What is an assessment center how does it work?

Answer: An Assessment center is a process whereby participants undertake a series of job-related exercises so that skills, competencies, and character traits can be assessed. Specially trained assessors evaluate each participant against predetermined criteria.

Various methods of assessment may be used, including interviews, psychometric tests, group discussions, group problem solving exercises, individual job-simulated tasks, and role-plays.

Assessment centers are used in selection for recruitment and promotion and in training and development, and aim to provide an organization with an assessment process that is consistent, free of prejudice, and fair.

Many people have a misunderstanding that assessment center is a location, but it is a technique for selecting and promoting candidates, executive and managers.

Additional information: The assessment center method was first developed in Germany after WWI and later refined by British and American military Intelligence in WWII, as a way to determine how candidates for intelligence positions would likely act in real situations. Work simulations were an important part of the process and were viewed as more effective than relying on interviews alone.

The concept was refined by Douglas Bray, Ph.D., and applied at AT&T, where it was successful for identifying executive potential. Now, thousands of organizations use the concept for hiring, training and promotional processes.