In Indiana, a quiet revolution is taking place—one that has the power to reshape how we hire, how we lead, and how we serve our communities. Through a bold partnership with the Probation Officers Association of Indiana (POPAI), we’ve embarked on a journey to bring skills-based hiring to life.
Faced with the complex, evolving demands of serving justice-involved youth and adults, three Indiana counties partnered with us to ask bold questions: what if we hired for what really matters? What if a simple shift in mindset could unlock better hiring, stronger teams, and a more equitable future? Those questions sparked a shift—a movement—from traditional, degree-first hiring to skills-based hiring rooted in what candidates can do, not just where they’ve been.
That’s the journey POPAI began—across three counties—when they stepped into the world of skills-based hiring. At first glance, it seemed almost contradictory. “We still require a bachelor’s degree. Can we really lead with skills?” The answer, they discovered, was a powerful yes. Together, POPAI members began to reimagine job descriptions. And as they reworked job postings, they found themselves asking new questions: what does it take to be a great probation officer? What skills truly make someone successful in this role? Gone were the vague bullet points and legacy language. In their place: clarity, intention, and emphasis on the real capabilities that matter—relationship-building, critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and cultural responsiveness.