Performing better at work? You’re probably using Chrome or Firefox

Your choice of web browser may reveal more about your workplace performance than you might expect. According to research conducted by Cornerstone OnDemand, sales and customer-service employees who use non-default browsers such as Chrome or Firefox tend to stay longer in their roles and perform better than peers who rely on default browsers like Internet Explorer or Safari.

The findings are based on an analysis of data from approximately 50,000 job applicants who completed Cornerstone’s online assessment and were subsequently hired. Across this sample, individuals using third-party browsers showed higher levels of job efficiency and retention.

Speaking on Freakonomics Radio, Michael Housman, Chief Analytics Officer at Cornerstone OnDemand, offered a behavioral interpretation rather than a technical one:

“The fact that you took the time to install Firefox on your computer shows us something about you. It shows that you’re someone who is an informed consumer. You’ve made an active choice to do something that wasn’t default.”

Importantly, Cornerstone emphasizes that browser preference itself is not used as a hiring filter. Such data would be considered overly intrusive, and the company avoids making employment decisions based on trivial or potentially misleading signals.

Instead, the research serves as an illustration of how subtle behavioral patterns can emerge from large datasets. In high-turnover roles like sales and customer service—where training costs are high and retention is critical—even small predictive signals can be valuable when interpreted responsibly.

While your browser choice is unlikely to be scrutinized by recruiters, the broader takeaway is clear: people analytics can surface unexpected correlations that challenge assumptions, provided they are used to inform judgment rather than replace it.