What Should Show That Someone Is Ready to Use a Skill?

A training assessment can show that someone learned the material in the format they practiced. The work decision is harder: can they use that learning when the task looks a little different?

Imagine a team deciding whether a new colleague is ready to handle a task independently. A quiz may check recall; a realistic work sample may show application, but it also takes time to design and review.

What evidence would make you comfortable with that decision? Would you look for accurate recall, performance on a new example, or a combination—and how would you tell whether the assessment resembles the work that matters?