Ten Classic Assessment Center Errors: Challenges to Selection Validity

This paper summarizes 10 classic errors associated with selection and promotion related Assessment Center (AC) administration. Critical errors covered are: 1. Poor planning, 2. Inadequate job analysis, 3. Weakly defined dimensions, 4. Poor exercises, 5. No pre-test evaluations, 6. Unqualified assessors, 7. Inadequate assessor training, 8. Inadequate candidate preparation, 9. Sloppy behavior documentation and scoring, and 10. Misuse of results. The list of common errors is aimed at assisting public human resource professionals in assessing the extent to which the assessment centers used by their jurisdictions comply with “best practices.” Reducing and/or eliminating the errors in this list will allow municipalities to more efficiently and effectively use ACs for employee promotion and selection decisions.