Top 15 Technology Tools for Skills-First Hiring in the US in 2026

The traditional resume is officially a relic of the past. In 2026, American companies are no longer asking where you went to school, they are asking what you can actually build. As the talent market shifts toward "proof of work," the tools we use to hire have evolved into sophisticated AI ecosystems that prioritize raw talent over fancy certificates. If you want to stay ahead in the US job market this year, you need to know the tech that is driving this skills-first revolution.

I’m Riten, founder of Fueler, a skills-first portfolio platform that connects talented individuals with companies through assignments, portfolios, and projects, not just resumes/CVs. Think Dribbble/Behance for work samples + AngelList for hiring infrastructure.

Top 15 Technology Tools for Skills-First Hiring in the US

The US hiring landscape in 2026 is obsessed with "Show, Don't Tell." Employers have realized that a fancy degree doesn't always equal high-performance output, leading to a massive surge in tools that verify talent through data and real-world simulation. Here are the 15 heavy hitters leading the charge.

1. Fueler

Fueler is the undisputed king of the "Proof of Work" movement, specifically built for individuals who want their actual output to be their resume. In 2026, it is the go-to platform for US startups to find "assignment-ready" talent across marketing, design, and engineering by viewing their live projects and previous task completions. Instead of reading about what you can do, hiring managers on Fueler look at what you have already done, making it the most visual and transparent way to land a high-impact role in today's market.

• Dynamic Project Showcasing: You can build a stunning, organized portfolio that highlights specific projects, complete with links, screenshots, and descriptions that explain your exact role in the process and the impact your work had on the final business goal.
• Skill-Based Discovery Buckets: The platform allows you to categorize your work into niche "buckets" like Content Strategy or Frontend Development, which helps US recruiters find you based on a specific skill match rather than a generic job title.
• Verified Collaboration Network: Fueler lets you tag and credit your teammates on shared projects, which proves to US employers that you can work effectively in a team environment and provides a layer of social proof that traditional resumes lack.
• Assignment-Led Hiring: Many US firms now post "micro-assignments" on Fueler as the first step of their hiring funnel, allowing you to prove your skills on a small, real-world task before they commit to a full-length interview process.
• Seamless Professional Identity: Your Fueler profile acts as a central hub for your professional life, integrating with other tools and providing a single link you can share with any recruiter to give them a comprehensive, visual tour of your career achievements.

Pricing

• Individuals: Free for basic portfolios; Fueler Premium is approximately $88/year for custom domains, advanced analytics, and unlimited project uploads.
• Companies: Custom pricing models for talent discovery, assignment hosting, and recruitment management.

2. HackerRank

HackerRank is the technical gatekeeper for the US's biggest tech firms, including names like Amazon, LinkedIn, and Stripe. In 2026, it isn't just a place for practice; it’s a mandatory certification hub where your "HackerRank Verified" badges carry significant weight in the eyes of engineering managers. By hosting real-time coding challenges that are automatically graded for efficiency and logic, it removes human bias and focuses entirely on your ability to write clean, production-ready code under pressure.

• Standardized Skill Badges: You can earn official certifications in over 55 technical disciplines, providing a standardized "stamp of approval" that US hiring managers trust as much as, or more than, a traditional Computer Science degree from a top university.
• Job-Specific Simulations: The platform offers specialized assessments tailored to specific roles like DevOps or Data Science, ensuring that the problems you are solving are directly relevant to the actual work you will be doing on the job.
• Global Benchmarking Metrics: HackerRank shows recruiters exactly where you stand compared to the global talent pool, giving high-performers the data they need to negotiate better salaries and positions based on their objective skill level.
• Anti-Plagiarism AI Tools: The platform uses sophisticated AI to ensure the code you submit is original and not generated by bots, which maintains the high level of trust that US enterprise companies have in the platform's results.
• Direct-to-Interview Pipelines: Exceptional performance on certain HackerRank challenges can trigger an automatic "fast-track" to the interview stage at major US firms, effectively bypassing the traditional application process altogether.

Pricing

• Job Seekers: Free for all practice, challenges, and taking assessments when invited by a prospective employer.
• Companies (Starter): Approximately $165 per month (billed annually) for 1 user and access to basic screening and interview tools.
• Companies (Pro): Approximately $375 per month (billed annually) for unlimited users, advanced AI proctoring, and larger question libraries.

