Assessment centres are a popular (yet sometimes) controversial way for businesses to assess candidates. There are legitimate worries over their effectiveness and influence on potential hires, despite their theoretical goal of offering a thorough picture of applicants' abilities and potential.
Like all great debates, there are several sides to look at to get a wider look at the big idea.
Potential Benefits
Assessment centres can benefit organisations in many ways:
- Through various exercises and examinations, they offer numerous data points about candidates.
- They enable businesses to assess candidates' performance in simulated work environments.
- They shed light on soft talents that are difficult to evaluate on a CV alone, such as leadership, teamwork, and communication.
Effectiveness Concerns
However, studies have cast doubt on the predictive validity of assessment centres:
- According to certain research, they are no longer as good at forecasting in role success.
- There are worries that applicants may "game" the system by rehearsing standard drills and interview strategies.
- The exercises' artificial nature can make them not fully represent actual performance on the job.
Are Assessment Centres Demoralising?
Possible Adverse Effects:
- Candidates may find the assessment centre approach off-putting.
- Candidates may feel continuously scrutinised during the process, which can be stressful.
- Can create a one-sided approach
- Exercises could seem forced or unrelated to the job's actual responsibilities.
Rejection following a rigorous evaluation centre can be especially disheartening.
Candidate Perspective
A lot of job searchers express dissatisfaction with evaluation centres:
- It can be a mentally taxing and time-consuming process.
- Candidates' confidence and mental health may suffer if they are repeatedly turned down by assessment centres.
- Candidates frequently don't receive enough insightful criticism, which leaves them unsure on how to get better.
- 100% of the people who answered our poll on LinkedIn agreed assessment centres are just setting candidates up for failure.
The Future of Assessment Centres
While traditional assessment centres have drawbacks, they're not likely to disappear entirely. Instead, we're seeing a shift towards more modern approaches:
- Virtual assessment centres have gained popularity, offering greater flexibility and efficiency
- There's a trend towards more job-relevant exercises and fewer generic competency assessments
- Some employers are adopting a hybrid approach, combining virtual and in-person elements
Assessment centres can be a valuable tool for employers when designed and implemented thoughtfully. However, they also have the potential to be demoralising for candidates if not handled sensitively. As recruitment practices evolve, we're likely to see assessment centres adapt to address these concerns, potentially becoming more candidate-friendly and job-specific in the process.
