I’ve been vetting different off-the-shelf employment selection instruments for a client. Here is my advice through questions you should ask yourself in the vetting process as well as some good sources I’ve found for off-the-shelf instruments.
Questions to ask yourself if you are considering adding a selection assessment:
1. Have I done a job analysis? If not, you need to do one to know which dimensions your assessment needs to help you select for.
2. After a job analysis, are my main issues in selection skill or will issues? Do I need an aptitude or skills based test (example: measuring mechanical aptitude) or do I need a personality/soft skill test (example: measuring conscientiousness) or both?
3. Where would this best fit in my selection process? Have a huge applicant pool and your trying to weed down to those qualified? Do you want a better way to target potential problem areas in order to guide your interviewing process?
4. What is the best way for delivering the assessment? Online, in-person, paper & pencil, proctored or unproctored, etc. Does the tests I’ve potentially identified meet these needs? Are there certain requirements for delivery that are must haves from the testing vendor?
5. After pulling different assessments that may fit my needs, are they validated for the job roles I which to use the test for?
6. How much can I spend? Is a per adminstration fee or a flat fee better based on my volume and needs?
Some assessment providers to check out:
Assessment Associates International
Although we have not selected any of these vendors yet, all come highly recommended and/or have been very responsive to my inquires.
How as adding a selection assessment helped your hiring?
