for selecting the best dispatchers call-takers telecommunicators more than 600 public-safety...

For selecting the bestDispatchers • Call-Takers • Telecommunicators

more than 600 public-safety agencies use

Click on the screen, use the scroll bar, or press the right arrow key to view the next slide. Press the left arrow key to go back to the previous slide.

Pre-Employment Testing Software

Dispatching has changed dramatically over the years…your employment tests should

reflect these changes!

One Texas city reported it cost $88,000 for the

recruitment, testing, selection, training, and probationary supervision of a single dispatcher

Hiring the wrong person can be very

expensive!

Too many public-safety agencies have learned the hard way that interviews and written tests are not sufficient to determine

whether someone possesses the knowledge, skill, and ability needed to become a successful

dispatcher

They should have used

CritiCall to see if he really

could do the job

What is CritiCall?• CritiCall is a nationally validated,

computerized, pre-employment selection test designed to aid in the selection of public-safety dispatchers and call-takers

• CritiCall is virtually self-administering and self-scoring

• CritiCall is designed to address the federal Uniform Guidelines on Employee Selection Procedure and the CALEA Standards for Public Safety Communications Agencies

Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc.

This is not meant to imply endorsement by these organizations

“CritiCall testing has allowed us to test in areas that our previous standardized testing didn't. It allows testing of multi-tasking skills, data entry, and other vital tasks related to hearing, understanding, and responding to various tests in a computer environment. I believe we have been able to save time by not hiring people who do not have the skills to work in a computerized environment. This testing and an improved pre-service training regimen has improved our retention of new hires.”

Sandra Simonds, Communications Manager, York County Communications

A comment from a satisfied CritiCall user…

We would be happy to provide references upon request!

CritiCall was created by the Biddle Consulting Group (BCG)

• BCG is a Human Resource Consulting company with over 30 years experience assisting public safety agencies in selecting their employees

• BCG has extensive experience in computerized testing and product support

• BCG provides a wide range of Equal Employment Opportunity services to clients nationwide

CritiCall Helps You to Hire Qualified Employees

• Scientific studies show that computer-related multi-tasking requires the ability to use a computer as part of a subconscious, automatic routine – Fact: If workers have to focus on using the computer,

they will have extreme difficulty focusing on other required tasks!

– CritiCall automatically measures computer-related abilities, along with many others

CritiCall Uses Work Sample Testing

• Many of CritiCall’s test modules are a miniature replica of the job – These tests provide to the applicants a

Realistic Preview of the job– The average validity of work-sample

testing is the highest of any kind of pre-employment testing

– CritiCall is scientifically designed so the job candidates need no prior dispatch experience or special dispatcher training to succeed during testing

CritiCall Testing Measures a Wide Range of Abilities

• Decision Making• Multi-Tasking• Data Entry• Using a computer• Listening and using

the information heard• Using alphabetical

lists• Comparing and

contrasting data

• Prioritization• Memory recall• Spelling• Sentence Clarity• Reading Comprehension• Map Reading• Basic Math• Keying a microphone

and speaking clearly

SPELLING

MATH

DATA ENTRY

MAP READING

USING LISTS

READING COMPREHENSION

MEMORYDECISION MAKING &

MULTI-TASKING

Screen shots of some of

CritiCall’s Tests

CritiCall is Easy to Set Up

• You can use as many, or as few, of CritiCall’s 23 test modules for your pre-employment testing as you wish

• CritiCall contains a built-in Test Creation Wizard that helps employers choose the most appropriate tests to use during testing for the job as it is performed at their agency

“CritiCall has made the testing process comprehensive and it can be tailored to the needs of the organization.”

Robert Farr, Communications Training Assistant Phoenix Police Department, AZ

“Prior to using CritiCall, we had to run candidates through three separate tests, which unreasonably extended the testing process. Now our testing is done quickly, efficiently, and with a more up-to-date process which more closely simulates the day-to-day operations of our Dispatch Center. It's like coming out of the Stone Age!”

Robert Hansen, LieutenantMedford Police Department, OR

Another comment from a satisfied CritiCall user…


CritiCall is Easy to Use

• CritiCall is virtually self-administering and self-scoring– The job candidate sits at the computer

and the CritiCall program does the rest– CritiCall automatically scores virtually

every aspect of the test• Thousands of job candidates have

been tested by hundreds of agencies with great success

“This has helped speed up the testing process. We went from testing quarterly to now testing as soon as we have pre-qualified applicants. We have saved money and resources and hired more qualified individuals in the process.”

Amy Smith, Human ResourcesCity of Jacksonville Beach, FL

“The program is user friendly on both administrator and the applicant. Biddle [Consulting Group – the creator and sole distributor of CritiCall] has been very accommodating when needed.”

