A brief explanation of employee evaluations and how businesses use them.
Employers of all sizes are increasingly using employment tests to evaluate employees’ abilities, behaviours, and knowledge. Employers must also objectively analyze applicants to discover whether they have the proper skills, attitudes, and skills for the job. Behavioural interviewing is a valuable technique, but it still requires interviewing skills.
Assessment Use is Growing
Increased use of employment assessments isn’t necessarily bad news because if you are not a good fit for a position, then it’s not likely that you will be successful or stay with the company anyway. So these tools may appear to be an unfair screening method, but they may be saving you from a position you don’t want.
Who Uses Assessments?
Companies like Wal-Mart, Radio Shack, SITEL, and Petsmart all use some form of employment assessment in their hiring process. Some companies may require you to complete an evaluation with your application. Still, others may request you to complete the evaluation after screening and considering employment. Background checks, drug tests and employment verifications are also part of an employment assessment process.
What is an Assessment?
So what is an employment assessment? There are many types, but generally, assessments are tools used to measure things like your ability to do the math, your level of verbal skill/verbal reasoning and your problem-solving ability. Behavioural tests are also widely used to determine if you have the right attitude, drive and temperament for the position.
There is no way to “study” for an assessment, but your best bet is to answer the questions honestly. You may think you know what the employer is interested in, however without knowing how the assessment is scored or used by the employer, trying to answer the way you think will get you the job is more likely to lead to unreliable test results and get you booted from consideration.
The following is a shortlist of some of the companies that make employment assessments in alphabetical order:
- Brainbench (this company is owned by Previsor but offers tests to individuals and employers)
- The Chrysalis Corporation
- Precision
- Profiles International
Are Assessments Legal?
Many individuals wonder whether they must take a pre-employment exam. Sure, if you want the job. But, they are not illegal as long as they comply with the law. A fact sheet about pre-employment tests is available from the EEOC. The EEOC says the employment assessments may not discriminate by excluding people based upon race, colour, sex, national origin, religion, disability or age.
How are Assessments Used?
There are employment assessments that can only be used as pre-employment tests, but employers frequently use reviews to improve current employees’ performance. Employment assessments help determine training and development needs, secession plans, and performance appraisals.
It may be beneficial to take your assessment and learn about your personality, skills and abilities and how these factors impact your decision making and management style. It will undoubtedly give you an edge in answering behavioural questions during interviews and help you be a better manager and team player. Going to an employer with your assessment may seem like a good idea, but remember that you still don’t know how they are making their hiring decision, which may give them the wrong information.