3. TestGorilla

TestGorilla has become the gold standard for multi-dimensional testing in the US, covering everything from cognitive ability to specific software proficiencies like Salesforce or Adobe Creative Suite. In 2026, many US companies send a TestGorilla link as the very first interaction with a candidate, ensuring that only those with the verified "must-have" skills spend time with the hiring team. It is particularly effective for roles that require a mix of technical knowledge and soft skills, such as Product Management or Customer Success.

• Massive 350+ Test Library: You can take (or companies can assign) tests in virtually any discipline, allowing you to prove your proficiency in niche areas that are often impossible to demonstrate through a standard resume or cover letter.
• Cognitive & Personality Insight: Beyond hard skills, the platform measures "Culture Add" and cognitive aptitude, helping US firms build well-rounded teams that aren't just technically capable but also highly resilient and collaborative.
• One-Way Video Screening: TestGorilla allows candidates to record short video answers to key questions, which gives you a chance to showcase your personality and verbal communication skills before you even step into a live interview room.
• AI-Powered Grading: The platform uses AI to automatically score assessments and rank candidates, which speeds up the US hiring process by days or even weeks while ensuring that the evaluation is completely objective and data-driven.
• Mobile-First Candidate Experience: Recognizing that modern US talent is always on the move, the tests are fully optimized for mobile devices, ensuring that you can complete your assessments with a high-quality experience regardless of your location.

Pricing

• Free Plan: Includes 5 basic tests and AI resume scoring for small-scale needs.
• Core Plan: Approximately $142 per month (billed annually) for full access to the 350+ test library and 2 full access seats.
• Plus Plan: Custom pricing for enterprise features like one-way video interviews, custom branding, and full ATS integrations.

4. CodeSignal

CodeSignal has popularized the "Coding Score" in the US, which acts like a credit score for your engineering skills. In 2026, major firms like Uber and Netflix use this score to instantly identify top-tier talent without having to run their own custom tests for every applicant. The platform focuses on "Job-Simulated" tasks, meaning you’ll be building real features or fixing actual bugs in a simulated environment that mimics a high-performance US tech stack.

• The Portable Coding Score: Once you earn a high score on the platform, you can share it with any participating company, saving you from the "test fatigue" of having to prove your coding skills over and over again during a job search.
• Cosmo AI Learning Tutor: CodeSignal features an AI assistant named Cosmo that provides real-time feedback and hints as you practice, helping you sharpen your skills and improve your score before you take a high-stakes assessment.
• Realistic Work Environments: Instead of abstract puzzles, you are often asked to perform tasks like reviewing a Pull Request or handing a system outage, which gives US hiring managers a much better look at your actual professional readiness.
• Enterprise Integration Suite: CodeSignal plugs directly into US hiring software like Greenhouse, ensuring that your skills data is part of your official candidate record from the moment you complete your first challenge.
• Fraud-Resistant Proctoring: To ensure that your score is truly yours, the platform uses advanced proctoring and identity verification, making your results highly trusted by top-tier US firms who are hiring for remote-first positions.

Pricing

• Individual Learners: Free; upgrade to Cosmo+ for $24.99 per month for advanced AI-driven learning and specialized test prep.
• Employers: Custom enterprise pricing, often starting with a Pre-Screen Kit at roughly $19,000 per year for high-volume technical hiring.

5. Otta

Otta has reinvented the US job board by focusing exclusively on "High-Signal" roles at the world's most innovative companies. In 2026, it is the platform of choice for talent that wants to work in AI, Fintech, and Climate Tech, where the company's mission is just as important as the salary. Otta uses a sophisticated matching algorithm that prioritizes your skills and career aspirations, ensuring that you only see roles where you are a strong "Culture and Skill Add" to the existing team.

• The Otta "Match Score": Every job posting comes with a personalized score that tells you how well the role fits your specific skills, salary needs, and desired company size, helping you focus your energy on the best opportunities.
• Deep Company Intelligence: Otta provides detailed data on a company's funding, leadership diversity, and even their current "vibe," giving you the inside track on the organization before you even decide to hit the apply button.
• Skill-Centric Profiles: Instead of just uploading a resume, you build a profile that focuses on the tools you love and the types of problems you want to solve, which helps US hiring managers find you based on your future potential.
• Application Pitch Tool: The platform helps you craft a tailored "pitch" for each application, ensuring that your most relevant skills and projects are highlighted in a way that catches the eye of busy US recruiters.
• Transparency First: Otta requires companies to be transparent about their hiring process, including typical response times and interview stages, which eliminates the frustration of being "ghosted" after a long application process.

