Some employers may question the value of competency-based recruiting processes if they already include assessments of soft and technical abilities.
Let’s compare and contrast competence testing with skills assessments by looking at their benefits and drawbacks.
Benefit No. 1: Equality
All test takers are treated equally since a competence examination is task-based. When everyone is evaluated in the same way against the same standard, you may collect reliable data for competence assessments and use it in conjunction with analytics for comparing performance and making informed business choices.
Benefit No. 2: Efficiency
Most businesses may easily evaluate applicants in bulk by comparing their performance to a competence model. Particularly useful for filling a new position, as it not only confirms someone has reached the required standard but also allows you to do so rapidly, cutting down on recruitment time.
Benefit No. 3: Relevance
Competency exams evaluate candidates for real jobs, whereas skills tests might be more general. Candidates gain insight into the jobs they could perform in the future, while employers obtain a more accurate performance standard than they would with data from skills assessments.
Drawbacks No. 1: They’re Not Flexible
There is little room for innovation on competency exams since they are intended to be stringent. Although this is dull for job applicants and potential hires, it can mask a lack of proficiency if the test taker accidentally gets the correct answer.
Drawbacks No. 2: They Need Common Goals
A competency-based skills evaluation can only be useful if all participants have the same understanding of what constitutes a passing score. In order to successfully test the modeling, it is necessary to have a thorough comprehension of the task’s quality and breadth.
The Most Common Workplace Competency Assessment Use Cases
Here are five of the most popular applications of competency-driven assessment in the corporate world: hiring, promotion, training, and development.
1. To screen job candidates
The goal of today’s talent acquisition strategies is to find people who already have the knowledge, experience, and talents necessary to accomplish the job. Competency evaluations far outshine the more conventional method of analyzing their performance on typical job tasks when it comes to determining whether or not an applicant is qualified for a job.
2. Identifying Skill Gaps Across the Organization
Competency tests can help businesses determine where they are lacking in certain areas of expertise and what skills their best employees need to thrive, which can be used for various purposes, including measuring organizational capability, planning current and future jobs, and informing organizational planning.
3. Assessing Work Efficiency
When it comes time for performance reviews, comparing workers’ achievements against one another using a role-based competence model is a great idea. As a bonus, having a consistent standard makes it easy to track improvement from one review to the next.
Assessments of competence skills
4. To Learn About Employee Career Development and Individualized Training Programs
A competency assessment’s results can guide an individual’s professional growth and fill up any knowledge gaps they may have. Managers may assist workers in improving by identifying areas where they can improve their skills and then developing personalized strategies for doing so through formal and informal learning.
Skills gap analysis is used to promote a lifelong education culture and reduce staff turnover as part of a larger talent management plan.
5. To Offer Quick Registration
During the onboarding phase of a company, competency tests are an excellent tool for gauging a new hire’s skill level. They help employers evaluate an employee’s development, pinpoint areas where instruction is needed, and know when to promote someone to a more independent role.
