Career Assessments

Guide to Career Assessments as a Human Resource Tool

Use career and job assessments to hire, promote, evaluate and retain top employees
By D. L. Patrick

Thanks to career assessment providers, your human resource department no longer has to endure the time consuming task of sorting through resumes to find qualified candidates. End the cumbersome chore of scheduling candidates and giving a career skills assessment test, only to find a lack of career aptitude to perform the job. Streamline the process by using online recruiting with built in career assessment tools.

The moment a potential candidate posts a resume to apply for a job opening, the career test and job assessment process begins. Follow the applicant through hiring, training, evaluation and promotion phrases of employment. Career assessment providers offer reports that separate out qualified candidates, high-risk job seekers and those poorly suited for the position.

Reap the benefits of higher cost savings often lost due to high turnover rates, job dissatisfaction and poorly matched applicants. Consider the advantages of using job assessments:

1. Screen candidates using career tests for decision making on hiring and promoting employees.

2 . Improve employee retention and overall job satisfaction with the aid of job assessments.

3. Career assessments and reporting allows you to track applicants efficiently throughout every phase of employment.

4. Increase your confidence in new employees' ability to transition into an existing position by using a career test.

Action Steps

The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Eliminate expenses associated with screening jobseekers by using career aptitude assessments Select the right employee for the right position. Career skills assessments are becoming a part of the job recruiting culture.

I recommend:  Employment Technologies offers consulting services in employee assessments and selection. Pan specializes in career assessments and talent acquisition, as well as integrating career tests into existing hiring process.

Bridge the gap between interviewing and new hire fulfillment Use software that incorporates assessment tools into the full scope of the employment process. Consider implementing tools specific to the company's needs.

I recommend:  Mercer Systems Inc. provides a sample pre-employment test that ranks and forecasts job aptitude. International Knowledge Measurement (IKM) presents a variety of assessments including skills, testing, tools and sample analysis reports

Troubleshoot profit loss with a turnover calculator Diagnose costs associated with high turnover due to poor job skill match and interest. Stop profit loss and invest in better candidates.

I recommend:  Talent Keepers offers a calculator that provides a detailed analysis of expenses lost due to high turnover rates and also provides a short cut for figuring costs. eSsments offers a webinar to show how to calculate loss due to ill informed hiring decisions and gives you an opportunity to sample the company’s tools.

Acquire and retain a pool of talented employees Look for a solution oriented career assessment provider to assist with employee recruitment. Finding productive employees makes a significant impact on the company's success.

I recommend:  Profile International gives a complimentary assessment summary dedicated to meeting empolyers desire to hire and keep a productive workforce. ExpertRating provides a free trial of employment testing software. A variety of ebooks, tutorials and courses to educate employers on career tests.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• Consider completing a cost benefit analysis when purchasing assessment software.
• Factor in the number of current employees when deciding on initial investment in computer based career assessment tools.
• Link job assessment tool directly to your website for external and internal job postings.