Our talent assessment practice, approach and experience

Our talent assessment approach is founded on empirical research in an applied setting. We keep abreast with the latest findings in quality peer-reviewed journals that cover the personnel selection and assessment area, for example: International Journal of Selection and Assessment and Journal of Personality Assessment. This research influences our decisions about methodology and instrument selection to ensure that we achieve selection decisions that are valid, reliable and cost-effective.

Organisations choose us because we provide a level of consulting expertise that goes beyond a typical transactional assessment service. We are neither test distributors nor brokers and have no allegiance to specific products. Test selection is based on a simple question, “what are the best-fit tests and norms for what we are measuring?” Hence validity and reliability are key considerations, as are practicality, length of assessment and cost. Our ability to provide report interpretation beyond the norm has saved both organisations and candidates considerable financial and personal cost.

Some of these projects have involved extensive data integration from various assessment sources, for example, personality and abilities results as well as multi-rater behavioural interviews. We have provided assessment reports for as many as 20 different roles in the one organisation from Vice President to graduate level, as well as highly technical roles from Geophysicists to Statisticians. In a recent assignment we processed over 400 internal and external assessment and development reports using a combination of automated and customised reporting templates. In many cases, there was little need for additional report interpretation but in more senior leadership and technical roles there was a need for data integration and more customised report production and debriefing.

We have a number of reports available which vary according to the individual needs of different industries, organisations and roles. We interpret the data and highlight strengths and development areas according to the specific role being tested. There is also the option to develop a specific ‘sales’ profile either through sampling a selection of the sales force, capability mapping or through behavioural interviewing of sales managers to increase the accuracy of the report. All our assessment tools are administered online but are available for paper based testing and assessment centres.

We have worked extensively with existing organisational competency and capability frameworks as well as global versions such as Lominger. As a result of such assignments we have developed specific expertise in the measurement of learning agility which we continue to validate in several organisations against existing capability frameworks and outcome measures.

We use an integrated suite of validated and empirical tools which enable us to measure an individual’s learning agility which can be included in our Talent Identification and Talent Development reports.

Anthea Hickey is the Director of our talent assessment practice and is an experienced clinical psychologist who works extensively with executives and managers in an organisational setting. Prior to joining Talent Solutions Anthea managed a psychology practice for 10 years where she assessed and treated a range of clinical clients. She holds a Bachelor of Psychology, a Masters of Science in Medicine and a Masters in Clinical Psychology. She is a member of the Australian Psychological Society, a Registered Psychologist and is published in the areas of anxiety and depression.

If you would like any more details about talent assessment please contact Anthea Hickey or Michael Collins on 1300 369 455.

Andrew Williams

Andrew is a Director and Principal Consultant of Talent Solutions as well as a Lominger Associate based in Sydney. He is also part of the Adjunct Faculty at the Australia Graduate School of Business where he delivers programs in the areas of leadership and talent.

Andrew advises clients across a wide range of Organisational Development issues with particular expertise in, Leadership, Executive and Senior Management Team and Individual Development, Talent Management and Executive Coaching. Andrew has been in Organisational Development and Human Resources for the past 15 years working both in global and domestic organisations.

He has an MBA and a strong record in translating business strategy into practical people and organisational focused programs. He has extensive experience working with Executive and Senior teams particularly in their areas of leadership development, individual and team coaching and top team development. He also has experience in project managing large scale people transformation programs.

Andrew is accredited in the Lominger Leadership Architect® tools. He certifies many of Australia’s largest organisations in these tools. He is also accredited in the Hogan Personality Tools and Human Synergistics LSI 1 and 2.

Andrew has worked in a diverse range of industries including Financial Services, Professional Services, FMCG, Government, Media, Insurance and Construction.

Andrew has worked successfully in academia, consulting and industry ensuring he has a unique blend of skills and knowledge to support all types of businesses. He also has international experience working in London, New Zealand, Sweden, Malaysia, France and the USA.

Andrew is an outstanding workshop facilitator, speaker and educator bringing a unique blend of energy, creativity and learning to every program and presentation. He is popular on the speaking circuit particularly in the areas of leadership and talent.

Jane Newman

Jane Newman is a Senior Consultant with Talent Solutions based in Brisbane. She works primarily with clients on leadership and talent initiatives with particular expertise in coaching, leadership assessment and development, 360-degree feedback, team interventions and facilitation.

Jane is an experienced consultant having spent eight years with Ernst & Young Consulting both here in Australia and overseas. At Ernst & Young, Jane specialised in back office outsourcing consulting—which included strategy and business case development, IT implementation and project management. Jane has worked for BHP Billiton, Barclays Bank, Michelin Tyres, amongst other multi-national organisations.

In 2001, Jane moved to Brisbane to found her own business, vxpartner Pty Ltd. vxpartner provides outsourced management accounting services to growing businesses across Australia. Vxpartner works with their clients to identify what information they need weekly and monthly to run their business, and puts in place processes to ensure the consistent and cost-effective delivery of this information. Vxpartner is based in Hamilton, Brisbane and has over 20 staff. In mid 2006, Jane sold vxpartner to William Buck (Qld) Pty Ltd. Jane continues to work for vxpartner focusing on marketing and thought leadership.

Jane is a dynamic presenter and workshop facilitator. She has presented on change management, shared services, project management and leadership for CPA Australia, IQPC conferences and other overseas organizations.

Jane has joined Talent Solutions to further her passion for leadership and team development within organisations. She is accredited in a range of Lominger tools and works with clients in helping them implement innovative leadership strategy, assessment and development solutions. These clients include National Australia Bank, Department of Employment & Industrial Relations (QLD) and others.