Odyssey: Exercises for assessment and development - do they walk the talk?
14/09/2010, Author: Sarah Deadman
Assessment centre exercises have been in existence since the Second World War and are much, much more than just the latest ‘fad’ (unlike the smelly pens in our office!). However, just because they are a mature assessment tool, it doesn’t mean that they always deliver success.
Having administered assessment centre exercises before, as well as being on the receiving end of them myself; I have come to identify some essential features that improve their success rate, all of which are demonstrated in Criterion’s Odyssey exercise portfolio.
1. Minimise terror - Despite the sweaty hand shake you receive at the start of the day, it is easy to forget the sheer terror of an assessment centre to the candidate. This can be avoided by using engaging exercises based on a central case study. With this inclusive theme, candidates can enjoy a seamless assessment experience and be clear of what is expected of them.
2. Use their findings for development as well as assessment – Assessment exercises are by no means constrained to assessment centres in terms of recruitment, and are a valuable tool for development centres as well. It is our strong belief that investment in employees is key to high performance and, particularly in recent times (I am avoiding the R word), this investment is easy to forget but will ensure that your best talent stays longer than just after the next Christmas party. Findings from your assessment centres can also be incorporated into the development plans of your employees.
3. Prevent tired & de-motivated delegates – Let’s face it, when your delegate is given their assessment centre timetable, the first thing they look at is probably the finishing time. Ensuring that delegates remain engaged in the day means you are going to get a lot more out of them. So use real life scenarios, think about the length of your exercises and make sure they are gaining some positive experience.
4. Exercises that reflect the skills of the actual job - Feeling like the day has reflected what the job role entails is an important aspect to myself along with many of my other graduate colleagues. Painting a picture of an elephant makes it difficult for reliable feedback on a predominantly office based job (!)
5. Exercises that positively enhance your brand - Your assessment is a picture of your organisation. Following on from my last point, when choosing a method of assessment remember that those who attend will gain an overall opinion of your organisation. You never know when a candidate who didn’t get the job may end up getting a role with your client!
To summarise; assessment centre exercises, when delivered well, can offer more rounded and solid proof that the person in front of you can and will do the job in the way that your organisation needs them to. To be quite frank these exercises can be make or break in terms of hiring someone that can walk the talk and not just give a good interview.
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