With the economy strengthening, today's job seekers have more of an opportunity to find a job than in years past. However, that hardly means that companies are taking the decision to hire lightly. With still unprecedented numbers of applicants vying for each open position, companies are putting a greater emphasis on choosing the best of the group, and they are armed with more weapons than ever to do just that.
A heightened quest for information on prospective employees, coupled with the increased ease to administer assessments, means that job seekers are more and more likely to face some form of a pre-hire evaluation as part of the hiring process.
"Pre-employment assessments have been one way to help companies make sense of who they have in the pipeline,² says Brian Penner, director of assessment and selection at Prudential Financial. "More and more companies have developed a strong appetite for measuring how people think and act < just think about Facebook to see the value in this." Additionally, Penner shares his top seven tips for job seekers if they are asked to take an assessment:
- Get sleep the night before. Being well-rested and alert are the building blocks for success.
- Be yourself. It is easier to be yourself than someone else. Don't guess who they want you to be. Remember, you've been invited to take the assessment because of your skills and experiences.
- Stay relaxed, and as contrary as it may seem, try to have fun with the assessment. There are usually a number of factors that go into the hiring decision and assessments are just one piece of the puzzle.
- Some tests are timed. In these cases, work quickly and accurately.
Instructions will tell you if you're penalized for a wrong answer. If not, leave yourself time to guess the correct answer when time is running out.
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