There’s no free lunch as part of the current pre-employment process. A lot of organizations require candidates to take a skilled-based aptitude test as part of the hiring process. One of the difficulties with this is that many of these tests are administered online. This means that you have to prepare for a new set of challenges that did not exist in pen and paper days.
Now, let us walk you through five easy steps to overcome any pre-employment assessment test! But first, you should understand –
What Is Pre-Employment Testing?
Pre-employment testing is an objective and standardized method of collecting data on candidates at some stage in the hiring process. The tests are a part of the screening process and help verify the information supplied by the candidates in their resumes.
Although some candidates are apprehensive about the idea of being judged on the basis of scores achieved in a specific test, many candidates think that they can present themselves and display their capabilities in a better manner through a face-to-face interview. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of pre-employment testing cannot be negated and prevalence is expected to grow.
Pre-employment tests have one thing in common: they are an effective and reliable way to better understand the capabilities and traits of future employees. Depending on the type of test used, pre-employment assessments provide relevant information about a candidate’s ability to work in the workplace.
There are different types of pre-employment assessment tests, and among them are:
- Integrity tests
- Personality tests
- Physical fitness tests
- Skills assessment tests
- Cognitive capacity tests
- Emotional intelligence tests
- Professional Knowledge Tests
Tips & Tricks to Excel Pre-Employment Assessment Tests
1. Practice in Advance & Know Your Strengths
Simple and difficult questions are mixed in the exam and are usually worth the same number of points on job tests. By taking practice exams in advance, you can identify the easiest and most difficult questions. This is a game-changer because you can pick and answer the questions you feel more comfortable with. It saves you time and increases your overall test score.
2. Don’t Take a Shot in the Dark & Be Realistic
It is always a good idea to get fewer questions right than to answer a higher number of questions wrong. At the same time, this doesn’t mean that you need to answer one question correctly and leave the rest. It’s always a good idea to verify if there is a negative score for wrong answers before taking the test. If there’s no penalty then there’s no harm in guessing. However, if there’s negative scoring in the exam, try to avoid wild guesses.
3. Do Your Research Well
Before taking your aptitude tests, you are advised to do your research thoroughly. Many people believe there is no way to improve by preparing for these tests. However, it is not true! Evaluation tests tend to reuse a similar format for the types of questions they use. Reviewing different kinds of questions in advance will give you a head start on your competition. There’s generally about a week’s time between getting the exam notice and the day of the exam, which gives you plenty of time to prepare and practice.
4. Let Your Clock Be Your Best Friend
When you take an exam online, there is a digital timer in the corner that counts every second that passes. Most people see this tool as a threat rather than a friend. But, let us clarify a common misconception – you must always use the timer to lock you in. You can save time by quickly answering the easiest questions, then use the remaining time for the most challenging problems. Do not give up on attempting the difficult questions altogether, instead save time in the end to work on those questions.
5. All Things Considered
As always in life, doing your research well in advance, and being proactive in preparing for the test, will help you succeed. If you are applying for a job that you truly desire, this is your chance to pass the competition and shine. Go all-in, and get that job!