It today’s competitive job market it is becoming more and more common for job applicants to be asked to sit a pre-employment test before moving forward to the interview stage. Depending on the job, these tests can assess a range of characteristics including cognitive abilities, general knowledge, work experience, personality, and even physical and motor skills. In most cases, the aim of a pre-employment test is to identify candidates who are most likely to succeed in the advertised position/s and at the same time, weed out those who may not be a great fit for the job.
Pros and Cons of Pre Employment Testing
Pre-employment testing can be a great help to employers. One advantage is that these tests are more objective than an unstructured interview, resume screening or pre-interview calls. They prevent recruiters and hiring managers from making arbitrary decisions based on their biases instead of job-related standards.
Pre-employment tests also help save employers time because the tests are the same for everyone. Instead of having each job applicant undergo a one-hour interview, it is possible to have 10 or 20 candidates take the same test in the same amount of time.
However, standardized pre-employment tests have their downsides, too. In most cases, these tests only give recruiters a glimpse of what a person can do. While recruiters and job managers can determine if a candidate can or cannot do a specific task, they won’t know how willing or able the latter is to learn and improve. For example, a job applicant may have never used Adobe Photoshop before, but they could learn quickly if given a chance. In contrast, an applicant may be familiar with using accounting software, but it doesn’t mean that they are willing to use it or try new technologies to improve their efficiency.
Pre-employment tests also tend to put people in the same box, thus, causing employers to miss out on a few diamonds in the rough.
Types of Pre Employment Testing
Depending on the industry, pre-employment tests come in many different forms. These include:
- Employment aptitude test
- Integrity test
- Verbal tests
- Skills assessment test
- Personality test
Some employers also require job applicants to undergo drug tests as part of their pre-employment procedure.
Prepare For A Pre Employment Test
If you’re set to take a pre-employment test, here are few tips you should consider to improve your chances of getting the results you want.
- Ask Questions
Make sure you know what there is to know about the test, including what you can expect, where the test will be given, and how long it is likely to be. Contact the recruiter or hiring manager beforehand and be sure to obtain all the important information you need.
- Take Care Of Yourself
Get a good night’s sleep before the test and make sure that you arrive early on the testing day to give yourself enough time to compose yourself. More importantly, dress comfortably and make sure that you never take a test on an empty stomach!
- Read The Instructions Carefully
As the saying goes, “Slow and steady wins the race.” Read the instructions carefully and make sure you understand them. Don’t rush and give yourself enough time to answer each question.
On Line Recruitment can assist you with your employment search and provide you with the support you need to secure the job you want. Contact Us today.
