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Core Assessment

To enhance our ability to find skilled candidates for our clients, Accounting Advantage contracted with AON Consulting, a full-service human resources consulting firm, to develop and validate a new applicant classification system. 

Goals:

• Design a classification system that produces measurable impact
• Improve the matching of applicant skill level with job requirements
• Utilize the best-of-breed technology to create high fidelity classification instruments
• Create an efficient and concise classification process
• Design the system for easy, standardized administration
• Meet all legal and professional standards

Written portions of our Core Assessment Series were developed with items from AON Consulting's database and existing classification tests. The constructs and content underlying these tests were carefully studied and determined to be related to the job performance of Accounting Advantage positions. 

Scientifically Validated to Predict Job Performance
All of Accounting Advantage's tests have a proven track record of success, showing that those who pass the tests have better performance on the job, significantly increasing their productivity. We have found this relationship to be true for a variety of clients with positions similar to the office, service, customer and manufacturing positions at Accounting Advantage. 

For receptionist and customer service positions, job classifications and situational judgement exercises were used to assess personal characteristics found to be important for the job. The development of these tools is as follows:

Receptionist CD Simulation
Development of the Receptionist job simulation included identifying "critical" work activities that contribute to the success on the job. For receptionists, it was found that answering multiple-line telephones and routing calls are "critical" to performing on the job. A computerized work sample was created to simulate a receptionist receiving a call, and then routing it to the correct extension. 

Also, receptionists were found to be a direct link to visiting customers and clients. Thus, in conjunction with the job simulation, a situational judgement exercise was created to determine an applicant's ability to respond to work situations effectively. The tool was developed using computerized CD Video technology to create a realistic portrayal of the work environment. Job incumbents, job experts, and Accounting Advantage personnel were responsible for providing information to be used in the development of the assessment.

Customer Service Situations Video
A video-based situational judgement exercise was created for Customer Service Representatives and Telemarketers. Data collected during job analysis revealed that customer service representatives must respond to several different types of situations relating to interactions with internal and external customers. 

The video-based assessment provides an accurate depiction of actual situations faced on the job. Applicants are then asked to determine the most effective approach to resolve the work situation. Selecting a video-based testing platform allows for a virtual feel to the testing-thereby, making the testing process more accurate as well as enhancing applicant interest.

Light-Industrial/Manufacturing "Hands-On" Assessment
For manufacturing positions, a hands-on assessment was selected to assess physical abilities needed for Light Industrial and Electronic Assembly applicants. The Purdue Pegboard was used for Light-Industrial applicants to measure manual dexterity, eye-hand coordination, and visual acuity. The Tweezer dexterity test was used for Electronic Assembly positions to measure fine motor movement, visual acuity, and finger dexterity. Due to the high speed and precision necessary to perform these jobs, hands-on assessments present the greatest comparison to a real job situation.

Structured Interview Guide
The structured interview guide was designed to identify how well a candidate effectively performs as an Accounting Advantage temporary associate. The interview guides ask questions related to the applicant's work history, interpersonal and team skills, creative problem solving, professionalism, and communication skills. The applicant's response helps us assess how they have responded in past work situations. Questions are framed in this way because research has shown that past work behavior is one of the best predictors of future work behavior.