Talent Assessments for Candidate Selection

What to Expect During the
Talent Assessment Process

Prepare for your talent assessment with one of our doctoral-level
business consulting psychologists.

Congratulations on Being Selected for this Process!

While this process is a great opportunity for us to get to know you better, we understand that you may want to know more about us as well. We are a firm of doctoral-level assessors that has specialized for over 30 years in the field of job fit assessments in the areas of selection and development. To learn more about us individually, we encourage you to check out our ‘Meet the Team’ page or feel free to call us for more information.

As part of this assessment process, the below outlines the typical sequence of events you can anticipate (or view a printable version):

Communication from Manager or HR Partner
Email and/or Phone call from SKS to introduce the process
Email invite with welcome communication, instructions, and link to online testing
Online Exercises (more on these exercises outlined below)

Work Simulations (remote or onsite – more on this exercise outlined below)
Interview (remote or onsite – more on this exercise outlined below)
Feedback Session (available after all hiring or placement decisions final – more on this below)

Below are a few key highlights of what you can expect from your experience with us.

What is the purpose of the assessment?

Assessments are used to identify your various interests, strengths, and developmental needs. These attributes are analyzed with respect to the demands of the position for which you are being considered and/or the opportunities for enhancing your job performance and professional growth.

What will I do during the assessment?

The process includes one or more of several possible components. These assessment components may include:

An interview by a psychologist with broad-based expertise in working with organizations at all levels.
Inventories that provide information about your personality, interests, and work styles. The inventories yield profiles that are highly job-related and are not intended to search for personal information. The nature and duration of each exercise will be explained through an assessment link, which you will receive via email from SKS.
Exercises that measure reasoning ability. These provide insights regarding your thinking style and problem-solving abilities. The nature and duration of each exercise will be explained through an assessment link, which you will receive via email from SKS.
Simulations that place you into a mock “real life” work situation where you are asked to deal with the problems and challenges presented. The nature and duration of this exercise will be explained through an assessment link, which you will receive via email from SKS.

What should I do to prepare?

There is nothing that you need to do to prepare for the interview or other components of the evaluation. And there’s no need to worry unnecessarily: you’ll probably find it an interesting, thought provoking, insightful experience. Get a good night’s sleep, be yourself, and participate in the process fully!

What kinds of questions will I be asked in the interview?

Individuals usually find the interview to be thorough and thought provoking. The interview will cover a range of topics including, questions about relevant developmental experiences, academic history, self-perceptions, motivations, your work habits, your management and leadership style, and a great deal about work and career related history.

Essentially, the interview is a chance for an SKS consultant to hear directly from you about your work experiences and background. The purpose is not to gather intimate details about anyone but rather to understand your history and background to better understand how you approach your work and how you function on the job.

Isn’t someone’s mental health a personal matter?

The assessment is not a clinical evaluation but rather seeks to identify work-related insights. The interview does not involve strange or intimately probing questions. The psychologists at SKS specialize in this type of assessment and have evaluated literally thousands of individuals over the years.

Why doesn’t the organization just use my track record?

The organization does use your track record and places a great deal of reliance on your accomplishments and on previous performance appraisals, if available. However, since each person’s track record and accomplishments are unique and individualized, these sources do not always allow comparisons, nor do they necessarily provide consistent data about your potential or your fit with a role that you may not have held.

How will the organization use the results?

The results of the assessment will be considered by the organization in light of its own interviews and with due consideration to your track record. Any hiring or promotion decisions are made by the organization, not by the psychologist. Decisions regarding development planning are for you and the organization to make.

How valid is the process?

These types of work related assessments, along with the separate evaluative instruments we use, have been researched and validated to ensure that results are relevant to and predictive of job performance.

Who receives the results?

The raw data are retained by SKS Consulting Psychologists and are not provided to the organization. In most cases, a written report summarizing the results will be sent to the human resources department of the organization. If you are being considered for a new job, it provides information about the probable match between your strengths and the requirements of the position under consideration. The report also addresses developmental opportunities. The psychologist may discuss results with an appropriate representative(s) of the organization.

How will I learn about the results?

You may receive information regarding the results of the evaluation if you wish. If an organization sponsors your visit, the psychologist does not own the report and cannot copy it for you, but the results can be reviewed with you, whether in person or over the phone. Please feel free to discuss feedback options with the psychologist. We encourage you to learn about your results.

Above are some of our most frequently asked questions about the assessment process. If you have any questions that are not addressed, you can call us directly at (952)926-9852. If you call after hours, please let us know how we can reach you and we will respond as quickly as we can.

Candidate Privacy Notice

Your privacy is important to us, and maintaining your trust and confidence is one of our priorities. We respect your right to keep your personal information confidential. To learn more about our privacy notice, please follow the link: SKS Candidate Privacy Notice

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