1. EEI Testing Update and Strategies to Enhance Candidate Outcomes
April 20, 2017

2. Speakers Rob Michel, Ph.D., Director Employment Testing, EEI
Valerie Taylor, Education Consultant, CEWD

3. Learning Objectives Identify purpose of new sections of EEI test
Describe what else is new with the EEI testing program
Discuss strategies that work to enhance testing outcomes, including CEWD’s Get Into Energy Math & Test Prep Workshop

4. Webinar Outline Introduction and overview – why this webinar?
EEI Employment Testing Program update
New Assembling Objects and Figural Reasoning test components
Other EEI ET project updates
CEWD’s revised Get Into Energy Math & Test Prep Workshop
Other strategies for increasing test pass rates

5. First Polling Question…
Which of the following roles do you play at your company?
Human Resources
Testing Administrator
Other

6. Filling the Talent Pipeline: We’re in This Together!
Internal partners – recruiters, testing program managers, line managers
External partners – EEI Employment Testing Department, CEWD, educational partners
Immediate goals may sometimes differ, but the ultimate goal is the same
Communication and coordination are critical components of success

7. EEI Employment Testing Department
Mission: Provide the electric utility industry with the most effective pre-employment selection solutions possible, at a reasonable cost and with exceptional support and customer service
One key tenet is to help streamline the hiring process by providing multiple/flexible test administration options
Computer-based testing (CBT) is a critical stepping stone

8. POSS and MASS Test Battery Changes
Eliminate “speeded” test components
Remove Visual Pursuit from POSS B
Remove Tables & Graphs from POSS C
Replace vendor test (Assembly) with newly developed test components
Figural Reasoning for POSS B & POSS C
Assembling Objects for MASS

9. Figural Reasoning Identify patterns to solve problems
20 questions; 10-minute time limit
Three problem types
Picture Series
Picture Comparison
Picture Progression

10. Figural Reasoning: Picture Series

11. Figural Reasoning: Picture Comparison

12. Figural Reasoning: Picture Progression

13. Assembling Objects Visualize the correctly assembled form of an object
20 questions; 15-minute time limit
Two problem types
Marked connections
Puzzle assembly

14. Assembling Objects: Marked Connections

15. Assembling Objects: Puzzle Assembly

16. Current EEI Employment Testing Projects and Initiatives
Testing centers
Mechanical concepts SkillBuilder
POSS and MASS revalidation
Conference on Testing

17. Strategies to Enhance Candidate Outcomes

18. Improving Pre-employment Test Pass Rates
Only two possible paths to improving pre-employment test pass rates
Change your applicant pool mix
Inform/develop your current applicant pool

19. Change Your Applicant Pool Mix
Targeted recruiting
“Targeted” means identifying applicants more likely to succeed in the selection process and convincing them to apply
Simply casting a broader net will not typically improve pass rates (even though it could increase the number of applicants who pass)

20. Change Your Applicant Pool Mix
Strategic partnerships
Educational partners
Community development partners
Government partners
Non-profit partners

21. Inform/Develop Your Current Applicant Pool
Information is power
EEI test brochures
EEI practice tests
Company specific descriptions of your hiring process

22. Polling Question
Do you advertise testing requirements in your job postings?
Yes No

23. Inform/Develop Your Current Applicant Pool
Applicant development – three philosophies
Applicant’s responsibility (no resources provided)
Shared responsibility (resources provided but up to applicant to take advantage)
Company’s responsibility (developmental opportunities provided)

24. GIE Math & Test Prep Workshop
Developed as part of a TAACCCT grant awarded to the Arizona Sun Corridor-Get Into Energy Consortium in 2012
A structured program that provides candidates the opportunity to not only learn more about pre-employment testing, but to experience it first-hand

25. GIE Math & Test Prep Workshop
Focuses on preparing for the POSS, MASS and CAST tests
Incorporates teaching of strategies as well as taking timed practice tests
Includes both a pre- and post-test
Original version included sections on math competencies and was 40-hours in length
Revised version utilizes a blended learning approach

26. GIE Math & Test Prep Workshop
Online portion posted on the Get Into Energy web site (
Lists math competencies required to solve problems on the EEI tests
Provides quizzes for candidates to use to assess their math skills
Individualized based on ability level and may not be needed by all
Links to online instruction for each competency through the Khan Academy

27. GIE Math & Test Prep Workshop
In-person workshop hosted by energy companies, community colleges or other CEWD members/partners
Between hours in length, depending upon specific tests for which candidates are preparing
Includes expanded time for guided practice with instructor
Incorporates cooperative learning
Still includes timed practice tests

28. GIE Math & Test Prep Workshop
Revised workshop materials will be modularized so that hosts just cover the tests the candidates will actually take
CEWD will be tracking pass rates to determine the effectiveness of the program
Materials will be available in May and will only be sent to CEWD members upon request, enabling CEWD to collaborate with workshop hosts on best practices for offering the program and for tracking purposes

29. Polling Question
Do you have any type of program to help candidates prepare for pre-employment testing?
Yes No
*Use the Chat feature to send your ideas to “all panelists.”

30. Testing Questions from Participants

31. Questions Sent in Advance
I was told that EEI no longer keeps the MASS/POSS testing results in a database for schools that have given the exams. Do they keep the testing results from the company's that conduct the testing?
Does the E-Test option give the test taker the ability to skip and come back to questions? Basis: I instruct persons to skip and come back to questions they are not comfortable with in order to answer as many known questions as possible. I am not sure if this can be done using the electronic version of the test.

32. Director, Employment Testing, EEI rmichel@eei.org Valerie Taylor
For more information, contact:
Rob Michel
Director, Employment Testing, EEI
Valerie Taylor
Education Consultant, CEWD