Pricing

• Job Seekers: Free (Otta is dedicated to providing a premium, candidate-first experience at no cost to the professional looking for work).
• Companies: Pay-per-post starts at roughly $1,500; enterprise annual plans for high-volume hiring generally start around $20,000 per year.

6. Pymetrics (by Harver)

Pymetrics has brought the science of neuroscience to US hiring by using short, engaging games to measure a candidate's cognitive and behavioral traits. In 2026, it is used by major global corporations to find "hidden gems"people who have the perfect mental and emotional profile for a role but might lack a traditional background. It focuses on things like attention, risk-taking, and effort, providing a "Fair-Selection" model that is blind to gender, race, and educational pedigree.

• Neuroscience-Based Gaming: You play 12 short games that measure your natural cognitive strengths, providing a scientific profile of how you process information and make decisions, which is highly valued by modern US employers.
• Bias-Free Matching: Because the platform ignores your resume and focuses only on your game performance, it provides a truly level playing field for candidates from all walks of life, helping US firms meet their diversity goals objectively.
• Custom Success Profiles: Companies create a "benchmark" based on their top performers, and the platform matches you against that profile to see if you have the natural traits needed to excel in that specific company culture.
• Talent Mobility Insights: If you aren't a fit for the role you applied for, Pymetrics can suggest other open roles within the company that perfectly match your behavioral profile, helping you find the right home within the organization.
• Candidate Personality Reports: After playing the games, you receive a detailed report of your own cognitive strengths, which you can use to better understand your work style and improve your self-presentation in future interviews.

Pricing

• Employer Pricing: Enterprise-level custom pricing typically starting in the low tens of thousands of dollars per year for full talent lifecycle management.

7. Toggl Hire

Toggl Hire is the fastest way for US startups and lean teams to screen talent by replacing the initial resume review with a 2-minute "Skill Quiz." In 2026, it is the favorite tool for companies that value speed and efficiency, allowing them to identify the top 10% of candidates within hours of posting a job. It is designed to be low-friction for the candidate while providing the hiring manager with a ranked list of talent based purely on their job-specific knowledge.

• Instant Skill Gates: You take a short, interactive quiz as the very first step of your application, which allows you to prove your knowledge of a specific tool or industry before you're ever asked to write a cover letter.
• Automated Talent Ranking: The platform instantly ranks all applicants based on their test scores, allowing US hiring managers to ignore the "noise" of unqualified candidates and focus only on the people who actually know their stuff.
• Expert Question Library: Toggl Hire features a library of over 15,000 expert-vetted questions across hundreds of roles, ensuring that the tests are challenging and relevant to the actual demands of the modern US workplace.
• Visual Hiring Pipeline: The recruiter dashboard is organized like a Trello board, making it easy for US teams to drag and drop candidates through different stages based on their skill scores and interview performance.
• High-Engagement Experience: Because the tests are short and engaging, Toggl Hire has much higher completion rates than traditional long-form assessments, ensuring that US companies don't lose top talent to "test fatigue."

Pricing

• Starter Plan: Approximately $99 per month (billed annually) for small teams to manage a few key hiring pipelines.
• Premium Plan: Approximately $299 per month (billed annually) for growing organizations that need unlimited assessments and deeper integrations.

8. Vervoe

Vervoe is the leader in "Job Simulations," allowing US employers to see candidates perform the actual tasks they would do if hired. In 2026, it is widely used for non-technical roles like Sales, Customer Support, and Marketing, where "years of experience" don't tell the whole story. By asking you to write a sales email or solve a mock customer issue, Vervoe provides a high-fidelity look at your practical skills and problem-solving ability in a professional context.

