In the last post, Finding the right candidate starts with the right questionnaire, I talked about the importance of well-crafted interview questionnaires and how carefully considered, behavioral-based questions can help you identify strong candidates. Now I want to go into a little more detail on one aspect that should be built into every interview process: questions that allow you to learn more about a candidate’s flexibility and response to stress.
While you can add questions about those things to your questionnaire, assessments are another great tool for information-gathering. What’s the difference? Typically, questionnaires ask open-ended questions or provide multiple-choice responses, and they aren’t “scored”—the reviewer simply interprets the answers on their own. An assessment, however, usually includes only multiple choice and “all/none of the above”-style questions, or it might ask respondents to agree or disagree with statements. Then, based on the responses, a formula provides a defined result: For example, you’ve probably taken a strengths assessment that automatically creates an analysis after you complete it.
Assessments can help identify candidates who have the necessary flexibility (or other characteristics) to meet the needs of the role they are applying for. To determine those needs, assessments often are crafted by gaining feedback from internal stakeholders. This practice not only paints a very accurate picture of the qualities needed to be successful, it also demonstrates to the internal stakeholders that their opinions are valued when it comes to hiring candidates.
We all know that meeting the education requirements and certifications listed in a job description doesn’t automatically mean a candidate is a good match for a specific role or organization. A successful employment relationship goes well beyond education and experience—and an assessment can help you evaluate the other factors.
At Alera ConnectHR, we partner with a number of vendors who can assist with assessments. If you’d like to explore how one might help you achieve your hiring goals, please let me know.
About the Author
Christine Brown
HR Services Lead Recruiter
Alera ConnectHR
Christine’s background and knowledge for Alera ConnectHR is in recruiting, staffing of large organizations, talent management and acquisition, training, and development, as well as employee engagement.
Christine loves helping her clients and their people thrive, and particularly relishes tackling challenging situations by using positive communication and developing plans for success.
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