Assessment for
Selection
Learn more about how the SKS Team partners with you to provide exceptional service and meaningful insights.
Looking for Assessment for Development?
The Selection Assessment Process: Key Steps and Milestones
Request Submission
Complete the SKS Assessment Request form.
Send the SKS Assessment Request form, along with:
Participant’s resume (a link to their LinkedIn profile page may suffice if the resume is unavailable), a job description for their current role, and any other contextual information that it would be helpful for us to know to [email protected].
In order to facilitate a meaningful discussion during this call, take a moment to carefully review the report before this call.
Take note of the following:
- Any questions you may have regarding the qualitative report content, as well as the quantitative ratings.
- Any areas that confirm your observations regarding the strengths and development opportunities of the participant.
- Any areas in which the assessment feedback differs from your experience of the participant, or in which the feedback feels inconsistent or unclear.
Introductory Communication
The SKS team reaches out to the participant via phone or email.
We walk the participant through the steps of the assessment process, answer any questions, and work with the participant to schedule their interview (and work simulation, if applicable) as well as their feedback session. In the case of a 360 assessment, we work closely with the participant to clarify their next steps and to provide any support necessary.Talent Evaluations
- Include personality, problem solving, and critical thinking assessments, alongside an interview with a SKS Consultant to provide additional context regarding the participant’s experiences, approach to others, self-insight, strengths, and development opportunities.
- Talent evaluations can be used to provide insight around potential for growth and development and to assess a participant’s behavior and presence, in addition to their preferences and capabilities, in order to identify and target key strengths to leverage and opportunity areas to address.
- The time commitment for a participant is approximately 4 hours.
- This level of assessment is most appropriate for high impact individual contributors.
Comprehensive Talent Evaluations
- Include the same series of online inventories and interview as the talent evaluation, but also includes a work simulation exercise to assess a participant’s performance in the context of a simulated inbox exercise.
- Comprehensive talent evaluations can be used to provide insight around potential for growth and development and to assess a participant’s real-time reaction and responses in combination with their workstyle, behavior, preferences, and capabilities in order to identify and target key strengths to leverage and opportunity areas to address.
- The time commitment is approximately 6 hours.
- This level of assessment is most appropriate for leaders of people and is commonly used for those that hold supervisor or manager postions.
Initial Notice from HR & Organizational Sponsor
- The organization will notify the candidate/participant of the initiation of the assessment process and the partnership with SKS Consulting Group. This notification can be done verbally, or in writing via email, and should include the following:
- An explanation of why the candidate is being asked to participate in a leadership assessment, administered by SKS Consulting (for instance, “as a part of the selection process for ________ role at ________ organization” or “as an investment in your ongoing professional development and growth”).
- A link to the SKS website, wherein the entire assessment process is outlined in detail here.
- A connection to the SKS Client Services Team ([email protected] or 952-926-9852).
- A reminder that an SKS Client Services Coordinator will be reaching out to initiate the process.
Introductory Communication
The SKS Client Services Team will reach out to the identified candidate/participant via phone or email. A Client Services Team member will walk the individual through the steps in the assessment process, answer any questions they may have and provide guidance around next steps. The Client Services Team member will also work with the candidate to schedule their interview with an SKS Consultant at this time.
Communication Best Practices: FAQ
Many times, candidates find themselves seeking additional clarity around the SKS Assessment Process; including what they can expect, what the process is for, and how they can best prepare. Below, you will find some frequently asked questions, as well as key talking points that can be used in response to candidate inquiries.
Candidate Question:
Why am I being asked to complete an SKS Talent Assessment?
Talent assessments are used to identify your aspirations, motivations, strengths, and developmental needs. These attributes are analyzed with respect to the demands of your role as well as opportunities for enhancing your job performance and professional growth.
Candidate Question:
How are hiring decisions made?
Hiring decisions are always made following thorough consideration of all the information gleaned from the talent acquisition process (e.g., interviews, resume, references, assessments, etc.).
360° Assessment: What to Expect
- In an organization’s journey to developing talent, a key step is gaining a clear understanding of each leader’s potential and performance through identified strengths and opportunities. The SKS 360° Online Survey is an efficient questionnaire which collects both quantitative and qualitative feedback regarding leader performance and impact from various perspectives. The survey results often improve self-awareness, promote accountability and ownership, and are an effective catalyst for leadership development.
- Once the participant has been notified of the upcoming 360° process by their organization, an SKS Client Services team member will guide the participant through the 360° process with status updates and scheduling support, and will serve as the primary contact for questions.
- The 360° participant will receive clear instructions, sample communications, and a rater roster template to initiate the 360° assessment process.
- Upon the completion of data collection, a comprehensive report is compiled. This report is provided exclusively to the participant. All survey responses remain anonymous and confidential, with the exception of feedback from a manager. Written comments will be displayed verbatim.
- The participant will then engage in a feedback session with an SKS Consultant to facilitate understanding and interpretation of their results, to identify key takeaways, and to consider next steps.
