Police Assessment Centers: How to Compete Successfully Workbook
Over the past 30 years, law enforcement personnel have demonstrated an ever-increasing concern for equal promotional opportunities. Due to the lack of validity demonstrated by traditional selection measures, the assessment center concept has become increasingly popular in modern policing and accepted as a reliable means of evaluating leadership potential. An assessment center is not so much a location as it is a process. Essentially, assessment centers involve various structured activities that allow candidates to demonstrate the skills and abilities needed to succeed in the position being tested for.
The most important thing to remember when participating in an assessment center is that the assessors can only evaluate a participant on what they personally observe during the relatively short time they are exposed to the participant. In most cases, this means that the assessors will have less than two hours of total exposure to the participant in order to assess his/her leadership potential. You may be the most capable person for the position sought, however, if you fail to consciously demonstrate the required leadership attributes, you will not be promoted. As such, participants who have a thorough understanding of how an assessment center is designed to work, what traits and dimensions assessors are looking for, and what strategies and tactics can be employed in order to bring these dimensions to the forefront during the assessment center process will have a distinct advantage over their competition.
Our Police Assessment Centers: How to Compete Successfully workbook is designed
specifically to assist you in preparing for the assessment center by providing you with the information and tools you will need to perform successfully during the process. It is based on extensive research in the subject area in conjunction with the past experiences as an assessor and consultant during various law enforcement assessment centers.
While many people will spend countless hours studying for a written examination, most will not take steps to adequately prepare themselves for the assessment center. While this is a mistake on their part, it places you at a distinct advantage over them because you are taking steps to prepare yourself and we are here to help you. Good luck!