Much is required of a candidate who takes part in an Assessment. Professional agencies and organisations will therefore make sure they respect a candidate’s rights. In doing so, two codes are relevant to determine a candidate’s rights: the NIP professional code and the NVP recruitment code.
The Dutch Psychologists Institute (NIP) has a professional code of ethics with applies to this situation. Assessment psychologists will have to comply with the professional code of conduct. The basic principles of the code ensure that a psychologist acts responsibly, with integrity, respectfully and professionally. In practice this code means that a candidate has the right to request access to his own files before these are sent out and can even refuse to allow the report to be sent out to the client. In situations like these a client has paid for the assessment, yet does not receive a report, creating tension between the various parties. Usually a candidate’s refusal to allow reporting leads to termination of their application procedure.
When an organisation carries out its own assessment this process might prove more difficult. The internal psychologist may then act as an external psychologist and destroy all data relating to said candidate so their information cannot be accessed by anyone in the organisation. This same procedure should apply to internal candidates.
One of its relevant stipulations states that an applicant should be informed about the selection procedure. So when a company decides to deviate from its chosen procedure, it is obligated to notify the candidate of these changes. Therefore it is important to note that when an Assessment is part of the selection procedure, the purpose and intentions of this Assessment should be explained to a candidate. Clients should therefore provide transparent information to the agency. Agencies can then indicate which competences will be part of the tests, so you can prepare for your specific assessment.
As to a candidate’s obligations this stipulation notes:
The applicant provides truthful information regarding his professional competences (education, knowledge and experience) and does not hold back on any information he knows or should know to be relevant to the job he is applying for.
This also applies to the Assessment when this is part of selection procedure.