Head Office : 0161 828 8726

Preparing for Psychometric Tests

Published 27th Jul 2020

Psychometric testing is now a fundamental part of recruitment. Every day more and more companies are integrating Psychometric Assessments into their recruitment process.  In our latest blog, we take a look at this form of testing and help you with psychometric test preparation.

What is a psychometric test?

A psychometric test is a device that is used to find out about individual differences such as personal characteristics, underlying actions, possible future behaviour and how ‘good’ you are at something compared with other groups of people.

There are a number of psychometric assessment tests:

  • Skills tests measure how well you do something and are split into ability and aptitude tests.
  • Ability tests can include numerical, verbal, and logical reasoning, problem-solving skills, and the ability to identify mistakes accurately.
  • Aptitude tests assess your ability to use specific job-related skills and predict future performance. They examine your potential to learn to do a new task rather than testing the skills you already have. Most tests involve multiple-choice answers and provide a numerical score.
  • Personality tests measure less quantifiable characteristics – they reveal your motivation, attitude & work style. Employers may look for people with certain characteristics for particular jobs. For a retail sales role, for example, the company may want someone who is very sociable, organised and creative. A personality test enables employers to see whether you match their ideal profile.

It’s always important to remember there are no right or wrong results, the best way to approach personality tests is to answer them openly and honestly. Don’t try to pre-empt what sort of personality the company is looking for, it’s no use trying to portray something that you are not.

Why do companies use psychometric assessment tests?

Employers use tests as part of their selection process because they want to find the best person for the job. Aptitude and ability tests highlight if a candidate has the necessary skills for the job as well as the potential to learn new ones. Personality tests help the employer to understand more about a candidate’s character.

How do you prepare for tests?

To get the most out of the assessment, you need to be prepared. There are example tests on the internet, which you can practise.

Depending on the company, psychometric tests are carried out at different stages of the recruitment & selection process. At McCarthy Recruitment, we will work with you to give you as much information on the process the company will use, so you know how the psychometric testing process fits in with your application for the role.

For more information on Resignation Advice, you can click here.

cs-icon
EXPLORE A CAREER WITH MCCARTHY
Join the #1 Best Place To Work In the UK

USEFUL ARTICLES