| Personnel Assessment tests are designed to predict | | | | The test should have proven reliability and validated |
| an employee's communication, job, and team working | | | | research study results available for review and are |
| skills, conflict resolution ability, honesty and integrity | | | | having results validated routinely. |
| characteristics, absenteeism and much more. | | | | What kind of tests could be used? Rating Scale or |
| Today's HR professionals, are using the tests for | | | | ability tests use restrictive responses such as true or |
| broader uses. These tests can help determine the | | | | false answers, and measure a persons skills needed |
| need for training, professional development, strengths, | | | | for a new position. This test will demonstrate how the |
| and weaknesses. Personnel Assessment tests can | | | | employee will effectively deal with demanding training, |
| help you identify and hire more qualified workers, and | | | | their ability to learn, and achievement. Free Response |
| improve the overall performance of your company. | | | | Measures or aptitude tests measure aptitude and |
| Did you know that about 40 percent of all companies | | | | inborn potential, but not achievement. Another |
| use Personnel Assessment tests in the United States | | | | consideration is that the test evaluator should be very |
| and it is growing each year by 5 to 10 percent? This | | | | well trained on the test interpretation guides, and |
| is in response to the 15 to 25 billion dollars a year that it | | | | knowledgeable on what particular skills and attributes |
| costs the nation's employers due to theft in the | | | | are needed for the positions in question. |
| workplace, and thirty percent of all business losses can | | | | In conclusion, Personnel Assessment testing should be |
| be attributed to employee theft. Violence in the | | | | used in conjunction with other evaluation means, |
| workplace is also a significant factor in using Personnel | | | | including: interviews, pre-employment screening, drug |
| Assessment tests. In the U.S., an average of 20 | | | | testing, and skills testing. The number of companies |
| workers are murdered and 18,000 are assaulted while | | | | that are using these tests is rapidly increasing due to |
| at work or on duty every week! | | | | the need for more qualified and trustworthy |
| These tests can also reduce an employer's liability with | | | | employees. Be sure to choose a test that is Federal |
| negligent hire cases. Employers are finding it necessary | | | | & State compliant and has reliable and accurate |
| to provide as much evidence as possible to show that | | | | results. |
| they thoroughly investigated an employee's | | | | |
| background before hiring, and were not negligent in | | | | |
| their decision. | | | | Sources: |
| How do you know which test in right for your applicant | | | | US Department of Labor, Tri-National Conference on |
| or post-hire employee? When determining an | | | | Violence as a Workplace Risk |
| assessment tool for your employee, it is important that | | | | SHRM.org., HR Magazine, Feb. 2002, Personality |
| you look for the following: The test should meet or | | | | Counts- /HR Magazine |
| exceed all Federal and State requirements including | | | | Findlaw.com, Thelen, Reid & Priest, Dec. 1999, |
| the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity | | | | Personality Testing in Employment- |
| Commission 1972), ADA (Americans with Disabilities | | | | HR E-lerts by Business & Legal Reports, Kathleen |
| Act), ADEA (Age Discrimination in Employment act of | | | | Groll Connolly, January 2003, Workplace Personality |
| 1967), CRA (Civil Rights Act 1964, 1972 Title V11 | | | | Testing Increases, |
| Tower Amendment & Title 1 1991), and Uniform | | | | Wikipedia, |
| Guidelines on Employee Selection Procedures 1978. | | | | Indianmbacom, Dr. S. Sabesan, Mar. |