Assessment centers are used to help give detailed, structured evaluations of job applicants. They help to show levels of job-related knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as behavioral flexibility, creativity, and decision making. At assessment centers, applicants participate in various situational exercises and simulations. These exercises copy different aspects of managerial jobs and tend to be valid predictors of managerial success. Assessment centers thus help a company to hire and/or promote the best people.
The following web links provide more background on assessment centers and why they are used in both education and business:
| This link discusses why assessment centers may be beneficial, presents guidelines that centers need to follow , and describes how test scores are related to job performance. | |||
| This link talks about assessments in schools, why they are needed and what the results of assessments can indicate. | |||
| This link talks about the development of situational exercises, selection of content of the simulation exercise and the evaluation of candidates' performance. | |||
| This link provides information from a consulting firm about "Fitting the right personality to the job." | |||
| This link talks about the background of assessment centers, some assessment exercises, and what helps make an assessment center effective. |
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