Assessments are often part of an interview process. Various assessment methods are designed to test different hard and soft skills. Knowing what desirable qualities each method aims to sieve out is half the battle won. Let’s examine the methods in detail below.

Psychometric test

Psychometric tests can be divided into three types: ability, aptitude and personality.

Ability tests measure your general skills and assess your potential to pick up new skills. Such test usually include:

Numerical: These measure your basic arithmetic and ability to interpret data, graphs, charts or statistics

Verbal reasoning: These tests explore your ability to understand and evaluate written information

Non-verbal reasoning: These reveal your spatial awareness and ability to spot patterns

Logical reasoning: These show your ability to draw conclusions from basic information.

Aptitude tests examine your potential to learn new skills that are needed to do the job. For example, if you applied for a role in IT, you may be asked to complete a programming aptitude test. Such tests are usually conducted in a timed, exam-like condition.

Personality tests assess your typical behaviour when presented with different situations. It is best to be yourself and don’t second guess what the employer wants to see.

Practice makes perfect! Try out these free online tests to familarise yourself with the online testing experience:

Institute of Psychometric Coaching free aptitude test

Practice Aptitude Test free numerical reasoning test

CEB free practice tests

Group exercises

Such tests may involve discussing an issue, constructing something from bits of stationery, or analysing a complex business case study and presenting your findings.

The way to impress the employer is to show yourself as a good team player- flexible and full of ideas, but willing to listen to and help expand the ideas of others.

Technical test

This test is designed to determine if you have the necessary technical skills to succeed in the role you applied for.

Tips to succeed in the technical test:

• Always answer truthfully
• Answer to the best of your ability
• Read instructions carefully
• Some companies may ask you not to use any outside references, while some may permit them. Do not attempt to cheat.

Presentation

If the interview requires you to do a presentation, the panel will usually be judging for:

• The quality of your ideas
• The clarity of your thinking
• Your verbal communication skills – your ability to convince and persuade and how you engage your audience
• Your organisation skills – how well you prepare beforehand and manage your time during the presentation

Tips for succeeding in your presentation:

• Have a clear message
• Have a good flow to your presentation. Make sure your thoughts are presented clearly in a logical manner.
• Less is more. It’s better to keep your presentation succinct and allow the audience to ask questions, rather than presenting too much information.
• Manage your time well.
• Do your research on the topic thoroughly.
• Know your audience. Tailor the presentation to them. Find out who will be sitting in for your presentation. These days, you can easily learn your audience’s background via LinkedIn. Know what would appeal to them and you stand a better chance at performing well.
• Practise on your own and to a friend. Time your presentation while you are rehearsing to make sure it does not overrun.

Visit these pages for more tips on tackling your job interview:

Acing your interview – Making a Good First Impression

Understanding and Preparing for Different Interview Formats

Tackling Different Types of Interview Questions

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