Author: blogger
It is a known fact that any useful HR department or employment agency have tools to test a persons skill set. This could be a practical skill, technical skill or behavioral skill. However, has time changes, a flexible HR department or employment selection agency, will need to move forward with more powerful technologies that help them further in their area of expertise, candidate selection! In the early 90s online filtering was not really appreciable and the technologies employed were generally a database full of resumes from which to select people for possible interview.
Late in the 90s LMS (Learning Management Systems) broke like wildfire and many corporate firms started to see the logic in a organized approach to employee training, recruitment and retention.
As the 90s went by and the Internet started to reach a larger audience, many of the firms being reviewed were formed to try and offer solutions to firms from an outsourced net solution. These firms continue to improve products with technology and these firms reviewed are no different. However here is our review of their current state of play and how you could benefit from reading the review and finding which one suits your corporate or small business environment.
We reviewed several factors that are to our opinion ( Having worked both in HR and employment in large industries), very important in choosing the best tool for you.
The factors were:
Price.
Ease of use
Features against uses
Integration to your own platform
Server based storage, result notification and record filtering
Some of these features are easily comparable while others have variations that make it more difficult to quantitatively give you a clear result. When this happens, explanations will be around the similarities or differences from a customers hiring and practical perspective.
PRICE
As price is an important factor we discuss it here. Obviously people tend to gauge this first before feature looking at what is under the hood.
A cost comparison was created based on what might typically happen with a job post on the internet ( where 99% of firms now actually post jobs). Please note we stated one job post. Obviously you will need to multiply that by the number of jobs you target each month to get a realistic estimate of your actual costs.
So for the one job, what was done, was the actual cost of running similar test platforms over a period of a month using the minimum of 50 tests. This would be a fair representation of just one job placement that a HR or employment firm with approximately 50 possible applicants. Again this may be very conservative to the number of people who reply to your job posts but let us use it for reference sake.
Testing Firm Cost
Kenexa Proveit $1250 for 50 tests
Supercandidate $29.99 for unlimited tests
Brainbench $2500 for 50 tests
Articulate $499
Comparing these price factors, we see that Kenexas Proveit is the most expensive while Supercandidate is the least expensive by over 97%. This could make a major difference to who can afford the services. Overall Supercandidate is significantly less then any of the others reviewed. We will go into further detail about features shortly to see if that has relevance to pricing.
Ease of Use
When looking at ease of use, we took into consideration:
The GUI (Graphic User Interface)
Learning curve time.
In looking at the GUI we found that only Supercandidate had a built in video tutorial which allowed for step by step learning. The other three did not have this so the learning curve increased. With Proveit and Brainbench, we found that the dashboard was often confusing with many features leading to places that left us confused. This definitely could do with a training session which is offered by the firm at an additional cost.
Articulate was the hardest of all to understand as you needed to have experienced Adobe Flash style products before to easily work with the interface. Our opinion is, that someone without that knowledge would have to spend about 2 days to learn this product.
Features against Uses
This is a very important factor as it determines exactly how the products will benefit you in the real world. Having worked with HR and recruitment, we understand that there are many products out there with so many features to impress. However like many software products, you only really use certain features which work productively for you.
Proveit, Brainbench and Supercandidate offer the most number of useful features, such as premade test banks of Relevant tests, easy reporting features essential to fast decision making. Provit and Brainbench offered some more tests but we found that many were not relevant to the majority of users. Supercandidate offered direct access to create own questions which technically meant that you could add, remove and integrate your own questions in. This is ideal for customizing any job spec. This made this product more relevant for practical use as by integrating your own questions, you could keep up to date with any skill you choose making its test making limitless.
Articulate and Supercandidate offer the most media integration, allowing for video, sound and various media files such as image files, pdf documents(Supercandidate). These you can add directly to the questions. As the age of video integration is here with large bandwidth being the norm ( as seen by the likes of popular sites e.g. YouTube), it offers greater accuracy in job areas that require in-depth skills knowledge, these two products really shine above the others here. Of the two, we think that Supercandidate approach of browse click integration, rather then add to interface using a menu and several steps offered by Articulate, makes it the preferred choice for the majority of users, who look for ease of use and fast integration.
