The Institut fur Wirtschaftspsychologie (WIP) has been working in the former German Democratic Republic in behalf of well-known companies in the field of selection and development of personnel since the beginning of 1990. WIP analysed a total of 6000 applications of East German qualified employees and executives. In doing so the Institute found out that in West Germany successfully applied strategies and instruments of selection could not be applied in the former GDR. The results of comparative analyses of applicants from West and East Germany call into question whether it is possible at all to apply the Western statistical norms of psychological tests to East Germany applicants. In order to secure test fairness for East German applicants, it is important to assess the criterion 'learning ability' in the Assessment Center (AC). Deficencies existing in the aerae of social skills can be compensated with trainings that organized appropriately. The teaching methods have to take into account the special circumstances in East Germany.
