The modern recruiting process usually includes something known as psychometric testing. Although it may sound somewhat frightening, there is nothing to be worried about. Psychometric testing is a term used to describe a combination of personality profiles and ability tests companies used to make sure prospective candidates will be able to perform in the position they are applying for.
Psychometric testing is designed to be situational yet objective. Each of the tests presents you with specific questions designed to understand how you will react under certain conditions. Their design means they do not favour any particular candidate over another. However, in order to do well, you need to prepare for these tests ahead of time.
You will not have time in the moments before a test to review what will be asked of you, so you need to be prepared for the most common types of psychometric tests. We will explain them in just a moment. First, we want to mention how and when psychometric testing takes place. Sometimes the testing is part of the initial application process and includes a test you will take online. Other times you might be given a written test just prior to your interview.
With that out of the way, here are the various types of tests you might encounter during the recruiting and hiring process:
1. Personality Profiles
The main point of the personality profile is to determine whether your personality is a proper match for the job you are applying for or not. There are no right or wrong answers in a technical sense, but the employer will be looking to discover how you react to certain situations. For example, a specific personality might be required in order to participate effectively within the team you'll be assigned to. Therefore, the test might present you with scenarios to gauge your reaction to a specific situation.
Some people believe personality profiles are considered as stand-alone testing tools. They are not. The results of a personality profile are combined with other parts of the recruiting process in order to get a full picture of who you are and whether or not you are a good fit for the company or the job.
Here are some tips for personality profiles:
- Perspective ' It's important to answer all questions honestly. However, it is equally important to try to view the test from the employer's perspective. Because the test is designed to gauge your reactions to different scenarios, you should try to imagine what a supervisor would be expecting from you. Combine this perspective with your own personality as you answer each question.
- Decisiveness ' Employers do not get excited about candidates who answer too many questions as 'neither agree nor disagree'. Even if your chosen answer is not necessarily in agreement with an interviewer or employer, they would rather you be decisive than continually riding the fence. If you are always neutral in your answers, you may be viewed as unable to make decisions.
- Consistency ' Many people do poorly on personality profiles because their answers are not consistent. These types of tests routinely ask the same questions multiple times, but in different formats, to gauge how consistent you are. What's the point? To determine how strong a position you hold on any given topic.
2. Numerical Reasoning Tests
When numerical reasoning tests are used, the employer is attempting to determine how well you work with numbers. In a setting like ours, numbers can play a critical role in designing functional websites that include databases and formulas. Numerical reasoning tests can include everything from simple arithmetic to complex numerical analysis.
The importance of these tests is underscored by the reality that most of the positions at Nuttersons require at least a basic proficiency in mathematics. Some positions require greater proficiency than others do, but the ability to work with numbers is universal to nearly everything we do.
Here are some tips for numerical reasoning tests:
- Preparation ' It will be very important for you to be able to read each question and quickly decide what is being asked of you. You can prepare for this by practicing data interpretation skills. In the days leading up to your test, spend a fair amount of time reading technical manuals, business journals, financial news, etc.
- Refresh Your Memory ' You'll find yourself more confident and able to reason more quickly if you take the time to refresh your mental arithmetic skills ahead of time. Ask a friend or family member to quiz you on addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and the use of fractions.
- Understand Percentage Calculations ' Numerical reasoning tests often present problems in the realm of percentage calculations because such calculations tend to confuse people. Make sure you are thoroughly versed in how to perform these calculations. Also, practice reading percentage-based problems in order to more easily identify the question being asked.
3. Verbal Reasoning Tests
The verbal reasoning test is similar to the numerical skills test except that you're dealing with words rather than numbers. The test is designed to determine whether you can read a series of facts, understand a given problem related to those facts, and find a solution that will solve the problem in light of the facts presented.
Oftentimes problems are presented in large paragraphs of text to see if you can extract relevant data while separating out information you do not need. If you are a poor reader, you will need to brush up on your reading skills in order to do well with verbal reasoning.
The second thing to consider is the need for effective communications in the modern business environment. To that end, some portions of a verbal reasoning test are designed to test your ability to communicate rather than solve a particular problem. If you are a good communicator, you may be better suited to a position other than what you are applying for.
Here are some tips for verbal reasoning tests:
- Comprehension Practice ' Take the time to increase your comprehension by reading complicated portions of text and extracting key data. Write down your understanding of the text and then ask the opinion of someone you trust to evaluate your work.
- Focus on Facts ' Part of every good verbal reasoning test is a series of true and false questions designed to test your ability to pay attention to the facts. When you are dealing with true and false questions, never assume a line of reasoning. Answer based only on the facts presented in the question. If the facts do not provide an unequivocal answer of true or false, then the appropriate answer is that you cannot say one way or the other.
- Grammar and Vocabulary ' The key to successful communication is good grammar and an extensive vocabulary. Work on both in the weeks leading up to your test. There are plenty of practice resources you can find online for this purpose. If you have a good command of vocabulary and grammar, you will definitely make an impression.
General Testing Tips
If you know ahead of time what kind of tests you will be taking, you'll be able to practice beforehand. There are sample tests available online that can prove to be a valuable resource. Once you begin your test, do your best and don't panic. If you become stuck on a particular question, simply set it aside and move on. You can always return and deal with that question again later.
Psychometric testing tips
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