Perfect the art of psychometric tests

Perfect the art of psychometric tests Perfect the art of psychometric testsPosted October 13, 2011, by Helen IsbisterThanks to your carefully polished resume and cover letter, youve been shortlisted for that dream job. Now its time to jump another hurdle on the path to your new role.Psychometric tests are on the rise, with more than 70 per cent of large Australian firms now using the assessments in the preliminary weeding-out process. So its in your best career interests to understand how they work and what you can do to blitz them.The good news is you dont need to get freaked out by the terminology. Despite its connotations, psychometric doesnt mean you will be lying on a couch being poked and prodded by a stern-looking psychologist. Theyre not there to unlock your deepest, darkest secrets and release the skeletons from your closet they just want to know if you are the right fit for the job on offer.The bad news is there isnt much you can do to ace a psychometric test you either ha ve what they are looking for or you dont. That said, there are a number of things you can do to put yourself in peak performance condition.Understanding the testsThe nature of psychometric tests can vary, but basically they come in two different streams. Firstly, you will be screened for things such as numeracy, literacy, abstract reasoning and information checking. The results of these aptitude tests will verify whether you are intellectually capable of doing the job.Then theres the personality test. This will aim to find out whether you are the right fit for the company and assess factors such as honesty, sociability and conscientiousness. It will give the potential employer an insight into how you might cope with stress, whether you are a team player or an independent worker, if you have problem-solving abilities, and whether or not you are ambitious.While the test isnt the be-all and end-all of whether you are offered a position, combined with more traditional employment criteri a it will allow the employer to delve beneath the surface and get a more complete picture of who you are.Be aware that the timing of the tests may differ from company to company some give the test to applicants before the bewerberinterview stages and others give a more in-depth test to help decide between several interviewees.Preparing for the testsWhile you cant study the exact content of aptitude or psychometric tests, there are measures you can take to prepare for the big day. Learn as much as you can about the test session beforehand structure and content, how long it will last, and whether youre allowed to use a calculator so you know what to expect when youre in the hot seat. Many organisations and career services provide sample questionnaires, so try to get hold of some of these so you can familiarise yourself with the layout and practise pacing yourself.PracticeWhile practice cant make perfect for psychometric testing, it will pay off if you can approach it with confidence . Work on improving your logic and reasoning skills by solving word games, brainteasers, crosswords and sudoku puzzles. Practise your mathematical skills, get reading and look up words you dont understand. Giving your mind regular mental workouts like this will also help you to think more quickly when youre up against the clock.As for the personality component, unless you book yourself in for a session with Dr Phil theres probably not much you can do to make over your personality and iron out any quirks before the big day. However you can get into the right frame of mind to respond to the test.Get your brain in peak performance modeMake sure you are well rested and nourished on the day of the test so that you are in the best mindset possible. Avoid a sugary breakfast or you could crash and burn during the test. If you feel tired, hung-over or plagued by personal problems during the test it could affect your performance. If you go in with a good attitude, brimming with confidence and a can-do attitude there is a very good chance that this will be reflected in your answers.Of course some nervousness is normal and actually serves a purpose as youll be more concentrated and focused. However being a complete nervous wreck is not going to allow you to bring out your best, so take a deep breath, calm down and think positive.Be consistentTrying to cheat the system is not as easy or useful as it may seem. Most tests ask similar questions repeatedly but in different formats so it will be hard to maintain consistency if you are not sticking to the truth. Many tests also have inbuilt lie scales that will test you against the norm and come up with alarm bells if you answer extremely or inconsistently. Honesty is the best policy. Answer truthfully and quickly without attempting to second-guess the employer and without giving the responses you think they are looking for. Just think, if you go to great efforts to lie you might just end up in a job you are totally unsuited for and hate ResourcesMy first resumeCover letter for my first jobCareer Insider StoriesShelley Lask - Body Positive Health & FitnessInterested in becoming a?Human Resources OfficerGeneral ManagerBusiness ManagerAccountantOffice AdministratorPopular Career Searchesspeech pathologist interview questions and answersreal estate interview questions and answers for freshersmyotherapist interview questions and answershow to deal with a difficult colleague at work interview questionhr interview questions CoursesBachelor of Social WorkEnquire Online Enquire OnlineCertificate III in Health AdministrationEnquire Online Enquire OnlineBachelor of Criminal JusticeEnquire Online Enquire OnlineCertificate III in Allied Health AssistanceEnquire Online Enquire OnlineHelen IsbisterRelated ArticlesBrowse moreWOMENWomen are more positive than men about business prospectsAustralias businesswomen are more positive about their business prospects and are more likely to be anticipating significant business gr owth in 2011 than their male counterparts, according to research conducted for the quarterly Sensis Business Index.Dressing for workJob hunting tipsWhat To Wear To An InterviewGot pre-interview outfit jitters? 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