Workplace assessment - through the eyes of the candidate - Beyond Measure

As part of the Beyond Measure initiative where we're looking to help organisations and candidates improve their understanding of workplace assessment, with the aim of improving practice and quality of its use. In this episode we look at assessment through the eyes of the person taking the test, why their experience is important and what they need to know.  If you're interested in our Beyond Measure campaign, have a listen to episode 8, where we introduce the initiative, and re-visit in subsequent episodes.  Richard and Pilar put themselves in the shoes of someone applying for a job and walk through a 'typical' process from the assessment invitation through to the test itself, feedback and how organisations use assessments to make decisions.  Given that many assessments are completed online, remotely, we talk about the importance of giving focused attention to completing the questionnaire. As a candidate, be free from distraction and give it your full attention, rather than trying to complete it on the run, in a noisy environment.  Feedback is also an important part of the process, and not always provided by organisations. Pilar shares her experience of a hiring process where she was provided with constructive feedback which she really valued. In contrast another organisation failed to get in touch after a month, leaving a lasting, poor impression. We also discuss the danger of creating an overly idealised view of the job and the organisation during recruitment, where the reality bears little resemblance to the recruitment pitch. This disconnect can leave candidates with a false impression of what life is actually like and increase their intention to leave.  Throughout the whole process there's a balance to be struck between being fair and objective and being human. Pilar recently attended the Work 2.0 conference where she listened to a presentation by Vodafone during which they shared their use of assessment games during the assessment process. The games are used to help applicants feel at ease but also because they collect vast amounts of data to measure cognitive ability and decision-making style. Technology is playing an ever-increasing role in the measurement of people at work, but also enriching the experience. However, it's still vital to be clear about what you're measuring, why you're using it and ensuring the process is fair and robust.