Which assessment method is designed to measure "hands-on" skills for a job?

The assessment method designed specifically to measure "hands-on" skills for a job is performance tests. These tests simulate the actual tasks that a job requires, allowing candidates to demonstrate their practical abilities in real-world scenarios. Performance tests are particularly effective in evaluating technical skills, craftsmanship, or any skill that requires the application of knowledge and competencies in a tangible setting.

Other assessment methods may evaluate different aspects of a candidate’s suitability for a role. For example, cognitive ability tests focus on measuring intellectual capabilities such as reasoning, memory, and problem-solving skills, rather than practical or hands-on skills. Behavioral interviews look for past behaviors and experiences that indicate how a candidate might handle future situations but do not provide a direct assessment of hands-on skills. Similarly, situational interviews present hypothetical scenarios to gauge how a candidate would react but do not test actual skill execution. Performance tests, therefore, uniquely fit the requirement of assessing practical job skills directly.