01:12 Dec 1, 2009 

Yes, and in the case studies I was translating, 'career path evaluation' was used in the context of (a) divisions of companies that were being closed, to find suitable new jobs in other parts of a company, and (b) companies that were acquired and were deciding who to retain and who to "downsize". Essentially where a new career path was necessary for an employee.

17:53 Nov 30, 2009 

Re joehlindsay's point about the nuance between 'career aptitude assessment' and 'career path assessment'. I would say that there is more than a nuance and that the former is more applicable to the situation of both those starting a career and people who might need to go for a career change because of redundancy. 'Career path assessment' seems more suitable for people making decisions about their next job application in an upward direction.

17:31 Nov 30, 2009 

A few months ago I worked with a team of UK/US translators to translate HR material and examinations for a respected business graduate school in Paris. One thing we noted is that the terms assessment and evaluation are used slightly differently in the UK and North America. Although they mean about the same thing, UK usage seems to favor 'assessment' and US 'evaluation', although both terms are used in both countries. "Assessment' seems to always be used in the term 'skills assessment' but in other contexts North Americans favor 'evaluation'.

Usually we used terms we could find in English language HR textbooks, which is fairly standardized. However, HR consulting businesses are, of course free to call things any thing they want.

There is a very slight nuance between 'career aptitude assessment', and 'career path assessment'. The 'career aptitude assessment' is generally used for those who have yet to start a career. The 'career path evaluation (UK=assessment)' pertains to those who have an established career, and assesses that career and other qualifications in terms of a different job.

In wikipedia entry for "outplacement", you "career evaluation" in this exact context.

07:33 Nov 30, 2009 

in the event of dismissals or layoffs. This company has created an employment protection plan hopefully to find jobs for those of its workers that will have to be laid off perhaps because their plant is closing down. In that case, if possible, they are retrained or hired/relocated elsewhere, at another of the company's plants internally or externally.

07:27 Nov 30, 2009 

"Bilan de compétences" et "évaluation de compétences" sont très proches l'un de l'autre. En fait, "évaluation" et "bilan" constituent pratiquement un pléonasme -d'où peut être nos difficultés à traduire ce qui paraît simple...

02:10 Nov 30, 2009 

Je pense que le 'bilan de compétence' est définitivement 'skills assessment', mais je pense que le 'bilan d'évaluation' est autre chose.

02:08 Nov 30, 2009 

Do you know/does your source text specify if these individuals will be employed after the merger, or if they will be looking for new employment? I'm thinking of that awful, over-used "outplacement services."

01:56 Nov 30, 2009 

La formulation de ce texte est un peu bizarre, on parle plutôt de "bilan de compétences", en général. Ce bilan s'effectue dans un cabinet extérieur, l'entreprise se voit simplement communiquer les résultats en présence de l'employé. La raison en est le plus souvent un souhait d'évolution de carrière ou de réorientation professionnelle, il y a plusieurs phases : bilan de la carrière et des compétences acquises, tests de QI (IQ) et psychologique, définition d'un objectif professionnel et plan d'action pour y aboutir. C'est une démarche assez courante, en France. Skills assessment me semble bien.