Assessment Centers

Meaning & Definition

Assessment centers are structured methods used to evaluate employees with a number of different assessment tools and methods, including group, role-playing, case study presentations, and tests. This type of assessment will measure the candidate’s skills and behaviours as well as their competencies necessary for the position being filled. Most commonly used in the hiring process as well as for career advancement through promotional opportunities for leadership development, assessment centers are increasingly being used by companies to identify top talent.

Important aspects of assessment centers:

• Evaluates candidates in a fair, comprehensive manner.
• Identifies specific competencies and leadership potential of candidates.
• Provides less opportunity for bias due to the use of multiple assessors and methods of assessment.
• Facilitates improved decision-making concerning hiring, promotions, and succession planning.
• Increases the accuracy of assessing a candidate’s talent and capabilities.

Legal Considerations:

This term does not specifically relate to an area of statutory compliance. 

On the other hand, organisations should: 

• Conduct fair and unbiased assessments of candidates and employees in accordance with their organisation’s HR and Talent Management policies. 
• Handle candidate and employee data in accordance with data protection laws.