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Psychological tests are used in career counseling as well as in hiring and promotion decisions. The purpose of tests for occupational selection can vary from fitness for duty in law enforcement settings, assessing leadership styles and capability, and aspects of personality of employees for certain types or levels of employment. The use of assessment in career counseling can include an evaluation of the client's occupational interests as well as an evaluation of their aptitude for the skills required in various occupations. There is a lot of debate about whether using these types of psychological tests is fair in these types of decisions. It also begs the question of whether using group-based norms in testing or the overall assessment process is accurate and fair. Part of the reasons for these debates is because these types of tests can potentially have significant and long-lasting consequences for the individual related to his or her career when a test is used to select or place the employee.

For this Discussion, you consider the fairness of using group-based norms in the use of aptitude tests used for hiring practice in organizations. Review the information provided in this week's Learning Resources regarding aptitude and career-interest assessment and the results used in hiring decisions.

With these thoughts in mind:

Post by Day 3 your argument for or against the use of group-based norms in the utilization of the results of aptitude tests in hiring decisions. Justify your argument using examples and the current literature.

Discussion 2: Career Assessment

Work is a financial necessity for many people and can also represent part of a person’s identity. No matter how many roles work might play in someone’s life, it can bring satisfaction or dissatisfaction to many areas of living. Dissatisfaction with work or career can be one reason a person enters counseling. Clinicians incorporate data from career assessment into treatment planning helping a client examine his or her skills, abilities, and interests and develop interventions to increase work or career satisfaction.

For this Discussion, review this week’s Learning Resources. Think about when and why career assessment might be used in professional practice.

With these thoughts in mind:

Post by Day 4 three examples of when career assessment might be used in clinical practice and explain why career assessment might be useful in these settings. Then explain one way clinicians might integrate other tests within the process of career assessment.