• Day-in-the-Life Simulations: The assessments mimic real-world scenarios, giving you a chance to prove you can handle the "daily grind" of the role while giving the US employer a clear preview of your potential performance.
• Multi-Format Task Responses: You can be asked to submit a video response, an Excel sheet, or a written pitch, which allows you to showcase a wide range of skills that a multiple-choice test could never capture.
• AI Talent Intelligence: Vervoe’s AI automatically scores your responses based on the benchmarks of thousands of top performers, providing the US recruiter with an objective "readiness score" for every candidate.
• Inclusive Sourcing Access: The platform allows companies to source talent from a global pool of over 2 million candidates, helping US firms find specialized expertise that they might not be able to find in their local market.
• Collaborative Review Features: Hiring teams can easily share and rate your simulation responses, making the decision-making process faster and more democratic for decentralized or remote US teams.

Pricing

• Starter Plan: Approximately $199 per month for smaller businesses looking to add skill-based testing to their hiring workflow.
• Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing, typically starting at $10,000+ per year for high-volume hiring and advanced automation features.

9. Codility

Codility is the powerhouse for high-scale engineering recruitment, used by massive US financial institutions and software giants to manage thousands of technical candidates. In 2026, it is the platform of choice for hiring senior and architect-level talent because it offers the most complex and deep technical challenges on the market. It focuses on the entire "Technical Lifecycle," from the very first automated screen to the final live-coding interview with a senior leader.

• High-Complexity Task Library: The platform offers deep-dive problems in system architecture, security, and data science that are specifically designed to test the limits of even the most experienced US developers.
• Live CodePair Interviews: Codility’s "CodeLive" tool provides a shared IDE and whiteboard for live technical interviews, allowing US engineering managers to collaborate with you on a problem in real-time.
• Session Playback Technology: Recruiters can "replay" your entire coding session to see how you structured your logic and where you may have struggled, providing a level of insight that a final score alone cannot offer.
• Global Skill Benchmarking: The platform provides data on how your candidates compare to the top 1% of global developers, helping US firms ensure they are only hiring the absolute best talent available.
• Automated Fraud Detection: Codility uses advanced AI to monitor for cheating and bot-generated code, ensuring that every score in their database is a legitimate reflection of the candidate's actual ability.

Pricing

• Starter Plan: Approximately $500 per month for small teams with occasional technical hiring needs.
• Scale Plan: Approximately $600 per month for larger organizations that need to hire several developers every month with expanded testing tools.

10. Criteria

Criteria is a comprehensive assessment platform used by US employers to measure "The Whole Person." In 2026, it is the primary tool for US firms that value high-level cognitive ability and emotional intelligence. The platform’s CCAT (Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test) is one of the most famous and predictive tests in the world, helping US managers find talent that is not only skilled but also has the "brainpower" to learn new technologies fast.

• The CCAT Standard: This test is widely used in the US to measure learning ability and problem-solving speed, acting as a powerful predictor of who will succeed in high-pressure corporate environments.
• Emotional Intelligence (EI) Testing: Criteria includes assessments for empathy and social awareness, which are critical for US companies hiring for leadership, management, and collaborative roles.
• Role-Based Skills Tests: Beyond cognitive ability, the platform offers specific tests for hundreds of job titles, from "Staff Accountant" to "Medical Assistant," ensuring that your practical knowledge is also verified.
• One-Way Video Interviews: The platform integrates video screening, allowing US recruiters to assess your communication style and personality early in the funnel, saving time for both you and the hiring team.
• Mobile-Optimized Experience: All assessments are designed to be taken on any device, ensuring that US candidates have a modern and seamless experience from the moment they start their first test.

Pricing

• Employer Pricing: Annual subscription models with uncapped usage based on your tier; custom quotes generally start in the low thousands of dollars per year.

11. Hired

Hired is a "Reverse Job Marketplace" where US companies apply to you, rather than the other way around. In 2026, it is the premier platform for experienced tech talent who want to see salary and equity offers before they even agree to a first interview. By vetting both the talent and the companies, Hired creates a high-trust environment where the most skilled professionals are treated like the valuable assets they are.

