Career Assessment Center, Inc.

About Us

The Career Assessment Center, Inc. is a Pennsylvania corporation established in 1980 as a professional human resource consulting firm providing corporate and professional assessment services, staff development and retention services and outplacement service. The experience base of the center encompasses over 30 years serving a variety of clients representing all major industries, including healthcare, education, hospitality, telecommunications, manufacturing, transportation, utilities, financial services and job training. Our professional membership affiliations include the American Counseling Association (ACA), American Society for Training and Development (ASTD), Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), Rotary International and the National Board for Certified Counselor (NBCC).

The CAC practices a straightforward philosophy... "to design innovative solutions and provide the highest quality service for our customers in order to ensure continued success and a substantial return on investment."

Leadership

The firm operates under the leadership of Founder and President, Dr. Stephen P. Barrett. Dr. Barrett has attained national recognition as an Expert in Organizational Development, Career Planning and Corporate Assessment. He holds degrees in Psychology, Counseling Psychology and Curriculum Research and Planning. He holds credentials as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), National Certified Counselor (NCC), Vocational Evaluator and Superintendent of Schools.

Dr. Barrett is considered a specialist in Employee Testing, Organizational Development and Career Transition. He holds degrees in Counseling Psychology from Gannon University, Curriculum Research and Planning from the University of Buffalo, and Behavioral Psychology from Hiram Scott College.

In addition to his Career Assessment Center experiences, Dr. Barrett has been affiliated with the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Northwest Tri-County Intermediate Unit, Gannon University and General McLane School District.

Dr. Barrett has authored several articles on the legal issues of testing in the workplace, and strategies for preparing individuals for career transition.

Secure Online Attitude & Intelligence Testing

The cost of hiring, retaining and promoting employees continues to be one of the most expensive aspects of the cost for doing business. This cost escalates significantly when employers inadvertently make a bad hire or a poor promotion. “Turnover costs = at least 2 x the annual salary”. The Career Assessment Center’s Online Attitude and Intelligence Testing is a response to the employer’s need for hiring employees who have the “right” attitude and can “think on their feet”.

This screening program is a quick, cost effective and effective means for providing employers essential data (related to job specifications) to assist in their overall hiring and promotion decisions. It will identify a candidate’s “natural” temperament characteristics and learning capacity as they relate to specific job requirements such as leadership style, interpersonal skills, ability to juggle multiple tasks, ability to handle stressful situations, analytical style and ability to learn.

Online Testing Access

To access the Online Testing programs you will need a user ID and password. Please contact us for additional information.

Enter The Online Testing Area

C.A.C. Online Privacy Statement
The information related to this testing is disclosed from records whose confidentiality is protected by law. Regulations limit anyone's right to make any further disclosure of this without prior written consent of the person to whom it pertains.

360° Feedback Assessment

The Career Assessment Center’s 360° Feedback Assessment is designed to provide third party, anonymous feedback to employees and their supervisors on customized work performance criteria, including, but not limited to:

Organization
Planning
Versatility
Initiative
Teamwork
Integrity
Communication Skills
Accountability
Etc.

The CAC staff will develop a customized Feedback instrument based on employer criteria and specifications. Employees may volunteer or be selected to participate in the Feedback system. Once selected, the employee identifies agreed upon parties for feedback. These parties should include supervisor(s), peer(s), direct report, customers, self, etc. The supervisor also identifies key individuals for feedback.

Online Assessment Access

The 360° Feedback Assessment Program is a cost-effective way to enhance dialogue, communication and work performance for employees from all for-profit and not-for-profit organizations.

Take The 360° Feedback Assessment

The surveys are completed anonymously, online, with a user ID and password system. The results are transmitted to the CAC server for tabulation and reports. Reports are e-mailed to the private e-mail accounts of the subject and their supervisor for action planning and development.

