Assessment Tips

For many people, starting their own business is a dream come true. There is an equally large group who would love to work for a startup, because they see a future full of adventure. At most startups, an employee’s role and responsibilities are not well-defined, but will evolve and take shape over time. This offers opportunities for growth.

Last but certainly not least, there is of course the opportunity to cash in big time if the startup turns out to be a success. There are many stories of people who joined a startup and gained prestige, won prizes and received stock options that they could later sell for millions. A competency test helps startups identify candidates who have the skills, mindset and growth potential to succeed in such high-risk, high-reward environments.

That all sounds much more appealing than working for a multi-million-dollar company where you are just one of thousands of employees working in a more rigid environment.

The grass is always greener on the other side. Those in a collective employment agreement job may have a distorted view of working at a startup. It is not an adventure without risk. Such roles often offer extra days off, an end-of-year bonus, a market-aligned salary and a pension plan, with training usually well organized. With startups, these comfortable basics are often not guaranteed.

The freedom that comes from non-standardized processes, fluid roles and an ad hoc HR approach also has a downside. Not everyone thrives in a world without structure. An online assessment for finance helps organizations assess whether finance professionals can handle uncertainty, changing responsibilities and limited frameworks, and whether they are suited to the demands of a startup environment.

The freedom that results from non-standardized processes, positions that are fluid, and an ad hoc HR process has a downside. Not everyone flourishes in a world without structure.

Anyone wishing to work for a startup must bring different competencies to the table than those who want to work for a corporate (or SME) company. Drive and passion are indispensable, because in a startup, you are expected to take initiative. Self-starting ability is paramount. Furthermore, you need to be able to improvise well and be flexible. You must thrive in chaos and be a jack of all trades. One day you might be busy with customers, and the next you might spend hours doing analyses.

The big question is whether those competencies are present to a sufficient degree. Of course, you can find out over time, but if a new employee drops out after just six months, it is unpleasant for everyone. For a startup especially, finding a replacement costs time, energy and money. A 4 color personality test helps give early insight into behavior, motivation and work style, reducing the risk of a poor match. A single lost employee can leave the team struggling to keep up with the workload, with a clear impact on productivity.

For the employee, it is just as unpleasant to have to start the job search again after a failed placement. Having to reapply and explain what went wrong can be discouraging and can seriously affect self-confidence. A negative experience like this can stay with someone for a long time and continue to influence their career choices and performance for years to come.

Larger and mid-sized companies have been using assessments for years to test whether a candidate possesses the right competencies to be successful in a particular job or position. In the beginning, these were time-consuming procedures, with the candidate enduring a full day of testing and interviews by a psychologist.

Currently, many practical online assessments are available. TestGroup has even developed an online assessment specifically for startups. Scientists and practitioners worked together to ensure that this test is scientifically sound, valid, and providing value.

The online assessment for startups enables entrepreneurs to gain insight into the personality, skills, and competencies of applicants to their startup in an accessible way. In addition, the online assessment can be used to reveal the hidden potential of existing employees in a startup.

Taking an online assessment for startups is as easy as ordering a cup of coffee. Request the test and it will be ready for your candidate in just 30 minutes. The assessment can include a cognitive ability test to measure reasoning and learning capacity. Candidates fill out the questionnaire, after which smart algorithms start analyzing their responses immediately. As a result, you receive a clear and comprehensive report within 45 minutes.

Thanks to this practical and transparent assessment report, you can make the right decisions regarding career issues and development paths. And yes, the online assessment can also help you determine when an employee is not in the right place and in which role they’d be a better fit.

Because the startup scene is very internationally oriented, entrepreneurs often have to deal with international applicants.

Accordingly, the online assessment for startups is available in 20 languages (and in each language is scientifically substantiated, reliable, and valid) and can be taken for candidates for positions at different levels of education.

An assessment used to be something only the big players could afford. Thanks to the online assessment and an assessment subscription, every company can now benefit from professional assessments, including your startup.