Is NSCA’s Technical Assessment Tool a Magic Bullet for Hiring?

Online tool can be customized and allows companies to better assess candidates’ technical proficiency and ability to succeed in particular roles.

CI Staff

A big challenge for companies looking to hire employees to fill technical positions is figuring out if candidates’ technical background and proficiencies will allow them to excel in their roles.

Some candidates talk a good game but simply don’t deliver as promised. The employer, in turn, not only wastes time but money in training the new hire.

Webcast: NSCA’s Chuck Wilson Walks Through the Technical Assessment Tool

With its Technical Assessment Tool, NSCA is looking to provide integration firms with a more efficient approach to analyzing prospective employees’ technical abilities. The online tool walks candidates through a series of basic, intermediate and advanced questions about the industry and technology, according to NSCA.

More from NSCA’s press release:

The test is completely customizable, allowing users to select which categories to test for each candidate. Examples include:

• Acoustics/Audio/AV (pro sound, unified communications, videoconferencing, etc.)
• Phone, Data, & Networks (cabling, digital signage, networking, nurse call, etc.)
• Life Safety, Fire, & Security (access control, surveillance, fire alarms, etc.)
• Lighting (low-voltage lighting)

The test can also be administered to internal employees who express interest in a role that requires technical knowledge. By asking employees to complete this test, integrators will have a better understanding of where they best fit within the organization. Once testing is complete, both the test administrator and the candidate receive a report explaining performance.

“The new Technical Assessment Tool will save integrators valuable time in the hiring process, as well as help get the right people into the right positions,” says NSCA Executive Director Chuck Wilson. “Being able to quickly compare technical skills among viable candidates may be the differentiator in determining who to hire. This tool will also help integrators measure knowledge levels of current employees who are interested in moving into technical roles.”

The Technical Assessment Tool is available exclusively to NSCA members for a fee of $75 per exam. The tool contains 18 modules; testing a candidate in all 18 modules takes approximately three hours. For more information, or to learn more about the Technical Assessment Tool, visit www.nsca.org/technical-assessment-tool or call 800.446.6722.

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