Assessment Centres

The Need

Organisations periodically must assess the talents and job potential of large numbers of people to fill key roles. It is critical that all candidates are given thorough, objective consideration, whether internal or external.

The YSC Process

YSC assists organisations with carefully designed assessment processes that pinpoint the key characteristics necessary for success. We first conduct a comprehensive job analysis to identify the specific competencies required in the job, paired with in-depth discussions of the likely future challenges for this role. These competencies become the foundation for designing or customizing the individual activities and exercises of the assessment centre. We tailor our processes to fit closely with existing client procedures. Assessment centres involve a number of challenging, rigorous exercises which allow each candidate to demonstrate their existing skills in each essential competency. Our centres typically entail a range of individual and group business simulations, depth career interviews and psychometric exercises which each closely reflect likely job demands. We use trained assessor teams, including client partners (e.g., Human Resources staff, line business representatives) when available, to objectively verify candidates' standing on multiple assessments of every job-relevant behaviour. The result is a comprehensive report of candidates' demonstrated strengths and developmental needs which aids key decision makers with choosing the best people.

Case Examples

Assure that examples are current and worded to emphasise client goals first, e.g., "Our client needed to accurately predict the success of field sales job candidates to build its business.

• A multi-national building supplies group worked with YSC in establishing a group-based development programme for key teams. A distinctive feature was focused discussion around key business challenges. Facilitated review and feedback allowed clear team insights to emerge, as well as developing actions plans of immediate business benefit.
  
  
• Working with a major firm of consulting actuaries, a personal and career development workshop was designed in which delegates constructed their own development plan. This was refined by YSC, and then used as a basis of a review with the individuals' boss. The overall process ensured trust and personal ownership of the development plans - a key success factor in programmes of this sort.

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