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The Truth About Behavioral Assessments

October 29, 2012

By: Omnia Group

Confessions of an Omnia Analyst...

When I tell people that I analyze behavioral assessments for a living, I usually get one of two responses:

1. A glazed-over look that I take to mean, "I really just wanted you to say 'paralegal' or 'nurse' or something so that we could move on... I wonder if there is a new CSI on tonight."

2. A shifty-eyed paranoid look, followed by shifty, paranoid questions: "Behavioral assessments? Are you assessing me right now? Do you think I'm crazy?

To which my answer would be: Yes—kind of. And Yes, but that's really more because of the tinfoil hat you are wearing coupled with your lack of pants.

Seriously though, most people have never heard of behavioral assessments, and the name has a clinical, psychiatric ring to it that does sound intimidating. However, when people take an online Omnia Profile, here are a few things that I really cannot tell:

  • If they are crazy
  • What their IQ is
  • Whether or not they are lying
  • Their gender, race, religion, marital status
  • If they are responding to orders from their alien overlord

So what can I tell with behavioral assessments and how?

People who take the Omnia Profile choose words from a list of adjectives to describe themselves. Through the magic of computer science (please note, I am an Omnia Analyst and not even a little bit of an IT person), I am delivered a graphical depiction of that person's key workplace traits. With it, I can tell how that person prefers to be managed and what motivates them. I can also tell if they seem stressed or uncertain. And yes, I have taken it myself, as have many people I know, and the results are eerily accurate.

These results are a super helpful way to match someone looking for a new employee with someone who would fit well with the job and the culture, which means less turnover and happier employees (re: higher production and more profit). It can also help develop and coach existing employees, plan succession, help with communication, or deal with difficulties between staff members.

So that's it, in a nutshell—no reason to be paranoid. I do have to admit, though, there is a short free-form line in the Omnia Profile where people can mention anything going on in their life that might have affected their profile. If they say, "I am responding to orders from my alien overlord," I can totally tell they are responding to orders from their alien overlord.

Omnia Group

For over 30 years, we’ve helped organizations across the world improve and optimize their workforce operations and company cultures. While we take a unique, scientific approach to hiring, development and retention, we also believe every business is a people business. Our passionate advisors always put people first.

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