Three things everyone gets wrong about assessments

Author

Dr. Reece Akhtar

Created on

January 28, 2026

It's may only be August, but many HR departments have already begun their talent planning for next year. When choosing an assessment for your future talent programs, avoid making these three mistakes:

#1 Ignoring scientific theory & data

Whether you are trying to assess personality, cognitive ability, or hard skills, not all assessments are equal. Many are not grounded in science, cannot demonstrate their accuracy, or produce unbiased insights.

Pro tip: When talking to an assessment vendor, always ask for a copy of their technical manual. In the spirit of transparency, you can view the Core Drivers technical manual online.

#2 Overlooking the user-experience

Your people are busy. Asking them to complete a 30 minute survey that looks like it was designed in the 2000s will not garner adoption or facilitate accurate responses. Your talent assessment strategy needs to meet people where they are, not be forced upon them.

Pro tip: Prioritize the user experience by choosing an assessment that can be completed quickly, on any device, and can be integrated into your existing systems. For example, it only takes 7 mins to complete a Deeper Signals assessment.

#3 Offering static or inaccessible feedback

We all know that the typical feedback report is no longer fit for purpose. They either take the form of overly simplistic PDF reports that contain little helpful advice for the employee, or are complex and require a consultant to decode them.

Pro tip: Modern technologies allow you to offer personalized and dynamic feedback so that everyone can understand their results and receive the tools to support their development. In fact, last month we released DynaMo to provide users with continuous feedback that drives change.

So how can Deeper Signals help?

Our cutting-edge platform is the antithesis of traditional assessments. Taking a modern approach, our tools provide a scalable, frictionless and offer a highly practical experience.

Whether its senior executives or individual contributors, we can provide your people with the feedback and data that transforms performance.

Try the Core Drivers assessment for yourself and get a peak into what your future talent assessment strategy could be.

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Three things everyone gets wrong about assessments

Author

Dr. Reece Akhtar

Created on

It's may only be August, but many HR departments have already begun their talent planning for next year. When choosing an assessment for your future talent programs, avoid making these three mistakes:

#1 Ignoring scientific theory & data

Whether you are trying to assess personality, cognitive ability, or hard skills, not all assessments are equal. Many are not grounded in science, cannot demonstrate their accuracy, or produce unbiased insights.

Pro tip: When talking to an assessment vendor, always ask for a copy of their technical manual. In the spirit of transparency, you can view the Core Drivers technical manual online.

#2 Overlooking the user-experience

Your people are busy. Asking them to complete a 30 minute survey that looks like it was designed in the 2000s will not garner adoption or facilitate accurate responses. Your talent assessment strategy needs to meet people where they are, not be forced upon them.

Pro tip: Prioritize the user experience by choosing an assessment that can be completed quickly, on any device, and can be integrated into your existing systems. For example, it only takes 7 mins to complete a Deeper Signals assessment.

#3 Offering static or inaccessible feedback

We all know that the typical feedback report is no longer fit for purpose. They either take the form of overly simplistic PDF reports that contain little helpful advice for the employee, or are complex and require a consultant to decode them.

Pro tip: Modern technologies allow you to offer personalized and dynamic feedback so that everyone can understand their results and receive the tools to support their development. In fact, last month we released DynaMo to provide users with continuous feedback that drives change.

So how can Deeper Signals help?

Our cutting-edge platform is the antithesis of traditional assessments. Taking a modern approach, our tools provide a scalable, frictionless and offer a highly practical experience.

Whether its senior executives or individual contributors, we can provide your people with the feedback and data that transforms performance.

Try the Core Drivers assessment for yourself and get a peak into what your future talent assessment strategy could be.

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Three things everyone gets wrong about assessments

Author

Dr. Reece Akhtar

Created on

January 28, 2026

It's may only be August, but many HR departments have already begun their talent planning for next year. When choosing an assessment for your future talent programs, avoid making these three mistakes:

#1 Ignoring scientific theory & data

Whether you are trying to assess personality, cognitive ability, or hard skills, not all assessments are equal. Many are not grounded in science, cannot demonstrate their accuracy, or produce unbiased insights.

Pro tip: When talking to an assessment vendor, always ask for a copy of their technical manual. In the spirit of transparency, you can view the Core Drivers technical manual online.

#2 Overlooking the user-experience

Your people are busy. Asking them to complete a 30 minute survey that looks like it was designed in the 2000s will not garner adoption or facilitate accurate responses. Your talent assessment strategy needs to meet people where they are, not be forced upon them.

Pro tip: Prioritize the user experience by choosing an assessment that can be completed quickly, on any device, and can be integrated into your existing systems. For example, it only takes 7 mins to complete a Deeper Signals assessment.

#3 Offering static or inaccessible feedback

We all know that the typical feedback report is no longer fit for purpose. They either take the form of overly simplistic PDF reports that contain little helpful advice for the employee, or are complex and require a consultant to decode them.

Pro tip: Modern technologies allow you to offer personalized and dynamic feedback so that everyone can understand their results and receive the tools to support their development. In fact, last month we released DynaMo to provide users with continuous feedback that drives change.

So how can Deeper Signals help?

Our cutting-edge platform is the antithesis of traditional assessments. Taking a modern approach, our tools provide a scalable, frictionless and offer a highly practical experience.

Whether its senior executives or individual contributors, we can provide your people with the feedback and data that transforms performance.

