Getting the right person into the right job is a major challenge for everyone in HR and recruitment, so its perhaps not surprising that, despite the cost, assessment centres continue to be widely used in the selection process, a survey indicates.
In assessment centres candidates come together in a group and undertake various individual and group exercises and tests. While most only last for one day, I once took part in one that lasted for 48 hours, with all of us candidates being observed almost all the time during waking hours.
Did I get the job? No, I didn’t. But at the end of the period I realised it was not really what I wanted anyway, so the outcome was good for everyone.
The survey by XpertHR found that two thirds of employers use assessment centres in recruitment. Over half use them when recruiting senior managers, with around two-fifths using them for middle managers, graduates, line managers or senior and technical staff.
The average cost per candidate of assessment centres is £311, but that’s nothing compared with the potential cost of appointing the wrong person to a job. In these difficult economic times, it seems that well-planned and well-executed assessment centres are more important than ever.
At Fuse Learning we find that companies who have used them previously for recruitment are very enthusiastic about also using them with existing staff to ensure that everyone has the right competencies (or not) and is able to work to their full potential.
But what of the candidates? According to the survey nearly all employers felt that candidates reacted well to their experience. But no doubt those people were not under the constant surveillance to which I was subjected…
Visit the Fuse Learning website: www.fuselearning.co.uk
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