Out With The Old, In With The New Year (2017 Edition)
Traditionally, I have started the New Year with a blog that recaps the past and looks to the future in assessment. This year we say good bye to 2016, and enter 2017. Of course, the big news in the United States was the election of a new President. I am not bold enough to claim I can predict how a new administration will impact public sector human resources. However, I do believe that I can make a prediction regarding the three hot trends for next year, and, they are each a carryover from the past several years.
My habit has been to insert a statement concerning how difficult it is to predict the future. However, this year I was surprised to find that many of the topics I would select for future trends, were actually covered in my blogs over the past year. So, maybe I am getting better at prophecy with advancing age.
My predictions for future trends or hot topics over the coming year include:
- Big Data and Predictive Analytics.
- Emerging Technologies.
- Police Performance.
Improving the Interview, Part 2b: Managing the Panel Interview
In this blog, I will respond to what I see as practical questions that often arise in planning for a panel interview. I do apologize for the delay in the production of this third, and final, blog on the interview. Unfortunately, at times, real life intervenes.
I started this series by noting that no other selection device is as ubiquitous as the interview, while at the same time as misunderstood. Then, in Part 1, I discussed the individual selection interview. In Part 2, I discussed panel interview, including the availability from IPMA-HR of a product known as the Police Officer Structured Interview System or POSIS.
This month, in the third and final blog, I respond to what I see as some frequently encountered questions regarding the panel interview including:
- Should I train raters?
- Who should be on the panel?
- How should I combine ratings to arrive at a final score?
- What type of records should I keep?
- How long should it take?
As a warning, a lot of my answers will involve a combination of “it depends” and “on your local rules or procedures.”
The Panel Interview
New Test Versions and Reading Lists Available (PSUP, PL, PDET, FCO)
Due to recent updates to the published source material for our series of Police Supervisor (PSUP), Police Lieutenant (PL), Fire Company Officer (FCO), and Police Detective (PDET), we have decided to update several of the test questions that appear in those test forms. In addition, we have updated the reading lists belonging to each test to reflect the most current published source material.
To assist our customers in more easily recognizing which test version they are administering, we have reprinted the new tests under new names. The new tests correspond to the old ones and have undergone changes as follows:
- PDET 201 is updated to PDET 301
- 1 item edit
- 1 item replaced
- PDET 202 is updated to PDET 302
- 2 item edits
- PSUP 301 is updated to PSUP 401
- 1 item edit
- 2 items replaced
- PSUP 302 is updated to PSUP 302 version 2
- 2 item edits
- PSUP 303 is updated to PSUP 403
- 1 item edit
- 1 item replaced
- FCO 401-EM is updated to FCO 501-EM
- 4 item edits
- FCO 402-EM is updated to FCO 502-EM
- 3 item edits
- 1 item replaced
- FCO 403 is updated to FCO 503
- 4 item edits
- FCO 404 is updated to FCO 504
- 4 item edits
- 1 item replaced
If you’ve already distributed the reading lists for any of the older versions of these tests, then you do not need to take any further action to redistribute a new reading list. When you order your test, just make sure to order the test that matches the reading list you provided to your candidates. We will retain sufficient stock of the existing tests to accommodate those processes that have already begun.
At this point forward, we will be providing the updated reading lists for all new orders. If you’d like to request the new reading list, you may do so here: http://ipma-hr.org/assessment/support/readinglist.
Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns about this update.
For more information on each of these tests, please visit: http://ipma-hr.org/assessment/tests/police
Big Help Deserves Big Rewards
Help IPMA-HR with the criterion-related validation phase of our new public safety telecommunicator (PST) test, and you’ll not only be helping to ensure the continued availability of the most reliable, valid and fair tests in the industry, but you and your department will also receive the following rewards:
- 30% off your agency’s next test order.
- $75 VISA gift card for each participant.
- A snack basket for participants to share after the test.
- $50 Applebee’s gift card for the test administrator.
- Direct evidence supporting the validity of the exam and its use in your agency.
Learn more about the new test, the validation phase and how you can help on our website.
Providing you with tests you can trust is our priority. But we can’t do it without you. Go online today to learn more and fill out a participation form for your agency.
Please Note: Our desired deadline for wrapping up the validation phase of this study is the end of October 2016, so please get in touch soon!
Improving the Interview Part 2a: The Panel or Board Interview
In the last blog, we investigated possible improvements that could be made in the use of individual interviews in pre-employment or promotional screening. This month we expand our discussion to include the panel or board interview, an approach used by many public sector organizations.
As is often the case, once I start on a topic I have trouble controlling myself and my word count quickly gets out of control (my students have learned that if you ask me a simple question it can easily turn into an hour-long response). So, I have divided this blog into a 2a and 2b. In 2a, which you are reading right now, I:
- Delineate the major characteristics of the panel interview;
- Offer a version of a panel interview checklist;
- Discuss the need for structure and training;
- Provide an overview of the IPMA-HR Police Structured Interview System (POSIS).
Then, in a soon-to-follow Part 2b, I will answer frequently asked or encountered questions regarding the panel interview. (more…)
We need writers!
Are you well-versed in the world of assessment? Need an outlet through which to share your plethora of knowledge? Seeking opportunities to flex your writing muscle? Want your own byline? Look no further! IPMA-HR is looking for paid contributors to the Assessment Services Review: the official blog of the Assessment Services Department. We want to offer our readers fresh perspectives, experienced commentary, and cutting edge news from our world. Your level of commitment is up to you: write one, two … or 12 entries a year — and get paid to do it!
Interested? Please send an email to Andrey Pankov at apankov@ipma-hr.org