• Reverse Sourcing Model: You create a profile, and instead of applying to jobs, you receive "Interview Requests" from top US firms that include a preliminary salary and equity offer.
• Upfront Compensation Data: Hired is one of the only platforms that forces US companies to be transparent about money from the very beginning, ensuring that you never waste time on a role that doesn't meet your financial needs.
• Dedicated Talent Advocates: Every candidate on the platform is assigned a human advocate who helps with resume review, interview prep, and salary negotiation, giving you a massive advantage in the US tech market.
• Vetted Tech Network: Hired manually approves every company on the platform to ensure they are high-growth and reputable, so you won't find any "ghost jobs" or low-quality listings in your feed.
• Skill-Based Search for Recruiters: Companies can search for you based on very specific technical keywords, ensuring that you only receive requests for roles where your expertise is a perfect match for the team's stack.

Pricing

• Job Seekers: Free (Hired charges the employer a fee only when a successful hire is made, keeping the service completely free for you).
• Companies: Subscription-based models or a percentage of the hire's first-year salary, with custom enterprise plans for high-volume recruitment.

12. Wellfound (formerly AngelList Talent)

Wellfound is the heart of the US startup world, designed for people who want to be more than just a cog in a corporate machine. In 2026, it is the best place to find roles in AI, Web3, and emerging tech where "startup grit" and project-based work are the primary currencies. It eliminates the traditional HR bureaucracy by allowing you to chat directly with founders and hiring managers about the impact you want to make.

• Direct-to-Founder Chat: The platform’s infrastructure allows you to bypass the "application black hole" and speak directly to the people building the company, which is the best way to land a role at an early-stage US startup.
• Startup-Specific Filters: You can search for roles based on funding stage (Seed to Series D), remote-work policies, and social impact, helping you find a company that matches your professional and personal values perfectly.
• Proof of Work Integration: Wellfound allows you to link your Fueler portfolio, GitHub, and Dribbble directly to your profile, ensuring that your actual work samples are the first thing a founder sees when they evaluate your application.
• Transparent Equity Data: The platform provides detailed information on stock options and equity, which is critical for US startup professionals who want to understand the potential long-term value of their compensation.
• Curated Talent Lists: Wellfound’s "Curated" feature highlights the top 1% of talent to elite US startups, ensuring that high-performers are headhunted for roles that are often never publicly advertised.

Pricing

• Job Seekers: Free (The platform remains committed to providing a free, transparent marketplace for all candidates looking for startup roles).
• Companies: Basic access is free; Curated tiers start at $499 per month plus a success fee for each hire made through the platform.

13. TestDome

TestDome is a "no-frills," pay-as-you-go skills testing platform that US companies use when they want to hire fast without the overhead of a large enterprise contract. It focuses on "Work-Sample" problems that ask you to solve the kind of tasks you would actually do on a typical Tuesday at a US tech firm. In 2026, it is a favorite for US small businesses and project managers who need to verify a candidate's skills immediately and objectively.

• Pay-Per-Candidate Model: Unlike most platforms, TestDome allows US companies to buy small "packs" of tests (as few as 5), making it the most affordable and flexible solution for small teams that don't hire often.
• Practical Work-Sample Tasks: The tests are designed to be realistic, asking you to write a snippet of code, fix a spreadsheet, or handle a customer ticket, giving the employer a clear look at your practical job readiness.
• No-Expiration Test Packs: Once a company buys a pack of tests, they never expire, which is perfect for US small businesses that want to keep a "testing balance" on hand for whenever a sudden hiring need arises.
• Automated Skill Certificates: Candidates who perform well on a TestDome assessment receive a "Verified Skill" certificate that they can add to their LinkedIn, helping them stand out to other US recruiters as well.
• Simple, Jargon-Free Reports: The platform provides clear and concise reports that highlight exactly what a candidate knows and where they might need more training, making it easy for non-technical US managers to make a hire.

Pricing

• Starter Pack: $100 total ($20 per candidate) for 5 candidates.
• Medium Pack: $1,000 total ($10 per candidate) for 100 candidates, offering a deep discount for more active US hiring teams.

14. eSkill

eSkill is the king of customization in the US assessment market, allowing employers to build highly specific, multi-subject tests that perfectly match a unique job description. In 2026, it is used by US firms that have roles requiring a blend of disparate skillslike a "Bilingual Financial Analyst" or a "Technical Customer Success Rep." If a role can be measured, eSkill has a test module for it.

