Created by Esin Yalçın / June, 2023
In recruitment processes, the primary goal for employers is to obtain as accurate information as possible about candidates. However, traditional methods such as resumes and unstructured interviews often fail to provide the best insights. Resume lies have become increasingly common, raising doubts about the authenticity of candidate information. According to a survey, 78% of applicants admitted to misrepresenting themselves on their resumes, with 46% including false information. Similarly, unstructured interviews, in particular, are subjective and serve as weak indicators for predicting job performance.
There is a growing awareness that attracting and retaining talented employees can provide organizations with a sustained competitive advantage. The intense competition for the best applicants across various occupations, coupled with the importance of attracting best-fit employees, highlights the necessity of effective recruitment and selection. The search for outstanding people has been described as the 'war for talent' (Singh, 2001), and organizations are becoming increasingly cognizant that recruitment and selection are key functions of human resource management. To gain an edge in this competitive landscape, it is essential to employ proper pre-employment tests.
For these reasons, employers should prioritize the use of pre-employment tests that provide a more reliable and objective assessment during the recruitment process. Such tests serve as reliable and objective tools for gathering job-related information about candidates. In fact, according to Aberdeen Strategy & Research, nearly 60% of companies already utilize assessment tests in their recruitment processes. These tests enable employers to evaluate candidates in a more measurable manner, ensuring a fair and accurate assessment. According to Psychology Today, personality tests are utilized by 80% of Fortune 500 companies for candidate screening and predicting future success It is clear that using the right pre-employment tests significantly enhances the selection process and increases the likelihood of hiring the most suitable candidates.
Pre-employment tests encompass a range of categories, including personality assessments, behavioral evaluations, cognitive ability tests, background checks and physical ability tests. These diverse assessments offer numerous advantages for organizations. By implementing pre-employment testing, companies can optimize their recruitment and selection processes, ensuring that only the most qualified individuals are hired.
Personality tests are widely used to evaluate the human personality and make informed hiring decisions. These assessments aim to identify patterns in workplace-relevant characteristics and traits, providing insights into how candidates may respond to different work situations. Personality tests can be further classified into positive personality traits and dark personality traits, which help assess cultural fitment, trainability, job performance, and identify negative traits that may impact safety and work culture.
Behavioral assessments measure the behavioral competencies of individuals in simulated work environments. Candidates are presented with real work-related scenarios and are required to demonstrate their behavioral competencies by selecting the best course of action or ranking possible actions based on effectiveness. These assessments provide valuable insights into candidates' workplace behaviors and their ability to handle organizational situations effectively.
Cognitive ability tests assess individual abilities such as critical thinking, verbal reasoning, numerical ability, problem-solving, and decision-making. These tests serve as indicators of a person's intelligence quotient (IQ) and predict on-the-job performance. Cognitive ability tests are effective in evaluating candidates across different job levels and functions, improving the quality of hires.
Technical assessments focus on testing candidates' in-depth knowledge and skills specific to their job roles. These assessments can be further categorized into coding tests, which evaluate technical know-how in programming languages and technologies, role-based tests tailored to specific job functions and domains, and language proficiency assessments that measure fluency, pronunciation, grammar, and listening comprehension.
Integrity tests are a type of pre-employment test that is designed to measure a candidate's honesty and trustworthiness. These tests typically ask questions about the candidate's attitudes towards cheating, stealing, and other forms of dishonesty. They may also ask questions about the candidate's past experiences with dishonesty.
Physical ability tests assess candidates' physical capabilities to ensure they can meet the job requirements safely. These tests help reduce injuries in the workplace and associated costs. The benchmark for physical ability tests varies depending on the specific job demands, and they may consider medical history and musculoskeletal screenings to establish a baseline for future reference.
The first step in the Testinvite pre-employment assessment process is to thoroughly analyze the job requirements and develop a competency framework that aligns with the specific demands of the role. Our experts will work closely with you to understand the job description and map the required skills and competencies to create a comprehensive framework that reflects the desired job performance.
Once the competency framework is established, Testinvite experts will assist you in selecting the most suitable assessment tools to evaluate candidates effectively. Our platform offers a wide range of assessment options, including personality assessments, coding tests, non-technical assessments, structured interviews and more. These tools will be carefully mapped to the job requirements, ensuring that all relevant aspects are covered during the assessment process.
With TestInvite, you have the flexibility to customize your assessments by selecting questions from our question bank or creating your own. Our experts can help you choose the most appropriate questions that address the desired skills and competencies. You can also set different difficulty levels for each section of the assessment, allowing for a comprehensive evaluation of candidates' abilities and aptitudes.
TestInvite simplifies the configuration of your online assessment process. Within TestInvite, each test in your assessment can be customized with specific settings to determine the conditions under which it will be administered. You have control over various aspects such as test security measures, availability dates for candidates to access the test. These customizable settings ensure a tailored and secure administration of each test in your assessment.
TestInvite offers robust reporting and benchmarking features that provide valuable insights into candidates' individual performance. Our assessment test reports offer a holistic view of job prospects, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses in different sections. This empowers hiring managers to make informed decisions and create a high-quality talent pool for future recruitment needs. You can also benchmark the assessment results against predetermined criteria to compare candidates and identify the best fit for the job role.
At TestInvite, we understand the importance of providing a positive candidate experience during the assessment process. We encourage employers to go through the assessments themselves to evaluate the process from the candidate's perspective. Our assessments provide clear instructions, accommodate candidates with disabilities, and are designed for online administration. We believe in creating a welcoming environment while collecting relevant data to ensure a successful and engaging pre-employment assessment.
Pre-employment tests can be a valuable tool in the employee selection process, offering a multitude of advantages that greatly enhance the overall hiring process. These advantages include:
Proper assessment: Tests can help employers assess the suitability of candidates for various positions. They can provide insights into the candidate's mental capability, aptitude, preferences, and interests.
Objective criteria: Tests can provide objective assessment based on standardized criteria. This can help to eliminate subjectivity in the selection process.
Uniform basis: Tests can create a uniform platform for comparing the performance of applicants. This can help selectors to determine the relative levels of the candidates.
Provision for better candidates: Tests can help to identify candidates with the right aptitude, temperament, and adjustability for specific jobs. This can help to ensure efficiency and job satisfaction.
Reduced labor turnover: By selecting suitable individuals, tests can contribute to a reduction in turnover. When individuals secure jobs that align with their interests and temperament, they are less likely to quit, promoting greater job stability.
Despite their advantages, pre-employment tests also have certain limitations that need to be acknowledged. While they can measure specific aspects of candidates and provide valuable data for decision-making, it is important to recognize their boundaries.
Therefore, while pre-employment tests offer advantages such as proper assessment and objectivity, they also have drawbacks such as unreliability, potential misuse, and fear of exposure. It is essential for organizations to be aware of these limitations and consider them alongside other factors, such as interviews, references, and experience, when making hiring decisions.
