Assess™

Assess™ is a state-of-the-art computer driven expert system that produces evaluations for use in the business environment. Developed by organizational psychologists and written in business language, Assess™ assists managers and HR professionals in two critical human resource functions:

1. Making effective personnel selection, placement, and promotion decisions.
2. Providing objective developmental feedback and suggestions to the person being assessed.

The information provided in Assess™ reports is based upon a group of standardized personality and ability tests that have been well-researched and widely used in business. These tests measure many of the characteristics related to effective performance in managerial, sales, accounting, administrative, computer programming, and many other professional level positions.

What Does Assess™ Measure?

The Assess™ Personality Survey contains a core of standard questions which measure characteristics related to effective job performance. This core is supplemented with one or more general and/or specific ability tests depending upon the type of job for which the candidate is being evaluated.

Assess™ provides important information about candidates regarding:

• The ability to process information and quickly solve problems, to think critically and draw accurate conclusions from complex information, to analyze quantitative information, and to have competent language skills.
• A number of personality traits and characteristics which can impact a person's job performance, such as energy level, assertiveness, cooperativeness, practicality in thinking, and many others.

The tests included in the battery are all standard tests designed for use with people in a business environment. These tests have been well researched and provide a comprehensive assessment of the strengths and potential liabilities that a candidate is likely to bring to a position.

The intellectual abilities tests measure any of the following:

• Verbal Comprehension  (EAS1)
• Business Math  (Arith Reasoning)
• Mental Quickness  (Thurstone)
• Numerical Ability  (EAS2)
• Verbal Reasoning Ability  (EAS7)
• Abstract Reasoning Ability  (Ravens)
• Critical Thinking Ability  (Watson Glaser)

While the specific ability tests an individual takes depend upon what is required for the job, the ASSESS™ Personality Survey measures characteristics which can be applied to most jobs:

For What Purposes Can Assess™ Be Used?

Assess™ is designed as a tool for those individuals who are considered to be in, or applying for, "professional" positions and can be used for the following purposes:

NOTE: The Assess™ system defines "professional" positions as jobs normally requiring training or education beyond the high school level.

Selection
Assess™ allows employers to obtain a preview of a candidate’s traits and characteristics in areas such as intellectual abilities, work habits, style of dealing with people, and personal motivations. It highlights areas where the individual is notably strong or stands out from other candidates. It provides specific suggestions regarding questions to ask in the interview to probe potential problem areas and specific questions to ask of references to confirm or disconfirm potential liabilities indicated in the Assess™ results.

Placement
Based on the information provided by ASSESS™, employers can do a better job of placing an individual in a position that best fits him or her. It allows managers and human resource professionals to identify individuals who have potential for higher level responsibilities and individuals who may need special attention from management to be most productive. Suggestions for managing the person are provided in a special section of the Selection Report, Management Suggestions.

Promotion
Although observed job performance should be the primary consideration when making a promotion decision, Assess™ can provide objective information regarding the individual’s strengths and areas of weakness which may not have been observed in their job performance. For example, an individual may have excellent reasoning skills, but may not have been in a job where those skills could be demonstrated; or, an individual may not handle pressure well, but has not been in a job that had much pressure associated with it, therefore this weakness has not been observed.

Development
People want and need specific, objective feedback regarding their assets and liabilities; however, giving this type of feedback may be beyond the ability or resources of many managers. In addition to a detailed description of important personality traits, ASSESS™ Developmental Reports also provide interactive worksheets and developmental suggestions including on-the-job behaviors to practice and recommended readings for personal development. While not a substitute for specific performance feedback, the Assess™ Developmental Report is a useful management tool which can be used independently of, or as part of, a performance appraisal process.

Career Management
Assess™ can aid individuals who are in search of a career or job change. Based on the information provided by ASSESS™, an individual can focus his or her search on jobs or careers that will be a better "fit" with the individual’s personality. Also, there may be certain personality characteristics which may hinder or help the individual during the job search. Assess™ can help the individual identify strengths and weaknesses in order to tailor the job search accordingly, as well as provide suggestions on how to minimize those weaknesses to be better prepared for new career or job paths.

What is the Assess™ Developmental Report?

The Developmental Report is written in a developmental tone so that the report can be given to the individual assessed and provides constructive, objective feedback of assessment results. This report also includes activities and worksheets that assist the individual in his or her career development.

The Assess™ Developmental Report contains the following:

• Graphic profile
• An in-depth report of findings
• Identifying strengths and areas for improvement worksheets
• Goal setting and action planning worksheets
• Developmental suggestions