Provit, and Articulate offer the most question types, e.g. multiple choice, true false, checkbox. Now this initially seems an obvious reason for choice. However consider this, 85% of firms and institutions use the standard multiple choice format above all else, so it is likely that you can easily get by asking questions in that format and be well respected in your questioning techniques. If you compare price, the amount you pay is significant for these other question types even though the majority of tests will not need them. Besides tools like Supercandidate offer other options to create those question types using its strong media integration features.
For example, if you use the integrated media types such as a word doc, or jpeg, you can literally add whatever question feature you want. For example you ask a question that requires several answers (typical of a checkbox answer), you could open up your MS word doc and type in the different variations upload that to the question to offer a question that asks them to choose which set of options is best similarly you could have created a image file to do this.
Integration to your own customer facing platform
Kenexas Proveit, Articulate and Brainbench do not allow you to host the tests directly from your site. For example you will still have to send your clients to their site for the test e.g. provit2/acme (say if your name was acme). Not very professional for branding purposes.
Supercandidate does offer the testing platform to be integrated to the clients own site with a small charge associated. So if you are Acme company , it integrates straight to your site e.g. acme/testarea
This consideration is needed for those who want to keep applicants on their own site rather then going to another companys website. It also portrays the firm as a bigger firm due to the cost associated with such technologies which only the largest of firms can afford.
Server based storage, result notification and record filtering of results
All the products reviewed offered some sort of storage based setup. However not all storage are the same. While Supercandidate, Proveit and Brainbench offer tests based on their limits:
Supercandidate unlimited assessments including premade assessments Provit 900 assessments Brainbench 600 assessments
Articulate allows up to a maximum of 100 assessments.
With respect to result notification all firms offer instant notification of results to the administrator. On this review only Supercandidate, automated a serialized certificate to the test taker if they passed.
The record filtering is key to many who want to administer tests as it is the reason for the tests to see how someone performed in tangible ways.
All products offer filters. Proveit and Benchmark offer many unnecessary filters, where single tasks are broken down into several report formats. Supercandidate offers by group, by individual test results, with simple point and click methods.
All products offer CSV export features of the data on the online reporting point. Supercandidate and Proveit allow full data transfer to even email accounts.
A key reporting feature we believe is important for the HR person is based around reducing time. All of the products help HR and employment agencies reduce time by using tests to eliminate unqualified candidates. However, only Supercandidate takes into consideration that a live person does not always sit at their desk and has other things to do. For this they offer Cell Phone notification, which actually rings your cell when the best candidate is matched. You just head back to your desk and then call them up.
This is a very practical approach to free you from your desk and get on with other client calls, visits etc
Conclusion
Well our review looked at what we believe is key areas based on our 15 years working with HR, recruitment and the I.T industry related to the area of candidate selection. These 4 tools can definitely give you a step up in making sure you reduce time spent from tracking a candidate to placing one to a firm job.
Proveit and Brainbench seem to offer too little for those who want value for their money while utilizing a filter that will meet much of their needs. They have some fancy assessments but neither allows you to create your own tests or add to theirs. Any customization costs you even more if actually allowed.
Important features such as video and sound will play a more dominant role in tomorrows candididate selection as bandwidth increases and some features that were impossible outside face to face interviews, are now available to us via these elements. Both Supercandidate and Articulate allow these features.
Supercandidates cost of at least 90% less then all others, understanding of the need for quick learning, forward thinking features such as video in questions or cell phone notification on the go make this a really worthwhile product.
There is very little compromise with Supercandidate for those who want a effective filter to reach 95% of applicant testing. For this reason, we recommend the newer, more robust technology offered by Supercandidate Inc for the majority of users thinking of adding prescreening, or selection technology to their recruitment process. Also if you currently are using other forms, its time for an upgrade, especially when you are likely to heavily reduce your downtime and current spend.
Learning being considered a continuous process, certifications and various exams serve the practical purpose of addition of skills and knowledge in a professional. Notwithstanding, CPIM which stands for Certified in Production and Inventory Management is a professional qualification which enhances the level of a person a notch up i.e. it increases the functional knowledge of production and inventory management i.e. improves efficiency. The professional certification of CPIM is all set to make a difference in supply chain management with focus on simplification and modernization of the entire setup.
Apart from improving the process in supply chain, CPIM program also assists a professional in streamlining the operations through accurate forecasting and predicting the accurate outcomes based on certain facts and data. Post-CPIM certification, the professional so qualified can maximize customer satisfaction by delivering products and services in a stipulated time. Notwithstanding, the professional becomes beneficial for the organization as the qualifichttp://www.supplychainsimulator.com/ation enhances credibility in front of peers, employers, customers, etc. amongst others.
