Pros and Cons of USA Hire℠ Assessments

The following post explores the Pros and Cons of USA Hire℠ Assessments.

If you’re applying to federal jobs – there’s a good chance you may need to complete a USA Hire Assessment, a tool for measuring key variables like critical thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.

Read: Eligibility vs Qualifications in Federal Hiring

Related: Best Federal Resume Writing Services

USA Hire Assessments are commonplace within the federal hiring process as a resource for evaluating candidates. Many job applicants, however, find these assessments cumbersome and frustrating.

Here’s what you need to know.

Overview

USA Hire℠ Assessments were introduced in 2014 as part of the federal government’s efforts to modernize and improve the hiring process.

USA Hire℠ Assessments are typically used for competitive service roles where key competencies like decision-making, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills are critical to job performance.

Candidates usually encounter these assessments after applying but before advancing to interviews or further stages of the hiring process. Once you’ve applied for a federal job that requires these assessments, you’ll receive an email invitation with instructions and a deadline to complete the assessment.

The following Reddit post offers more insight into the most common complaints from applicants.

Pictured: Screenshot of Reddit forum discussion.

Pros

• Equality for All – USA Hire Assessments make the federal application process more equitable and merit-based. Every applicant takes the same assessment, which offers a more level playing field.
• Closer Evaluation – USA Hire Assessments allow you to demonstrate your problem-solving and critical thinking skills. That’s great news if your Federal Resume isn’t effectively conveying the full scope of your skills and you’re looking for a more practical way to demonstrate them.

Cons

• Time Consuming – Many of these assessments reportedly take several hours to complete. It can be very discouraging to invest several hours into completing an extensive assessment – with no promises of a positive ROI.
• Scoring System – Another big issue is the lack of a scoring system for candidates. After completing the assessment you don’t receive a score. You’re investing time and effort into the process without receiving direct feedback on how well you performed and/or how you could improve.

In Conclusion

In conclusion, I hope this article helps you understand the benefits and drawbacks of USA Hire Assessments. It’s important to understand that these are part of the evaluation process when applying to federal jobs.