Assessment Center Services
Jacksonville Assessment - 2010
Assessment Center Testing- New Information
The latest information is that the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office will be holding the Assessment Center testing on May 19th, 20th and 21st and the Lieutenants Assessment on May 24th, 25th and 26th. The results of the written examination will be known on April 21st.
The classroom training for the Assessment Center set for the week of April 5th will continue as scheduled. Tutoring classes will begin the week of March 29th. In addition, additional dates for tutoring have been added for those who would like to reschedule or have not yet committed, due to the fact that the results are not yet known.
Right now, I can advise that May 1st, May 8th (these two dates would be combined) , May 10th and 11th , and May 17th and 18th are open for tutoring. Other dates are being considered, but dates after April 21 will be limited, due to other commitments.
PAYMENT OF FEES AND REFUND POLICY
There have been several questions concerning, "What happens if I sign up and pay and then don't pass the written exam."
The policy of Mathieson Consulting LLC on this matter is that if you pay and then find out prior to attending class that you did not qualify to go on to the Assessment, your tuition fees will be refunded. The manual may be refunded if it is in the original condition sent (has not been marked, etc.). If you attend the class or the tutoring and find out after the class has been delivered that you did not qualify, you can attend a comparable future training session at no cost, but the fees will not be refunded under that scenario.
At that point, the training and the materials have been delivered and unfortunately the results of the written exam are outside of my control. I hope this clarifies my position on this matter. Feel free to contact me via the information in the Contact Us section of this website if there are additional questions.
Assessment Center Company
Ergometrics Update: Here is a link to a PHd Study that was done by a Doctoral Candidate at Virginia Tech, using instruments employed by Ergometrics to determine the effectiveness of Video Based testing for police officers. Although the language is quite technical, you will notice extensive discussion about exertion of control as a dimension of measurement. Here is the link: http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-05152001-125408/unrestricted/etd.pdf
Additionally, your attention is directed to page 102, Appendix A of the document, which gives a detailed explanation of the process used by this company, including dimensions and a sample checklist used in one of their exercises. This information should be extremely important to those preparing for the exam.
The information we have obtained indicates that Jacksonville has contracted with Ergometrics out of Lynnwood, Washington to provide Assessment Center services for the city and the department. Here is a link to the section of their website which talks about their promotional testing, http://ergometrics.org/frontline.cfm. You will note that their focus is video based exercises. Video has advantages and drawbacks, just as any testing mechanism. The good news is that Mathieson Consulting has extensive experience with video based Assessment Exercises.
Assessment Center Manuals
(Please refer to the Assessment Center Training Schedule Tab for the most current information about training and scheduling. Due to the scheduling of the written exam there will not be classes held during the month of February. Tutoring is available upon request
The updated Assessment Center Manual for 2010 has been completed and is available for purchase at a cost of $139.00. Note: The manuals are now being shipped. Get your order in today.
A word about copying the manuals. Aside from being protected by the Intellectual Property laws of the state and Federal law, keep in mind that if you copy the manuals and give them to your friends, you are reducing your chances for promotion by feeding your competitors information that will give them an advantage. Additionally, for those who attend the seminars, there will be additional practice material that does not appear in the manuals and homework that will be posted on the website that will only be critiqued in class. Without the critiques, the materials will be of little benefit.
The cost of the seminar series will be $360.00 for a minimum of six four hour sessions (24 hours) covering all aspects of the Assessment Center. If a student has not previously purchased the manual, the cost will of the series will be $499.00. Every effort will be made to accomodate the schedule of as many students as possible.
The manual will be an essential element of the seminar series. Homework will be given and completion prior to the next class session is expected. Two seminar tracks are anticipated with no more than 20 to 25 students in each track. We will begin taking registrations within the next two weeks and students will be invoiced via PayPal.
The following topics are covered in the 2010 Assessment Center Manual;
- The importance of job descriptions, critical job tasks and high liability areas in the construction of Assessment Center exercises.
- Proven, easy to remember strategies which help guide the candidate during the Assessment process to assure that the most common dimension elements are satisfied, regardless of the exercise!!
- Exercises, moving from simple to complex, which reinforce the strategies learned, focus on Assessment Center dimensions and teach the candidate time management skills
- Easy to use forms which allow you to score yourself on the exercises and immediately identify those areas where improvements are needed.
- The ability to order program modules which will allow the candidate to focus on those exercises being assessed during the process.
Mathieson Consulting also provides a variety of Assessment Center Services for law enforcement agencies, as well as seminars, small group and individual coaching in Assessment Center strategies. A partial list of services is provided below;
- Construct assessment center exercises and processes for law enforcement agencies, based on policies, procedures and job task analysis.
- Provide agency sponsored training in assessment center dynamics for candidates seeking advancement within the agency. In coordination with departmental staff and the human resources departments of the city and the agency, this helps to reduce process challenges and litigation by assuring that candidates are fully aware of what to expect in the process.
- For candidates, seminars, small group and individual coaching is available. Arrangements can be made for the training to be delivered either at your location or here in Florida.
- For candidates, handbooks containing valuable information and exercises which candidates can use to enhance their skills and chances for promotion will be available in the near future. Please continue to monitor this website for additional information and availability.
- New: In the near future will be scheduling webinars where information will be presented on Assessment Center strategies in one hour blocks. Students will be given free assessment center preparation materials as part of their webinar registration fee.
Please note the following quote from James, Terrence C. [Terrence.James@jaxsheriff.org] a candidate with the Jacksonville Sheriff's office in Jacksonville, Florida, concerning the Sergeant's examination of 2007;
"Mr. Mathieson, I just wanted to drop you a line and let you know how we did on the Sergeant’s test up here in Jax. Both Kelvin Anderson and Travis Cox will be promoted because they jumped about 50 people to move up because of their excellent Assessment Center scores. I finished at # 20. I scored high on the written and held serve on the Assessment Center. They have already promoted 7 people. Again, thanks for all of the effort and assistance. Perhaps we will see you again for the next level."
The coaching systems used are based on proven strategies which have been effective at all levels of law enforcement agencies across the country and assisted thousands of candidates for over 20 years.
To order the manual, go to the"Contact Us" section of this website. This manual can help any Assessment Center candidate, regardless of department, rank or the type of exercise. If you are not completely satisfied with the manual and its' contents, simply return it for a full refund. | 