A candidate applying for CPIM exam is expected to have fundamental to advanced level knowledge on Basics of Supply Chain Management, Master Planning of Resources, Detailed Scheduling and Planning, Execution and Control of Operations, Strategic Management of Resources, etc. The CPIM exam aims to test the candidate’s ability to comprehend and response in actual time scenario. Preparation for CPIM exam is being made easy by companies which are offering simulator software for practicing the previously asked questions or important questions.
CPIM exam content manual serves the purpose of acquainting an aspiring candidate about the syllabus, questions, question patterns, etc. Despite the fact that CPIM test is being put as one of the complex one, with the help of CPIM Exam Simulator Software a candidate can practice the questions which are compiled by researchers and collectors. Every time the candidate goes for practicing, he gets unique questions which are aimed to widen up the knowledge base. In consequence to practicing through CPIM exam simulator software, the candidate can easily pass CPIM test.
For nearly four decades, CPIM has trained more than 90000 candidates who are working in manufacturing sector. Established in the year 1973, the CPIM program has been offering training modules on concepts, supplier relationships, quality control, capacity requirements planning, sales and operations planning, strategies related to demand management, procurement and supplier planning, material requirements planning, master scheduling, performance measurements, and continuous improvement, etc. to professionals aspiring for CPIM exam.
Playing within the forex market becomes easier through the use of a forex trading software. This is also one of the reasons why many people become more involved with forex trading these days. By using a trading software, you can have a set of reliable bots which can automatically scan the market to buy and sell currencies for you. All you have to do is set the parameters which they will use as basis in their functions, then just sit back and spend time on other things you would not want to miss.
However, choosing the right forex trading software is very important. Think of it as a business investment, and surely you would not want your business investment to fail you. So before you can actually sit back and relax, you should first pay close attention in choosing the right tool you would use.
To Download or Not to Download
There are a couple of ways on how you can secure a forex trading software for your business. One is by simply downloading online while the other one is by purchasing software from a legitimate seller. There are pros and cons associated with each of these procedures.
With online downloads, the entire deal can be accomplished in a few minutes. Whether it’s free or it’s paid online, you can easily have the software working for you in a matter of minutes. On the other hand, most professionals would prefer buying the software package from legitimate sellers because there may be other features offered by these sellers. Plus, CD’s are considered safer from unknown viruses or malwares which can be embedded on downloaded files.
Do Some Forex Trading Software Research
So, before you buy any trading software, you should first do some research on your own. If you have already made a set of credible forex friends, you can start by asking some recommendations from them. You can also ask them about some software programs you should keep away from should you come across them. One of the things you should remember is that scouting for these tools can be overwhelming when you do it for the first time. Everybody tells you they are the right choice and even offers various supposedly bonuses to lure you in.
You can also do your research online and browse through forex chat rooms or forums. This way, you can have first hand accounts on some experiences people have with the different types of forex trading softwares currently available in the market. Manufacturers will never reveal their software’s weaknesses to you and of course it helps to know the cons before you even use the product. You should also check online sites that sell these software and see the reviews and comments people have on the products. It’s better to read these reviews on general shops rather than from the manufacturer’s own site so you can be sure that what you are reading are real and unbiased accounts from those who have actually purchased the software.
The Olympus E-300 is second ever 8 mega pixel Single Lens Reflex (SLR) digital camera which is based on the Four Thirds System. Some of the impressive features of Olympus E-300 include supersonic wave filter, 1445mm ZUIKO DIGITAL zoom, True Pic TURBO image processor, Digital ESP and tele centric optics construction.
An Olympus E300 digital camera uses a compact flash memory card to save pictures. Corruption in compact flash memory card can occur due to memory card pin malfunctioning, read/write errors etc. In such conditions, the pictures saved in the memory card become inaccessible and the software shows an error message. If no updated back up is available, to access the pictures you need to use a third party application known as Photo Recovery Software.
For example, when you use Olympus E-300 digital camera to take some pictures, you may encounter the following error message on the camera LCD display:
“D: 5C81”
Once the error message appears on the Olympus E-300 screen, the user is unable to store any new pictures in the memory card. The user receives the same error message every time he tries to click pictures from the Olympus E-300 camera. When the user attempts to connect the flash memory card to the computer system, the pictures saved in the flash memory card do not get displayed.
