SHL
People Science. People Answers.
  • Solutions
    • Virtual
      • RemoteWorkQ
      • Coding Interview
      • Smart Interview Live
      • Smart Interview On Demand
      • Assessment & Development Centers
    • Talent Acquisition
      • Tech
      • Volume
      • Graduate
      • Professional
      • Manager
    • Talent Management
      • Leader Assessment & Development
      • High Potential
      • Succession Planning
      • Workforce Review
      • Mobilize
    • Services
      • Professional Services
      • Managed Services
      • Training Services
      • Integrated Solutions
  • Assessments
    • Assessments
      • Behavioral Assessments
      • Personality Assessments
      • Cognitive Ability Assessments
      • Job-Focused Assessments
    • Assessments Catalog
    • TalentCentral™
  • Resources
    • View by Type
      • Blogs
      • Podcasts
      • Webinars
    • View by Topic
      • AI in Talent Assessment
      • Navigating the New Normal
      • The Promise of Gen Z
      • Transforming Talent Management
      • U.S. Programming Skills Report
  • Customers
    • Success Stories
    • Testimonials
    • ROI Calculators
  • Company
    • Careers
    • Leadership Team
    • Global Offices
    • Newsroom
    • Awards & Accolades
    • Channel Partners
  • Get Started
  • English
    • Deutsch
    • Français
    • Italiano
    • Nederlands
    • 简体中文
  • Contact Us
  • Buy Online

Can we help you?   1-800-899-7451 (US)   0330 100 3435 (UK)

SHL Blog Our Insights on the 21st Century Workplace

  • View By Recent
  • View By Category
    • Assessment and Selection
    • Data and Analytics
    • Develop and Accelerate
    • Diversity and Inclusion
    • Leadership
    • Life at SHL
    • Workforce Trends
  • View By Popular Topic
    • AI
    • HR Technology
    • Candidate Experience
    • Talent Strategy
    • Digitalization
    • Organizational Culture
    • Workplace Diversity
  • Subscribe
Assessment and Selection

Build “Fidelity” during the Hiring Process through Job Simulations

How to create scenarios to give high potential candidates a realistic preview of the job position and organization.

January 10, 2020 Luke Simmering Candidate Experience, SHL Job-Specific Simulations, Simulation Test

blog-woman-on-laptop-SH001

A common goal in pre-hire assessment processes is creating transparency for candidates. Specifically, the aim is to provide candidates with visibility into the work activities and expectations for the role. This is often done through various methods like interviews, job descriptions, and company marketing materials or videos that provide insight into the culture and work environment.

However, these methods are more descriptive in nature and often fail to truly offer candidates an experience or behavioral understanding of what the job is like. Not only do organizations want to gain visibility into the potential of a candidate, but it’s also vital for the candidate to gain insight into the job requirements and work environment so they can ‘opt-in’ to continue in the hiring process based on a more holistic understanding of the role.

At SHL, we often help organizations build job simulations for candidates to efficiently experience what the job requires. These simulations or experiences provide a form of validity called ‘fidelity’.

Fidelity, in the pre-employment realm, is the extent to which an assessment or exercise exemplifies or simulates key behavioral requirements of a given role. The visual below helps illustrate the extent to which some of the different pre-employment assessments (might) fall on a ‘fidelity continuum’.

Build “Fidelity” during the Hiring Process through Job Simulations

It’s best to have multiple approaches to assess candidates and each method typically provides value in different ways. However, when focused on ‘fidelity’ simulation exercises can’t be beat.

Here are 3 steps to creating job simulations:

#1—Job Analysis

A thorough job analysis provides the foundation for understanding the role requirements and the key activities and behaviors vital to being successful. This information is collected by reviewing relevant job materials (i.e., job descriptions, competency models, etc.), facilitated focus groups, shadowing the job of interest, and even collecting data through a job analysis survey. Data collected from the Job Analysis serves as the anchor for creating simulation exercises.

#2—Simulation Framework Development

Once the key job characteristics, competencies, and work environment characteristics are documented, the format of the simulation can be determined. The simulation scenario can be identified and developed to create a realistic situation in which the candidates can be evaluated in relation to the identified competencies. Complexity and technological requirements can vary from an intricate online-based virtual scenario to a simple scenario presented to a candidate. Linkage analysis can also be performed to utilize one of SHL’s library of validated scenarios.

At SHL, we often help organizations build job simulations for candidates to efficiently experience what the job requires.

#3—Deployment

Once the scenario has been created and the logistics are determined, then evaluation materials are developed to assess the candidate’s performance during the scenario. This should include training assessors to ensure they reliably rate candidates across the competencies and characteristics identified in the Job Analysis.

Of course, there are additional intricacies and steps to effectively build a validated scenario with high fidelity; however, these scenarios not only provides an effective way to gauge a candidate’s potential in the role, it also provides candidates a glimpse into what a ‘day in the life’ may look like and offers an experience for them to gauge their interest in the position.

At SHL, we’ve developed scenarios focused on managerial or executive potential, entry-level sales associates, and our highly effective Call Center Virtual Scenario. Some of these scenarios can be utilized in a ‘group hiring’ process to evaluate multiple candidates at one time.

If you’re interested in learning more about developing a pre-employment scenario assessment for your organization, please contact us.

Author

Luke Simmering

Luke Simmering

Luke Simmering is Talent Solutions Consultant with SHL, specializing in competency modeling, selection assessments, and individual development. Luke holds a Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology and comes with experience working with a diverse mix of organizations across the world. Prior to SHL, Luke spent time as an internal organizational effectiveness consultant for a Fortune 50 organization. He has research interests around examining the candidate experience, applicant faking, best practices in competency modeling, and even serves a research contributor to Golf Digest magazine.
Reflections on How 2019 Was a Transformational Year for SHL Accessibility and the Internet: SHL’s Commitment to Fairness

Related Posts

blog-man-at-computer-SH009

Assessment and Selection

4 Key Factors to Recruit Top Tech Talent

Engaging and recruiting tech talent can be demanding. Learn what makes a good tech candidate, the challenge, and our best tips on tech talent hiring.

blog-woman-at-computer-PI001

Assessment and Selection

Social Connection – the Missing Link in Virtual Assessment?

The connections we forge with others remain critical to the experience of assessment and development centers in the virtual world.

blog-braille-UN001

Diversity and Inclusion

How to Make Your Tech Platform Accessible for Visual Impairment

Celebrate World Braille Day by examining and updating your platform’s accessibility for people who are blind or partially sighted.

Recent Stories

  • Insights by Andy: Diversity Is Nothing without Inclusion

    Insights by Andy: Diversity Is Nothing without Inclusion

    7 hours ago
  • What to Look for When Assessing Graduates

    What to Look for When Assessing Graduates

    1 day ago
  • How to Make Real Change with Your DEI Efforts

    How to Make Real Change with Your DEI Efforts

    2 days ago

Related Stories

What to Look for When Assessing Graduates
How to Make Your Tech Platform Accessible for Visual Impairment
Save a Million Dollars by Choosing the Right Leaders for Your Teams

© 2021 SHL and its affiliates. All rights reserved.

Follow SHL

LinkedIn Twitter Facebook YouTube Instagram

Keep Up with Our Blog Follow SHL on social media to find out when a new article has been shared.