solving.

Honesty

r ≈ .30

Relevant for ethical decision-making and reducing counterproductive work behaviours.

Imagination

r ≈ .20

Contributes to creative and adaptive problem solving, especially in dynamic environments.

Extroversion

r ≈ .20

Predicts performance in collaboration, leadership and customer-facing work.

Agreeableness

r ≈ .20

Important for teamwork and roles requiring patience and conflict-aversion.

Resilience

r < .20

Context-dependent; most useful in high-stress roles that need emotional stability.

30–40%

of the variance in job performance

Combined, the Huntsly Index captures cognitive capacity, goal-directed effort and ethical behaviour, for a predictive validity that often exceeds r = .6. That is one of the strongest and longest-standing relationships in the social sciences.

03

Traits in depth

Each personality trait is a scale between two poles. A score of 65 or more is high at that pole; anything between 35 and 65 is moderate.

Problem solving

r ≈ .50–.60

Problem solving is scored as part of the Huntsly Index. See the bands above.

What it measures

Research consistently shows problem-solving ability is one of the strongest predictors of job performance across a wide range of roles and industries. This is more true of highly complex jobs, where the predictive power increases. For lower-complexity roles, problem-solving ability matters less as a predictor, and other factors may matter more.

A high problem-solving score reflects strong cognitive functioning across a range of mental tasks, including reasoning, learning speed, abstract thinking and the ability to process complex information efficiently. High scorers often excel at logical analysis, pattern recognition and strategic planning. They tend to grasp new concepts quickly, adapt to novel situations with ease, and perform well where intellectual agility is needed.

While high problem-solving ability can support academic and professional success, it is only one part of a person’s profile. Interpersonal skills, knowledge, resources and luck also play important roles in life outcomes.

Put these scores to work in your hiring.