Assessing Applicants: Overview

Once you have identified all the essential qualifications and competencies, you can now select the assessment tools such as oral interviews, written tests, interview questions, oral presentations and/or role playing which will help you select the right candidate. 

Use whatever tools and techniques it takes to determine the applicant’s competencies, knowledge, skill and ability to do the job. 

Tips: Start considering your options as early as possible, ideally when you are establishing your qualifications and involve your assessment team in the discussion and development of the tools. Contact your HR Consultant if you have any questions.

The Staffing Practice Guideline, Assessing Applicants, provides best practice ideas, suggestions and considerations for when you are creating an effective assessment strategy and developing and administering assessment tools and information on the various options available to you for screening, short listing, assessing and rating applicants. 

Past performance (reference) checking is critical to verify how the person will function in the workplace and not simply how they perform in an interview. See the Staffing Practice Guideline, Assessing Past Work Performance for more information. 

See also the following topics for more detailed information and examples:

• Valid and Effective Assessment Tools Are ...
• Screening and Short Listing Instruments
• Levels of Difficulty for Assessment Questions / Tests
• Tips for Developing Effective Questions / Tests
• Assessment Ideas and Options to Consider
• Tips for Preparing Test Instructions 
• Tips for Test Administration
• Options for Rating  (rating scales and making guides, standards for qualifying, avoiding common problems, and tips for conducting effective rating)
• Qualifications and Special Considerations: Definitions and Examples