Additional Services and Assessments for Corporations

Benchmark Assessment

Additional Services and Assessments for Corporations

The Career Assessment Center, Inc. Benchmark Assessment Program incorporates over 20 years of research and development.

This service is based on the premise that employers would like to "clone" certain employees who have demonstrated over time that they are productive employees who do what is necessary to get the job done the right way, the first time.

In conjunction with The Career Assessment Center, Inc., the employer identifies the criteria that defines "productive" employee. The Career Assessment Center, Inc. customizes an assessment of temperament and abilities to measure that identified criteria and proceeds to test a sample of employees who meet the criteria. This data is then used as a benchmark to compare with future candidates.

For further information on the "Benchmark" Assessment Program, contact us.

Corporate & Management Testing Services

"50% of all new hires are mis-hires...the wrong person is picked for the wrong job."

The Career Assessment Center's Corporate and Management Testing Service is a measure of a candidate's potential to succeed in specific occupational areas and incorporates over 30 years of research and development.

The assessment includes a comprehensive measurement of temperament characteristics, aptitudes and ability levels (all directly related to job specifications). The results are analyzed and validated with the candidate through a private consultation with a licensed/certified professional counselor.

A report is generated which identifies the candidate's strengths and limitations, as related to job specifications. Recommendations are offered in terms of training needs and suggested areas for reference checks.

The Career Assessment Center's Corporate and Management Testing Services are offered on a scheduled basis.

To schedule your final candidates for hire or promotion, reduce turnover rates and increase the return on your hiring costs, contact us.

Earnings Capacity Assessment

The Career Assessment Center’s Earnings Capacity Assessment is designed for attorneys or agents of the judicial system who need to determine the earnings capacity of clients or spouses in cases of child support or divorce.

This service includes comprehensive assessment of the client’s overall occupational potential. This data is then correlated with work history, educational background and related experiences for the purpose of calculating the potential annual earnings capacity. A professional report with recommendations and summarizing all test data is submitted to the referring attorney.

Dr. Barrett is recognized in the Erie County and Crawford County Courts as an expert witness for depositions and testimony. For more information, contact us.

Outplacement Services

The Career Assessment Center's Outplacement Services assist the terminated/downsized employee to effectively deal with the emotional trauma that typically follows the point of separation from employment.

Outplacement services are beneficial to both the employer and employee(s). Often, a disgruntled employee has turned to violence after receiving shocking information regarding their livelihood. The Career Assessment Center's Outplacement Services counsel employers on downsizing strategies in order to make the transition smooth and effective.

The services are extended by employers to the affected employee(s) and range from resume and interviewing assistance to management and executive outplacement programs. These services are offered on an individual or group basis. All services include point of separation counseling with a licensed/certified professional counselor. Services may also include testing services; marketing & networking techniques; resume & cover letter development/critique; interviewing skills/review; career counseling and professional resources.

The Career Assessment Center's Outplacement Services are available to individuals, however, are typically contracted through employers.

For further information of how we can assist through this difficult transition, please contact us.

Career Planning and Professional Development

Training & College Major Testing Services

Career Planning and Professional Development

Have you calculated the cost of colleges and post-secondary training schools lately? Have you noticed that the average time to complete a 4-year traditional college program has increased to 6 years?

The Career Assessment Center's Training and College Major Testing Services are designed to provide sufficient data to students and parents to assist in the career decision-making process. Narrowing these decisions before enrollment keeps the overall costs for education at a minimum and ultimately calculates into a substantial return on the education investment.

These services include a comprehensive measure of the student's academic abilities, natural aptitude levels, personality characteristics (study habits, organization, analytical thinking process, etc.) and career interest. The results are analyzed and validated through a private consultation with the student and parents with a licensed/certified professional counselor.

A final report is developed identifying overall career potential (job titles), highlighting occupational and academic strengths, suggested areas for improvement and suggested college/training areas to pursue.

Training and College Major Testing Services are available on a scheduled basis by contacting us.