Volume 6, Number 5, Pages 30-32

Web-based Skill Testing for Computer Professionals

by Bill Lake

TekMetrics has developed a new web-based technical skills screening system called 123Assess. With this tool, companies can remotely screen job applicants' technical skills in over 40 high-demand technical disciplines, including M, C++, COBOL, Oracle, HTML, and Java.

The system allows applicants to complete a customized job-application online, submit their resume and complete up to 5 technical skills assessments. All of the information is stored in an applicant tracking system, and because it is web-based, it can be retrieved by authorized hiring managers at any location.

How It Works

Recruiting professionals build a 123Assess Profile based on the job for which they are hiring. The Profile may include a customized job application, resume capture, and up to 5 skill assessments. You can even tell the system to offer the applicant a choice of assessments from a list you design. For example, you could have the applicant choose from a list of object-oriented languages, because you realize the skills translate easily to your environment no matter which they chose.

Example: You create a Profile called Web-Developer. It is assigned a PIN code that you give to candidates who want to apply for the job. They visit the web site www.123apply.com and type in that PIN. The web site welcomes the applicant to your company's application system and collects the application and resume information, and administers the assessments.

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The results are scored immediately and provided to the applicant and to the hiring manager or recruiter, literally before the applicant leaves his chair.

All of the results are stored in a secure database that serves as an applicant tracking system. "Because it is web-based, a recruiter at a college job fair can track their candidates in real-time, attach notes to a record, send an email to the candidate, or forward a record to a hiring manager," said Mike Littman, Vice President Operations. The system provides filter, search, sort and query functions that allow you to see the applicants you are interested in. These functions work for all data, including the application information, the resume information and the assessment scores.

"The number one obstacle executives face in achieving their corporate goals is finding and retaining the people with the skills who can take them there. Unfortunately, when it comes to technical skills such as C++, COBOL, Oracle, HTML, Java and many other skills, there are few people in the hiring process who can really determine the applicants' skill level. Even if we know what questions to ask, hiring managers often don't know how to evaluate the answers. Using assessment tools in the past wasn't a viable solution because it would take too long and place too much of a burden on the applicant. Well, now there's a new option," said Mike Russiello, president of TekMetrics. "You see, TekMetrics technical assessments are all designed to take only 10 minutes. They take less time to complete than a technical interview, and they provide a far better gauge of a person's skill. Recruiters and hiring managers have the results within seconds of completion."

The 123Assess assessments take only 10 minutes (and often times much less) because they use computer-adaptive-testing (CAT). CAT assessments are smart; they adjust to the test-taker. The system is testing for the person's maximum skill level, but avoids questions that are too easy or too hard based on the test-taker's previous answers. This approach is very accurate and fast and is becoming more popular today. In fact the SAT's we took in high school are being converted to CAT.

"A screening tool will be far more effective if it measures what the employee will do on the job. That's why our assessment questions focus on real-life examples of problems that are solved in the workplace. Many of our assessment questions include sample code and ask the applicant to correct an error, or complete the code," said Mike Littman, Vice President Operations. "We have a team of over 100 top-notch subject matter experts developing and validating the assessments to ensure their quality and exactness."

TekMetrics, a Virginia-based company was founded by 3 partners who all worked in the technology market but grew frustrated with the inability to fulfill customer needs. "Every technical engineer knows that their visibility and value increases substantially by exaggerating their knowledge of a high-demand skill such as Visual Basic, C++, or COBOL. Hiring managers know this, but until now, had little capability to accurately screen the candidate's skills. When they couldn't perform on the job as expected we would lose money and sometimes we'd lose customers," said Russiello.

Many companies turn to assessments to reduce their turnover costs. Industry analysis estimates turnover costs to be in the range of 25% of a person's annual compensation and benefits. Russiello said, "Many of our customers see it as a way of shortening the hiring cycle. In the technology market this can be a competitive advantage. By providing all of the information needed to make a hiring decision in one session, the recruiter or hiring manager can decide more quickly, with confidence. If that decision is to hire, they can beat the competition to the better candidates."

List of assessments:
   Module
   ANSI SQL
   C Programming
   C++
   CICS
   COBOL II Programming
   Configuration Management
   Data Warehousing Concepts
   DB2
   Delphi
   Developer2000
   ERP Concepts
   HTML 3.2
   HTML 4.0
   Informix DBA
   Internet Concepts
   Internet Security
   Java 1.1
   Javascript
   Lotus Notes for Administrators
   Lotus Notes for Developers
   MS Access Programmer
   MUMPS
   Networking Concepts
   Novell Netware
   OO concepts
   Oracle DBA
   PERL
   PL/SQL
   PM
   PowerBuilder
   RDBMS Concepts
   SAS
   SEI CMM
   SQL Server 6.5 - DBAs
   SQL Server 6.5 - Programmer
   Sybase DBA
   UNIX for System Administrators
   UNIX Programming
   Visual Basic 5.0
   Web Programmer
   Windows NT Administration

The scalable system supports small businesses and large corporations. You can purchase single 10-minute assessments for $15 or pay $50 per full-length assessment. You can purchase assessment credits in advance, good toward any assessment for substantial discounts and track their use in your online account.

TekMetrics customers include EDS, Price Waterhouse, Infosys, Ericsson, the State of Virginia and many others. For complete product and price information, or to see an online demonstration, visit TekMetrics web site at www.TekMetrics.com or call 703-815-4822.


Bill Lake is Executive Vice President of TekMetrics, located in Vienna, Virginia. He is responsible for TekMetrics' global marketing and sales and oversees TekMetrics' Employment Selection and Process consulting practice. He can be reached for comment or more information at 703-815-4822 or bill.lake@tekmetrics.com.