• Infinite Subject Customization: Recruiters can pull questions from a database of over 800 subjects to create a "perfect" test for any role, ensuring that every single skill required for the job is actually measured before the interview.
• Role-Specific Simulations: The platform includes simulations for specialized software like MS Office, QuickBooks, and Salesforce, allowing US employers to see you perform in the actual tools you’ll use on the job.
• Broad Industry Coverage: eSkill offers testing for virtually every US industry, including Healthcare, Legal, Manufacturing, and Finance, making it the most versatile skills tool for the diverse American economy.
• Legal & Compliance Services: For US companies concerned about fair-hiring laws, eSkill provides professional validation to ensure their tests are strictly job-related and meet all US regulatory standards.
• Integrated Video Interviewing: Like many modern tools, eSkill includes video screening, allowing US recruiters to see your communication skills alongside your technical scores in a single candidate dashboard.

Pricing

• Employer Pricing: Generally starts at approximately $250 per month on a usage-based model, with custom annual subscriptions available for larger US organizations.

15. HackerEarth

HackerEarth is a comprehensive "Talent Intelligence" platform that US companies use to find, vet, and interview tech talent through both tests and community events. In 2026, it is particularly famous for its "Hackathon-as-a-Service," which allows US firms like Google and IBM to host massive coding competitions to discover the best developers in the world. It provides a full-funnel experience, from the first skill assessment to the final collaborative coding interview.

• FaceCode Live Interviewing: This tool provides a real-time, high-fidelity environment for technical interviews that includes video, audio, and a collaborative code editor, ensuring a smooth experience for the US recruiter and candidate.
• Global Community Hackathons: US companies use HackerEarth to host external coding competitions, allowing them to see hundreds of candidates solve real-world problems in a competitive, high-stakes environment.
• University Recruitment Suite: The platform has specialized features for US campus hiring, allowing recruiters to screen thousands of college students simultaneously and find the top technical talent regardless of their school's rank.
• Extensive 15,000+ Question Library: With a massive range of technical questions, HackerEarth ensures that US hiring managers can always find a fresh way to test a candidate's knowledge and keep their assessments challenging.
• AI-Driven Proctoring: The platform includes image proctoring and window-change tracking to ensure that every candidate is being tested fairly, giving US employers the confidence to make hiring decisions based on the data.

Pricing

• Assessments Plan: Starts at approximately $119 per month for small-to-mid-sized US businesses focused on technical screening.
• Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing for large corporations that require hackathon tools, campus hiring features, and full ATS integrations.

Final Thoughts

The American job market in 2026 has officially moved past the "Resume Era." Whether you are a senior engineer or an entry-level marketer, the only way to stand out is through verified competence. By utilizing tools like Fueler to showcase your visual proof of work and performing well on platforms like HackerRank or TestGorilla, you give US recruiters exactly what they need: data that proves you can do the job. The future of hiring is merit-based, so stop updating your resume and start building your portfolio of proof.

FAQs

What is the best way for a US professional to show "Proof of Work" in 2026?

The most effective way is to use a dedicated portfolio platform like Fueler. By hosting actual project samples, assignments, and case studies, you provide US recruiters with visual and tangible evidence of your skills that a traditional resume simply cannot match.

Are these skill-based hiring tools only for tech workers?

No. While many began in the tech space, platforms like TestGorilla, Vervoe, and eSkill now provide assessments for almost every industry in the US, including marketing, healthcare, sales, accounting, and operations.

Do US companies really skip resumes if you have a high skill score?

Many fast-growing US tech firms now use "blind hiring" practices where they only look at your skill scores from platforms like CodeSignal or HackerRank before deciding to interview you, effectively making your resume secondary to your actual ability.

How do I prepare for a "Job Simulation" assessment on Vervoe?

The best way to prepare is to research the specific day-to-day tasks of the role. Since Vervoe tests your practical ability to solve real problems, you should focus on your software proficiency and your ability to write professional, clear communication.

Is it free for me to take these tests as a job seeker?

Yes. Almost all of these platforms are free for job seekers. US companies pay for the service because it helps them find high-quality talent faster, so there is no financial cost to you to prove your skills and get hired.

What is Fueler Portfolio?

Fueler is a career portfolio platform that helps companies find the best talent for their organization based on their proof of work. You can create your portfolio on Fueler. Thousands of freelancers around the world use Fueler to create their professional-looking portfolios and become financially independent. Discover inspiration for your portfolio

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