By Fleur Hellemans
For most clients, in terms of recruitment, we offer a complete end-to-end service. Depending on the client, part of our process will often involve the use of psychometric assessments to gain further insight into a candidate’s capabilities and potential.
However, for some clients, we offer support around a specific part of the selection process. For example, we have a number of clients who come to us purely for psychometric assessments to support their existing in-house recruitment process. One such client is PGG Wrightson. HR Manager Alexis Gray has been using Sheffield’s assessment service for over 7 years. “Psychometrics play an integral part of our recruitment process, especially for key roles within our business”, says Alexis.
One of the key advantages of using this type of service is the information it provides. Psychometric assessments have been shown, along with structured behavioral interviewing, to be amongst the most predictive measures of job performance. “Unlike education, experience and skills, the behavioral traits and personality of a candidate can be more difficult to assess via an interview alone. Psychometric assessments provide an opportunity to gain deeper insight into a person’s ability in a specific area, or their personality preferences and therefore likely behavior and working style. This information can be used to inform other aspects of the selection process, for example by identifying areas to explore further through interview questions and reference checks”, says senior consultant Fleur Hellemans. Another advantage is that Sheffield can offer objective recommendations as to which assessments should be used. “Unlike other firms, we’re not aligned to one particular assessment provider, rather we have access to a range of international products”, says Fleur. “We don’t grab the nearest assessment off the shelf, we’ll choose the right tool based on the requirements of the role and the needs of the client”.
Candidate feedback is an integral part of our process. Therefore, when assessment results are fed back to the client, candidate feedback is also included for context, and to provide deeper understanding. This holistic approach ensures a positive, useful experience for the candidate, and ultimately offers greater value for the client. For more information on how assessments may be beneficial for your organisation, please get in touch.