Try the Core Drivers assessment for yourself and get a peak into what your future talent assessment strategy could be.

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One-size-fits-all development doesn’t work anymore. See how psychometric insights help organizations personalize learning in ways that are ethical, scalable, and effective.

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Three things everyone gets wrong about assessments

Author

Dr. Reece Akhtar

Created on

January 28, 2026

It's may only be August, but many HR departments have already begun their talent planning for next year. When choosing an assessment for your future talent programs, avoid making these three mistakes:

#1 Ignoring scientific theory & data

Whether you are trying to assess personality, cognitive ability, or hard skills, not all assessments are equal. Many are not grounded in science, cannot demonstrate their accuracy, or produce unbiased insights.

Pro tip: When talking to an assessment vendor, always ask for a copy of their technical manual. In the spirit of transparency, you can view the Core Drivers technical manual online.

#2 Overlooking the user-experience

Your people are busy. Asking them to complete a 30 minute survey that looks like it was designed in the 2000s will not garner adoption or facilitate accurate responses. Your talent assessment strategy needs to meet people where they are, not be forced upon them.

Pro tip: Prioritize the user experience by choosing an assessment that can be completed quickly, on any device, and can be integrated into your existing systems. For example, it only takes 7 mins to complete a Deeper Signals assessment.

#3 Offering static or inaccessible feedback

We all know that the typical feedback report is no longer fit for purpose. They either take the form of overly simplistic PDF reports that contain little helpful advice for the employee, or are complex and require a consultant to decode them.

Pro tip: Modern technologies allow you to offer personalized and dynamic feedback so that everyone can understand their results and receive the tools to support their development. In fact, last month we released DynaMo to provide users with continuous feedback that drives change.

So how can Deeper Signals help?

Our cutting-edge platform is the antithesis of traditional assessments. Taking a modern approach, our tools provide a scalable, frictionless and offer a highly practical experience.

Whether its senior executives or individual contributors, we can provide your people with the feedback and data that transforms performance.

Try the Core Drivers assessment for yourself and get a peak into what your future talent assessment strategy could be.

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Cognitively diverse teams solve problems better and adapt faster. Learn how to design balanced teams using structured hiring, inclusive leadership, and scientific talent insights.

How can organizations personalize development journeys using psychometrics?

One-size-fits-all development doesn’t work anymore. See how psychometric insights help organizations personalize learning in ways that are ethical, scalable, and effective.

Guide: How can organizations quickly identify leadership strengths with short-form assessments

Leadership assessment has changed. Learn how Deeper Signals measures the personality, values, and behaviors that predict real leadership effectiveness—and how modern, short-form assessments support fair, scalable leadership development.

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Three things everyone gets wrong about assessments

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It's may only be August, but many HR departments have already begun their talent planning for next year. When choosing an assessment for your future talent programs, avoid making these three mistakes:

#1 Ignoring scientific theory & data

Whether you are trying to assess personality, cognitive ability, or hard skills, not all assessments are equal. Many are not grounded in science, cannot demonstrate their accuracy, or produce unbiased insights.

Pro tip: When talking to an assessment vendor, always ask for a copy of their technical manual. In the spirit of transparency, you can view the Core Drivers technical manual online.

#2 Overlooking the user-experience

Your people are busy. Asking them to complete a 30 minute survey that looks like it was designed in the 2000s will not garner adoption or facilitate accurate responses. Your talent assessment strategy needs to meet people where they are, not be forced upon them.

Pro tip: Prioritize the user experience by choosing an assessment that can be completed quickly, on any device, and can be integrated into your existing systems. For example, it only takes 7 mins to complete a Deeper Signals assessment.

#3 Offering static or inaccessible feedback

We all know that the typical feedback report is no longer fit for purpose. They either take the form of overly simplistic PDF reports that contain little helpful advice for the employee, or are complex and require a consultant to decode them.

Pro tip: Modern technologies allow you to offer personalized and dynamic feedback so that everyone can understand their results and receive the tools to support their development. In fact, last month we released DynaMo to provide users with continuous feedback that drives change.

So how can Deeper Signals help?

Our cutting-edge platform is the antithesis of traditional assessments. Taking a modern approach, our tools provide a scalable, frictionless and offer a highly practical experience.

Whether its senior executives or individual contributors, we can provide your people with the feedback and data that transforms performance.

Try the Core Drivers assessment for yourself and get a peak into what your future talent assessment strategy could be.

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Recent posts

Learn How to Build Cognitively Diverse Teams

Cognitively diverse teams solve problems better and adapt faster. Learn how to design balanced teams using structured hiring, inclusive leadership, and scientific talent insights.

How can organizations personalize development journeys using psychometrics?

One-size-fits-all development doesn’t work anymore. See how psychometric insights help organizations personalize learning in ways that are ethical, scalable, and effective.

Guide: How can organizations quickly identify leadership strengths with short-form assessments

Leadership assessment has changed. Learn how Deeper Signals measures the personality, values, and behaviors that predict real leadership effectiveness—and how modern, short-form assessments support fair, scalable leadership development.

5 Scientifically Validated Soft Skills Platforms Today

A practical guide to scientifically validated soft skills platforms: what they measure, why validation matters, who uses them, and how to choose the right approach for hiring, development, and workforce planning.

How Modern Assessments Balance Brevity With Scientific Validity

Discover how modern assessment platforms use advanced psychometrics and continuous validation to deliver short, user-friendly assessments without compromising scientific rigor.

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