Work-Based Assessments

What are they?

Work-based assessments are a useful, cost effective recruitment tool that can help predict a person’s performance in a given role, enabling hiring managers to recruit with more confidence. INS develops and delivers work-based assessments that simulate common work situations to effectively evaluate a candidate’s capabilities. The candidate participates in a series of tasks related to the role they are applying for.

These tasks may include:

Group tasks – participating in and/or leading team meetings, working groups, and selection panels.
Written tasks – conducting data analysis and collation; writing management plans, action plans, proposals, briefings, reports, summaries, and emails; creating and editing charts and tables; completing forms; editing and formatting documents; graphic design.
Role Plays (face to face or telephone) – coaching or performance managing staff, presenting briefings, providing feedback, interviewing clients, addressing customer enquiries, and taking bookings.

Why use them?

Work-based assessments help hiring managers avoid the heavy cost of poor candidate selection. Hiring managers use work-based assessments to identify or confirm candidates’ capabilities and levels prior to employment, in a way not possible with traditional interviews or psychometric testing. Work-based assessments require the candidate to show, rather than tell, their capabilities in action.

Work-based assessments expose candidates to new situations and require them to adopt a new mindset as an employee of a fictitious organisation. Candidates are required to adapt and function under unfamiliar circumstances. Work-based assessments also provide the candidate with insight into the demands of the role and inform whether they are able to fulfil role expectations, are attracted to the role, and/or would need additional support.

How are they developed?

At INS, work-based assessments are developed by skilled professionals with knowledge of assessment best practice. Assessments are written using role descriptions and frameworks, and often involve in-depth research or consultation on the role or field.

How are they conducted?

Work-based assessments are conducted under exam-like conditions to ensure participants are assessed consistently and ethically. INS’ clients have the option to administer work-based assessments themselves, or save hours and let INS take care of the process. INS employs highly skilled, approachable facilitators and assessors who are sensitive to individuals’ unique needs. They also help clarify assessment requirements and expectations for the candidates.

How are they marked?

At INS, work-based assessments are observed and marked objectively by qualified assessors. Assessors moderate candidates’ results as a team to reduce bias, and ensure fair and consistent outcomes. The assessor produces a constructive report for the candidate, that highlights general observations of their performance, capability strengths, and areas for development.

Are they equitable?

INS’ work-based assessments are equitable in design and content. They are sensitive to diverse groups, including Indigenous Australians, those with a disability, and non-English speaking background. Our work-based assessments focus on enabling participants to demonstrate capability behaviours rather than on delivering one correct answer. Diverse styles, approaches, and solutions are welcomed. Reasonable adjustments are made to accommodate candidates as needed.

What makes our work-based assessments different?

INS strives to design and deliver the highest quality assessments that accurately reflect candidates’ capabilities, with a quick turnaround. Our work-based assessments can be tailored or built from scratch to meet your company’s unique needs.

INS offers an optional familiarisation assessment prior to the actual assessment. Facilitators guide candidates through a low-risk practice assessment to build confidence and ensure candidates know how to reflect their expertise. Familiarisation assessments mimic the actual assessment in task type and requirements, but with a different scenario. During the familiarisation, candidates have an opportunity to ask questions, take calculated risks, and receive feedback. Once candidates are prepared, they approach the actual assessment with less trepidation.

Work-based assessments are administered at our fully equipped assessment centre, with numerous room types and sizes to accommodate all assessment needs. The centre boasts beautiful indigenous artwork and is fully stocked with tea, coffee biscuits and healthy snacks for candidates to enjoy.

How we’ve helped our clients

Design and delivery of bespoke work-based and familiarisation assessments
Detailed reporting of assessment results
Training for facilitators, assessors, and role players involved in work-based assessments