The main reason for the above error message is that the camera is unable to perform any read/write operation on the flash memory card. To resolve this error, the user can insert another flash memory card. If another memory card works successfully, then the previous memory card has been corrupted due to bent memory card pin(s). The user needs to repair memory card pins and again insert it into the digital camera. But, if the above resolution fails to take care of the situation and remove the error, then the flash memory card has been corrupted due to some other logical reasons such as rough handling of memory card, erroneous card insertion or removal operation, virus infection etc.
To recover the data from the corrupted memory card, the user needs to restore it from a recent back up. But if the user has not maintained any back up, then he needs to use efficient Photo Recovery Software.
Stellar Phoenix Photo Recovery is the most reliable Photo Recovery Software, which provides complete and systematic recovery of all pictures from a corrupted flash memory card. This Picture Recovery application provides intuitive and interactive user interface, which makes it easily understandable. It is a read only application that provides secure and non-destructive Photo Recovery for complete piece of mind.
This Photo Recovery application comes in two versions to support Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac OS. The Windows version supports Windows Vista, XP, 2003, 2000 and NT. The Mac OS version supports Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, 10.4 Tiger and 10.3.9 Panther. This Photo Recovery application also supports a wide array of audio and video file formats.
Identical method mlm bloomed, software package programmers which desired to goal NETWORK MARKETING BUSINESS corporations and aspirants include greater likewise. With the range of NETWORK MARKETING BUSINESS software package offered on the web, it can be difficult in order to pinpoint which one works and those that undoubtedly are a waste of their time and cash. Yet another factor while choosing is whether or not it will specially work in your favor. Can it healthy precisely what your online business requirements? They’re a couple of basic queries that might guide a great deal while dealing with your own buy. Other than which nevertheless, we’ve got shown several more suggestions that you should take into consideration in order to reduce the options to just the very best people who a business requires. MLM Software India Reduce your alternatives to sellers together with very good reputation. It is a lucrative market, as a result anticipate to view software package corporations which assert they have got the very best solutions there exists. It’s a good idea which you acquire warning by way of his or her gives. Never fit in phony statements. Understand that it is not about what many people say they have and received completed. It truly is information on precisely what his or her previous shoppers think of these people. To make sure you will be picking a very good one particular, people will have to try to accomplish a lot of history verify regarding the software package corporations that you’re eyeing about. If at all, look at the application company’s bodily office. You should basic your own sound decision about a couple of significant opinions: very first generally examination on the software package by itself, and subsequently, the quality of the particular support companies they would give you in the event you buy his or her solutions. MLM Software Delhi If your organization will be comfortable adequate concerning his or her software package, many people wouldn’t abandon people draping with virtually no support to ensure it will meet your needs. You should ensure that they would provide you with the support that you need in the event you deal with virtually any challenges with it. Which on your own obtains people that they will not heading everywhere and also abandon people draping which has a failed software package. If you’re able to, ask in the event they would provide you with a repayment in the event this neglects. Once they understand his or her product wouldn’t crash people, many people wouldn’t cringe in the concept of people providing this time for these people. Don’t forget to test the particular features of the particular NETWORK MARKETING BUSINESS software package actually giving. Typically, many NETWORK MARKETING BUSINESS software package is made to take care of the several concerns linked to a new multi-level advertising business. View what sort of complications it could possibly come across external its pattern. This specific will let you recognize the particular functions that you need on your business. Does it have almost everything that you need on your matrix plan mlm software to operate? Or maybe could you make do in doing what this is made to accomplish? This specific obviously, will be for your own personel decision. Only bear in mind that when you’ve chosen together with one particular, understand that you’re going to definitely not have the capacity to put in force this to perform other items outside its pattern. So you should number along the particular significant functions your online business requires previous to choosing to settle with the software’s pattern. Ultimately, if you know any individual, an associate or possibly a co-MLM friend which received purchased NETWORK MARKETING BUSINESS software package previous to, require his or her thoughts and opinions. They are over the screening process phase previous to, and they’ve already tried out the application so they’ll understand in the event this works or perhaps definitely not. They can even give you much better alternative. Encounter is usually a better tutor, but a new learning from mistakes option may can be expensive. So, it’s best which you take some time for the suggestions stated earlier in order to be assured that a person selecting the right NETWORK MARKETING BUSINESS software package on your business.