Assessments

About assessments

Personnel assessment, sometimes called employment testing, is a systematic approach to gathering information about individuals—information that can then be used to make hiring or other employment decisions.

But assessments are complex. If not administered or interpreted correctly, they can be invalid and lead to faulty decision-making. Also, there are often legal considerations that impact employer practices regarding assessments.

Assessment practices

The U.S. Department of Labor developed Testing and Assessment: An Employer's Guide to Good Practices to assist managers and human resource professionals in making assessment-related decisions. The guide provides an easy-to-follow overview of the essential concepts of employment testing so that managers and HR professionals can:

• Evaluate and select assessment tools/procedures that maximize chances for getting the right fit between jobs and employees.
• Administer and score assessment tools that are the most efficient and effective for their particular needs.
• Accurately interpret assessment results.
• Understand the professional and legal standards to be followed when conducting personnel assessment.

For help with assessments or other workplace issues, contact your local American Job Center to connect with a Business Services Representative or other resource.