How to Pass an Employment Test

Employers today are often turning to psychological employment tests to screen job applicants. Even minimum wage workers are being subjected to computerized tests that may be 30 to 40 pages long and ask questions unrelated to the job. Read on to find out what these employment tests are looking for and how to pass one.

Instructions

1. Realize what the test is looking for. Employment tests are trying to find out about your attitude and behaviors on the job. This is why they ask questions like "What would you do if a customer complains?" rather than "have you ever operated a deep fryer before?".

2. Answer with appropriate behaviors. Employment tests typically look for people who are hard working, require little or no management, get along well with others, are patient, and are highly engaged in the job. Make sure that you pick answers on the employment test that show these qualities. And don't pick answers that make you seem bitter or lazy.

3. Always use extreme answers. Some questions may ask you to rate things on a numerical scale (like 1 to 10) or with answers like "agree" or "strongly agree". Always pick one of the extremes. If you want to answer "agree", pick "strongly agree" instead.

4. Understand that the test might not have been created by the company you are applying to. Your manager is probably not familiar with the right or wrong answers to the employment test, as it was likely bought from a 3rd party vendor. They will only be concerned with the final grade that you get on the test (which, if computerized, may be the only thing they can see).

5. Understand that the employment test is not the only factor in being hired. Even if you didn't do great on the test, being friendly, intelligent and energetic to the manager or other interviewers can make up for it.