Where will the executive assessment take place?
Unless special arrangements have been made, the testing and interview components of the executive assessment process will take place in Markham at 3100 Steeles Avenue East, Suite 200.
What time should I arrive?
Unless specific arrangements have been made otherwise, your appointment will be at 8:30 am.
What should I wear?
Our usual attire at Ellis Locke & Associates is "business casual". It is quite appropriate to come dressed comfortably.
Is there anything I should study or prepare for?
No. The tests you will be taking are designed to evaluate your problem solving and critical thinking skills. As such, they are not the sort of thing that one needs to study or prepare for. We recommend three things: Get a good night's sleep the night before your appointment. Don't drink any more (or less) coffee or other stimulants than you usually do on the morning of your appointment. If you need glasses for reading, be sure to bring them with you.
What is the "pre-assessment package" I have to complete before my appointment?
Some of the tools that we use in our executive assessment process consist of standardized self-assessment questionnaires that do not need to be completed under supervised conditions. They are simply a means of "you" describing "you" in a way that enables us to make some meaningful comparisons between your preferences and attitudes and those which are characteristic of other standard comparison reference groups. We usually ask participants involved in the process to complete these questionnaires prior to their appointments at our office to keep your day at Ellis Locke & Associates from becoming overly long.
Where and when should I do the pre-assessment package?
Comprehensive instructions for completing the pre-assessment materials are included with the email we send you. You should organize things so that you can complete the questionnaires in a quiet setting, free from distraction.
What do I do with the pre-assessment package once I have finished it?
Whenever possible, we like to have the completed questionnaire(s) at least two days in advance of your assessment appointment. For the most part, these questionnaires can be completed on-line. If you are completing the paper versions of tests, you will need to ensure that they arrive at our offices by courier at least one day before your session. The pre-assessment information package provides detailed information on how to forward the completed questionnaire(s) to us.
Are there any "tricks of the trade" or general instructions that I should keep in mind when completing the pre-assessment package?
The best way to get the maximum value for the executive assessment is to be as honest as possible on the self-assessment questionnaires. The best way to complete the questionnaires is to do them quickly. Your first impression or reaction to any given item is likely to represent your most meaningful and accurate response. If you dwell on your answers, or try to second guess what the questions are trying to assess, or how your answer will make you "look", you are likely to distort your profile. This makes it difficult to interpret and, in the final analysis, may tend to work against you.
What will I be doing during my day at Ellis Locke & Associates?
You will be asked to complete a competency card sort exercise to highlight your relative strengths and opportunities for development. Following this, you will meet with the assessment consultant who will begin with a request for you to describe your work history in some detail. The consultant will then ask you to provide additional examples on topics of interest that either relate directly to the purpose of the executive assessment, or to various elements of test results which have been gathered up to that point. You will then be asked to complete the ability testing component of the assessment. In the final phase of the process, you will receive detailed feedback on all of the assessment results, and a comprehensive recapitulation of what will go into the executive assessment report. We try our best to make the feedback a meaningful coaching experience by highlighting your strengths and how to leverage them, and identifying any possible developmental needs or opportunities, and strategies for addressing them.
Do I get to see the executive assessment report?
Yes. Our agreement with all of our clients is that candidates who undertake an Ellis Locke & Associates executive assessment will receive an exact copy of the report for his/her retention.