Web-Based Pre-Employment Assessments Help Firms Hire Better Candidates, Retain Stronger Workforce, Says AberdeenGroup; Latest Survey Finds Broader Market Acceptance and Adoption of Online Assessment Tools

Business Wire, July 8, 2005

BOSTON -- According to Aberdeen's latest research findings, corporations are using pre-employment testing and employee assessment to identify, hire, and retain candidates who best fit a corporate culture and demonstrate potential to remain on the job longer. Online assessment tools are also becoming integral to senior management recruitment.

Aberdeen conducted its survey in conjunction with the Human Capital Institute, a Washington, DC-based provider of educational programs for human capital practitioners, talent managers, and executives.

The use of screening and assessment tools is growing as testing methods make assessments easily accessible to candidates, and more accurately and rapidly scored. Companies also perceive the use of pre-employment assessment as a valuable strategy for enhancing employee retention.

According to Aberdeen's new report, "Pre-Employment Testing and Assessment: The State of the Art," the most significant growth in online testing will involve professional positions. The study also indicates that testing for higher-level corporate management will increase as companies seek to decrease the ensuing risk, expense, and churn associated with senior managers who fail to work out.

"Not all companies use formal assessments as part of the hiring process. Those that do are growing in number and increasing their application of testing to more employees and different levels of employees," says Dr. Katherine Jones, Aberdeen's research director of enterprise applications and report author. "The greatest growth in the coming 12 months will involve testing automation, which facilitates accurate assessments of employee skills and subject area knowledge."

Key findings include:

--A bulk of the respondents -- 52% -- believe pre-employment assessment distinguishes poor from good hires, and helps identify candidates who will stay on the job longer.

--The 60% of respondents who don't use pre-employment testing cited insufficient awareness of the use of pre-hire assessment technology as the predominant reason.

To obtain a complimentary copy of the report, follow this link: http://www.aberdeen.com/summary/report/benchmark/RA_PreHireRpt_KJ.asp

About AberdeenGroup, Inc.

AberdeenGroup provides fact-based research and insights focused on the global, technology-driven value chain. Aberdeen's benchmarking, market and solution assessments, sales acceleration programs, and conferences support Global 5000 value chain and technology executives -- and the solution providers that serve them. For more information, visit www.aberdeen.com or call 617-723-7890.