Psychometric testing for Graduates
Psychometric tests have become one of the most feared and least understood selection methods facing graduates today. Long gone are the days in which merely holding a degree (of any grade) was sufficient for immediate and permanent employment. However nowadays graduate can expect to undertake multiple competency based interviews, telephone interviews, case study exercises, role play exercises and of course, numerous psychometric tests. But why are employers using these tests?
Unlike other selection procedures as unstructured interviews, psychometric tests such as verbal and numerical reasoning tests have a great deal of research behind their validity. Thoroughly researched tests provide results which correlate well with job performance, more so than any other selection procedure. As a result, both public and private sector employers are increasing utilising them in their selection processes.
Reports have shown that over 95% of FTSE 100 companies use psychometric tests during their recruitment processes, often at the very early stages of the recruitment process. Larger companies are more likely to incorporate psychometric tests, and it was shown that 63.2% of business with over 100 employs utilised psychometric in their recruitment process. The public sector shows a similar pattern, with both the civil service and the NHS requiring candidates to undertake psychometrics for graduate scheme positions.
AssessmentDay.co.uk offer full length practice verbal, numerical, logical, diagrammatic reasoning tests and other practice assessments. These tests can be taken online under timed conditions or may be downloaded, along with correct solutions. Practice makes perfect, and in today’s graduate job market, nothing can be left to chance. Hedge your position and visit www.assessmentday.co.uk and try a few tests out for free.
It’s safe to say that if you are a graduate wanting to start a career in a large organisation, you are going to need to get used to psychometrics. The bad news is that when psychometric ability tests are used in the early stages of the recruitment process, roughly 40% of graduates will get screened out immediately due to their test performance, and often this is directly after their initial application. But what can we do about this?
As with all testable ability, verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning and logical reasoning test can be practiced, and with adequate practice and preparation, candidates can maximise their scores. A recent report from the AGR found that 72.7% of employers will offer practice questions in advance of the real test, and even then, 81.8% of these tests provided were not timed, not properly simulating the test environment. Maximise your chances of getting hire, practice and prepare for your psychometric test and successfully land yourself your first job out of university.
By Ben Schwencke,
