The term assessment refers to the process of documenting, usually in measurable terms, knowledge, skill, attitudes, and beliefs. Career assessments are tools that are designed to measure how a variety of potential attributes, such as interests, preferences, values, motivations, aptitudes, and skills, impact a person's potential success and satisfaction with different career options and work environments.
An assessment can consist of aptitude tests, behavioral tests, or assessment centers and is usually part of a pre-employment test.
There are multiple terms used in the market for the process of screening and testing people. Terms commonly used are a pre-employment test, assessment exam, pre-hiring test, job applicant test, or aptitude tests. Their meaning is more or less the same and are all concerned with testing people for a specific goal which is in most cases a potential job.

The most common elements include intelligence tests, personality questionnaires, interviews, practical assignments, role-plays, and simulation exercises. Intelligence tests and interviews are mostly used during assessments.