Sherrie Matthews, Training CoordinatorIndian River County Sheriff’s Office, FL



CritiCall Work Sample Testing can …

• Reduce Adverse Impact: Work-sample testing has been shown to reduce adverse impact against protected groups of employees in some settings

• Lower Turnover: Persons selected using work-sample testing frequently stay on the job longer

• Research indicates that 80% of newly hired telecommunicators who leave before finishing probation leave because they had inadequate job-related knowledge, skills and abilities

• CritiCall measures many of the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to be a successful dispatcher or calltaker prior to being hired!

How CritiCall Can Help You Reduce Turnover

“In 2000, before we started using CritiCall, we successfully trained and retained only 15% of our new hires. In mid 2001 we started using CritiCall and our retention rate rose to 54%. In 2002 we did even better, and retained 86% of our new hires. And, believe it or not, in 2003 we had a 100% retention rate. CritiCall was definitely not the only change we made to our hiring and training practices, but I consider it to be one of the most integral parts. Thanks again for a great product and feel free to call on me anytime!”

Susan Koch, Training Coordinator, Washington County 911, OR


“[CritiCall] has dramatically reduced our turnover rate since we started using it over two years ago. Have not lost anyone to training failure and our turnover was less than half of what it was the prior years.”

Kathy Sukus, Operations Manager, Rock County Communications Center, WI



The CritiCall Test is Based on a

National Job Analysis

• CritiCall was originally developed and validated using input from experienced dispatchers from 49 agencies in 12 states

• Since the initial validation study was performed, we have collected validation information from hundreds of dispatcher experts from more than 50 additional agencies from around the country– State, County, City, Local, Regional, University– Police, Fire, Ambulance, and Cross-Functional

Communication Centers

Testing that is Valid for Your Agency

• CritiCall contains a Validation Wizard feature, which you can use to automatically conduct your own content validity study

• The Validation Report automatically produced by the CritiCall program can be used as evidence of non-discrimination in the event of civil rights litigation

More than 600 Public Safety Agencies have adopted CritiCall including over 25% of the nation’s

State Police/Highway Patrol Agencies

You Can Also Write Your own Test Questions using CritiCall

• CritiCall contains a tool that allows you to create your own multiple-choice, true/false, and fill-in-the-blanks test questions– While we do not recommend that you write your own

questions for pre-employment testing, this feature is great for developing questions to determine the effectiveness of your training or for promotional testing!

• The custom tests you create can be automatically administered and scored by the CritiCall program

CritiCall Never Becomes Outdated

CritiCall is constantly being updated to meet the ever-

changing needs of the Public Safety

Communications CommunityNotice: CritiCall Version 4.0 measures five times the

multi-tasking of previous versions!

OutstandingService and Support

With every CritiCall system, for the first full year you receive

Complimentary software upgrades and updates

CritiCall User Group membership Includes access to the password-protected

User’s Group web pages with CritiCall training and information 24 hours a day

Unlimited toll-free telephone supportNote: Similar support after

the first year is available on a subscription basis

“CritiCall covers each of these key areas for us and is a very realistic simulation of our dynamic environment, not to mention it requires very little to no time to administer and is very easy to implement. I just wanted to let you know how pleased we are with CritiCall. I would be happy to share the word with others considering your product and you are welcome to add me to your reference list.”

Cindy Thomas, RESPONSE Services CenterColumbia, MD



In Summary, CritiCall…

• Uses a combination of work-sample and other testing to measure computer-related and many other knowledge, skills, and abilities that are needed prior to the first day on the job as a public-safety dispatcher or calltaker

• Is virtually self-administering and self-scoring

• Can lower turnover / save money• Can decrease training & supervision time• Is easily validated specifically for your

agency• Can be used to create your own tests

“For many years we have struggled with trying to find a method for adequately measuring/determining candidates' capabilities in all aspects of the job. However, of all the things we have tried, we have never found anything that comes close to CritiCall as it relates to evaluating a candidate's multi-tasking abilities. Though there are clearly aspects of the test battery that are geared specifically at multi-tasking, just about all of the individual tests we use measure multi-tasking in some form or manner. By requiring test users to validate the individual tests for their agency, the overall instrument has increased credibility and I am confident that if challenged, it would hold up in court.”

Sgt. Steven R. Kowa, Ph.D., CommanderUniversity of Maryland Department of Public Safety

For more information call

800-999-0438or email [email protected]

Bona-fide public safety agencies can obtain a demonstration version of the CritiCall Pre-Employment

Testing Program for review

Pre-Employment Testing Software

for selecting the best dispatchers call-takers telecommunicators more than 600 public-safety...

Documents

criticall testing

testing slide

job slide

takers criticall

rest criticall

criticall program

computerized testing

previous slide