Primavera P6 Skills Assessment: Test for This When Hiring Schedulers

The demand for skilled Primavera P6 planners and schedulers is on the rise. But with hiring comes its own set of challenges – time, money, and the looming risk of selecting talent that may not meet your project needs. So, how do you ensure you’re bringing on board the best Primavera P6 schedulers? Today we’re exploring five crucial areas to assess when hiring schedulers, balancing both soft and technical skills for a comprehensive Primavera P6 Assessment.

Soft Skills: The Foundation of Effective Planning

1. Written Communication: Effective communication is paramount in planning and scheduling. Beyond grammar and structure, it’s about articulating ideas coherently and navigating the intricacies of documentation. One way to evaluate this skill is by presenting candidates with visual data from the job site and assessing their ability to describe it comprehensively.
2. Attention to Detail: In a world of intricate often complicated schedules, attention to detail is non-negotiable. Candidates must possess the ability to scrutinize reports, identify discrepancies, and maintain precision. Practical assessments like analyzing differences between two reports or spotting errors in schedule data can shed light on this critical skill.

Technical Skills: Navigating Primavera P6 with Finesse

While soft skills lay the foundation, technical ability with Primavera P6 is equally essential. Here’s how to evaluate candidates’ technical acumen:

1. CPM Skills and Knowledge: Critical Path Method (CPM) lies at the heart of project scheduling. Candidates should demonstrate a deep understanding of CPM principles, including identifying Critical Paths, Float Paths, Logic, and driving Relationships in P6.
2. General P6 Knowledge: Proficiency in navigating Primavera P6 is essential for effective scheduling. Candidates should be familiar with core functionalities such as creating Work Breakdown Structures (WBS), defining Activity Relationships, setting project Baselines, and utilizing scheduling constraints. Practical exercises may involve tasks like creating a new project, adding activities, and customizing project views within P6.
3. Schedule Creation Skills: Building robust schedules requires adherence to best practices and industry standards. Candidates should demonstrate the ability to develop comprehensive project schedules that accurately reflect scope, resource requirements, and sequencing logic. Assessments may include evaluating candidates’ approach to schedule building, assessing the logical sequencing of activities, scenarios, selecting correct relationship types, duration of lag, and identifying opportunities for schedule improvement.
4. Updating Schedules: Effective schedule management involves regular updates to reflect project progress and changes. Candidates should be proficient in incorporating progress updates, tracking changes, and maintaining schedule integrity. Practical exercises may involve scenarios where candidates are tasked with updating schedules based on progress reports, adjusting activity durations, and resolving schedule conflicts.
5. Schedule Analysis: Beyond schedule creation and updates, schedulers must possess strong analytical skills to interpret schedule variances and assess project performance. Candidates should demonstrate the ability to analyze schedule data, identify deviations from the Baseline, and identify Float changes. Assessments may include reviewing schedule reports, conducting variance analysis, and generating insights to support project decision-making.

Introducing the Plan Academy Primavera P6 Skills Assessment Exam

We built the Primavera P6 Skills Assessment Exam Tool to streamline the hiring process and ensure objectivity. This timed exam evaluates candidates across key technical competencies, providing quantifiable insights into their proficiency with Primavera P6. The assessment can be customized to align with specific role requirements and organizational standards, allowing hiring managers to identify candidates who possess the requisite skills and expertise for scheduling roles.

By leveraging data-driven assessments, organizations can minimize subjective biases, streamline candidate evaluation, and make informed hiring decisions. The Primavera P6 Skills Assessment serves as a valuable tool for assessing candidates’ technical competencies, enabling organizations to build high-performing scheduling teams capable of delivering successful projects.

This is a Well-Rounded Primavera P6 Assessment. We speak the same language as Primavera P6 schedulers and come from real-industry experience. How you measure skills is critical. We use hands-on challenges in real scheduling scenarios to understand proficiency at a deeper level than you’ll ever get anywhere else.

• Assess skills in realistic scenarios that align with on-the-job responsibilities.
• Let schedulers showcase their skills in familiar environments.
• See how schedulers work in high pressure analysis scenarios and more.

In the quest for top-tier Primavera P6 talent, a balanced assessment of both soft and technical skills is paramount. By leveraging tools like our Primavera P6 Skills Assessment Exam, organizations can streamline the hiring process, identify top performers, and build teams equipped to tackle project complexities effectively. With the right blend of communication prowess and technical finesse, hiring managers can navigate the recruitment landscape with confidence, ensuring the success of their scheduling endeavors. Hire the right schedulers, with the right skills every time!