In addition to selection and recruitment, Focus on Talent specializes in assessment and development centres. They constitute an invaluable complement to the executive search process, but we also organize them separately. Assessment and development centres indicate whether you are making the right decision during a selection or promotion procedure. They give you insights into the talents, the potential and the developmental needs of a candidate.

As such, assessment centres go way beyond job interviews and one’s gut feeling. Research has shown that traditional job or selection interviews are an unreliable way of assessing a candidate’s talents. References by former employers are almost always biased and therefore equally unreliable. The STAR methodology also has its limitations. Candidates may not have faced a certain situation, and even if they did, the actions they took at that time are not necessarily representative of their behaviour today. Finally, questionnaires and personality tests by themselves may not always provide the necessary answers.

In an assessment centre, on the other hand, the assessors not only interview candidates, they also observe them during business cases of professional situations. Provided that these assessments are carried out by skilled assessors, this proven methodology has a significantly higher success rate and allows you to decide with confidence.

In practice

• Together with the client, we define the competences that are relevant for a specific position.
• In the assessment centre, we evaluate whether a candidate meets these requirements. This evaluation is usually conducted through business cases or simulations.
• In addition, candidates complete one or more questionnaires and a behavioural-based interview. Such exercises provide conclusive insights into a candidate’s suitability.

We adapt our approach and the exercises depending on the position, the candidate and the rank in question, ranging from middle management to executive positions. Moreover, we also consider additional factors, such as your organizational culture. All evaluations and subsequent reports are carried out by two professional, experienced and highly trained assessors, which allows us to evaluate each competence twice and to consistently guarantee high-quality advice.