An assessment centre is a structured evaluation that puts a person in situations close to the target role and observes what they actually do. Archetype has run assessments in Belgium since 1993 for Sales, Marketing and Management profiles, in English, French and Dutch, across Belgium and the Netherlands. Each assessment combines an in-depth interview, role-plays and a case study, a competency analysis and the KOAN personality test, which we have used for 30 years. It ends with a spoken debrief that leads to a decision: hire, promote, train or reposition.
What is an assessment centre?
The assessment centre method rests on a simple observation: what someone says in an interview and how they behave in front of a difficult client or a reluctant team are two different things. So the method adds practice to the conversation. A typical assessment centre includes a structured interview, simulations such as role-plays and case studies, and psychometric tests, all scored against the competencies the role requires.
The term covers very different formats. Some providers run group days with several candidates and several assessors in the same room. At Archetype the assessment is individual: one person, a session of 1, 2 or 3 hours depending on how critical the role is, and a competency framework built with you for that specific position. For teams, we run these individual assessments one after the other and draw a collective reading from them (the Gap Assessment, described below).
You will also see the terms skills assessment, competency assessment, management assessment and gap analysis. They describe the same family of tools, applied to different decisions.
Three situations where an external assessment changes the decision
Our clients call on us in three contexts. Each has its own detailed page.
Before a hire
You have two or three finalists, comparable CVs and a doubt. A recruitment assessment puts each finalist in front of the real job and shows you the strengths and risk areas of each. It works whether you recruit on your own, with another agency or with us.
Before an internal promotion
An excellent salesperson does not automatically become a good manager. An assessment before an internal promotion measures the gap between the current role and the target role, and proposes a development plan when the potential is there.
To measure the skills of a team
Before a commercial transformation, a training budget or a restructuring, the Gap Assessment of a sales team compares current skills with those your strategy needs. Our managerial skills assessment does the same work for your managers.
We’ve been using the KOAN tool for 30 years. Thirty years isn’t a detail: it’s what lets you read a test beyond ticked boxes. A KOAN properly interpreted doesn’t just say “this candidate is extroverted”. It tells you what drives them, what blocks them, how they react under pressure, and whether those dynamics fit your team’s culture. That’s rare, and it’s what turns a psychometric test into a business decision tool.
Our method in four components
Every Archetype assessment rests on the same four components. The weight given to each one changes with the format and the role.
The KOAN test looks at three dimensions: competencies (what the person can do), drivers (what moves them forward and what holds them back) and behavioural dynamics (how they react under pressure, in a team, when things change). For sales profiles the model covers ten competencies, from Customer Orientation to Example to Others, by way of Perseverance and Influencing Strategies.
The report does not replace the debrief. We give it in person, to the person who decides. Read on its own, a report quickly shrinks to a score, and what you need is to understand why a profile fits your role or why it does not.
Formats and prices
You choose the format according to the depth of analysis you need and what is at stake in the role.
| Format | Length of the assessment | Typical use | Price per person assessed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small | 1 hour | Quick decision, second opinion on a finalist | €1,500 to €3,000 |
| Medium | 2 hours | Hire or promotion to a key role | €1,500 to €3,000 |
| Large | 3 hours | Sales director, management, succession | €1,500 to €3,000 |
The exact price depends on the format, the number of people and the languages. We set it after a first conversation about the role and the decision to be made.
Which format for which decision?
This grid sums up what we propose most often in each situation. It is a starting point for the first call, not a fixed rule.
| Your situation | Approach | What you receive |
|---|---|---|
| Two finalists, one hesitation | One-shot, Small or Medium per finalist | One report per candidate and a comparative debrief |
| A salesperson tipped to become a manager | One-shot, Medium or Large | A reading of potential and a development plan |
| A team of 3 to 10 people before a transformation | Gap Assessment | Individual reports and a collective report built on your KPIs |
| Several teams, distributors included, over several months | Transformation programme (assessment and training) | Diagnosis, training programme, targeted hires |
Performance evaluation of a team: what KPIs do not tell you
Your figures tell you what happened: revenue, margin, conversion rate. They do not tell you why a salesperson who performed well last year is now falling behind, or whether your team will be able to sell differently tomorrow. An external performance evaluation looks at what produces the result: the sales method, the attitude in front of the client, the ability to learn and what motivates each person.
