Identification of Exemplary Entry-Level Selection Methods and Future Trends

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) recently contracted with HumRRO to conduct a study aimed at identifying exemplary assessments and methods used for entry-level hiring in white-collar occupations. In addition to identifying existing assessments and methods, HumRRO was also tasked with identifying future trends in personnel selection.

HumRRO gathered information for this study by reviewing online and print sources of test information (e.g., online test databases, test reviews, technical manuals, and validation studies), and interviewing testing experts and representatives from private- and public-sector organizations. HumRRO identified over 400 assessments for initial consideration. We evaluated assessments with regard to their psychometric properties (e.g., validity, reliability) as well as their standing on implementation-related criteria (e.g., applicant reactions, ease of administration). We identified five issues with implications for the future of selection over the course of this study, namely: (a) validation of minimum qualification requirements and search criteria organizations use to identify prospective applicants, (b) new models of validating and refining assessments (e.g., streaming validation as method for improving the validity of a measure over time), (c) competency-based assessment and item-banking, (d) dependencies between psychometric theory and technology (e.g., automated scoring of essays), and (e) selecting for fit.