That is the purpose of the Gap Assessment. A briefing with senior management sets the target KPIs and the gap to close. Each person is assessed in their working language and receives an individual report, and management receives a consolidated collective report with recommendations: who to train first, on what, and which roles will need to be recruited. We can extend the assessment to your distributor network.
On a transformation project covering 40 people, sales staff and distribution network included, we first defined with the board the skills the sales team would need in future, then assessed all 40 people to get a picture of their skills against a five-year horizon. The sales and management training programmes were built on those results, and key profiles such as a Sales Director were recruited afterwards.
The annual appraisal, on the other hand, remains the job of your managers. If that is the exercise you want to improve, look at our management training, which covers the performance review.
Assessment centres in Belgium: how to compare providers
Several firms offer assessment centres in Belgium, from large HR groups to specialist consultancies. Before you choose, ask four questions:
- Who designs the exercises, and are they built around your role or taken from a standard catalogue?
- Which personality test is used, and how long have the assessors worked with it?
- In which languages can each candidate be assessed?
- Do you receive a written report only, or a spoken debrief with someone who can explain the reasoning?
Why entrust the assessment to Archetype
- We have recruited, assessed and trained sales and management profiles for 33 years. Our assessors know the jobs they assess.
- The KOAN test has been our core tool for 30 years, and the team has been trained to interpret it in depth.
- We assess in English, French and Dutch, in the person’s working language, across the Benelux.
- We say what needs to be said, including when the candidate you prefer shows a weakness on a critical competency.
- The assessment can lead to training or a hire with us, without changing contact. Archetype is a member of Federgon and won the Talent Business Innovation of the Year 2025 award for its ethical and structured use of AI.
Want to know first where your sales team stands against your targets? A Gap Assessment of your sales team maps the gap for each salesperson and for the team as a whole.
About Archetype
Archetype is a Belgian family business founded in 1993 by Marc Diamant and now co-managed with Davy Diamant and Steve Diamant. A member of Federgon, it won Talent Business Innovation of the Year 2025 for its ethical and structured use of AI.
Frequently asked questions about assessment centres
What is an assessment centre?
It is an evaluation method that combines an interview, simulations and tests to observe how a person acts in conditions close to the target role. At Archetype the assessment is individual and lasts 1, 2 or 3 hours depending on the format.
What is the difference between an assessment centre and a development centre?
The exercises are similar; the purpose differs. An assessment centre supports a decision such as hiring or promoting, while a development centre builds a development plan. With us, the same assessment can serve both: it settles a decision and, when the potential is there, leads to a development plan.
How much does an assessment centre cost in Belgium?
At Archetype, between €1,500 and €3,000 per person assessed, depending on the format chosen (1, 2 or 3 hours) and the depth of analysis required. The price is agreed with you before the assessment starts.
How long does an assessment take?
The assessment itself lasts 1 hour (Small), 2 hours (Medium) or 3 hours (Large). Add the briefing with you beforehand and the spoken debrief afterwards.
In which languages do you run assessments?
In English, French or Dutch, in the working language of the person assessed. In a multilingual team, each member is assessed in their own language.
How do I prepare for an assessment centre?
There is no right answer to learn. Reread the job description, prepare concrete examples of situations you have handled, and get a good night’s sleep. The role-plays assess how you work, not whether you find a model answer.
Let’s talk about your decision
Tell us about the role, the person or the team to be assessed and the decision you have to make. We call you back to agree the format and language of the assessment, then send you a written proposal. You can also use our other services: recruitment of sales and management profiles and training for your teams.
A finalist, a manager or a team to assess?
Avenue Louise 65, box 11, 1050 Ixelles (Brussels). Assessments in English, French and Dutch.
Contact us Call +32 475 24 71 61
Is your sales team truly ready for the future?- Discover Archetype’s « Sales People Scan »®
- How to Succeed in Recruitment During a Talent Shortage
- Recruitment Outsourcing: A Lever for Attracting the Best Talent
- Employment Market in Belgium for 2025: Recruiting Sectors and Trends to Watch
- Passive Talent Sourcing: 6 Game-Changing Techniques
