What is a “Pre-Employment Test?”
Pre-Employment Testing Allows for Simple Comparisons
Pre-employment testing, just like any other test, is a standardized device. This may be an obvious definition, but it is essential to understand—here is why: first impressions, appearance, and other surface interactions lead to unintentional biases. Pre-employment assessments help to remove that bias by diving deeper into the actual skills and traits of a candidate instead of simply focusing on these surface interactions.
We’ve all hired what we thought was the perfect candidate, only to find out that, while they looked promising on paper and in the interview, what they actually brought to the table was sub-par. The opposite is true as well—how many great candidates do we miss out on simply because they don’t have a perfect resume? The point is, we need to really get to know our candidates to make the best hiring decision.
Although the most popular hiring practices, interviews and resumes don’t truly show the best and the worst in our candidates. These age-old practices do reveal some important information, but both methods have a couple of underlying issues: (1) they focus on superficial, high-level information, and (2) they allow biases to play a role. This does not mean that resumes and interviews are futile; each has a specific role that adds value to the hiring process. However, in order to understand candidates on a deeper level and to remove any unintentional biases, many companies have added pre-employment tests or assessments to their hiring process.
These companies understand that a standardized tool with the ability to take bias out of the equation is invaluable. If each candidate is taking the same test—and that test assesses job-related skills or attributes—every candidate will be measured using the same measuring stick. This is an effective way to take biases out of the equation. In a nutshell, pre-employment testing allows for comparisons between apples and apples, instead of apples and oranges.
Pre-Employment Testing Predicts Job Performance
Continuing the definition, a pre-employment assessment is a tool used to measure skills, intellectual capacity, personality characteristics, and more. Without the help of hiring tests, these components can be difficult to discover.
The insight that comes from pre-hire tests is invaluable and simply unobtainable by using traditional means. We all know that candidates strive to show their best selves. Most applicants won’t come into the interview and let you know that they are great at stress management and can learn things quickly, but aren’t really all that responsible and don’t actually type 78 WPM. This kind of information is easily obtained, however, by using simple pre-employment testing.
When compared to other selection methods such as the job interview, reference checks, and academic achievement, professionally developed and validated tests have been shown to be the best predictors of job performance. Testing candidates, combined with other hiring practices, is a consistent, valid, legal and highly effective way to screen candidates.
Essentially, by accurately predicting job performance, pre-employment testing can help you hire right the first time, saving your company thousands in turnover costs.
Pre-Employment Testing Streamlines your Hiring Process
Pre-employment testing also helps streamline your hiring process. The task of narrowing hundreds of candidates down to just a few can be daunting; reading resumes and checking references can take weeks. By asking qualified candidates to complete a pre-employment assessment, you can easily compare candidates and select those most qualified within a matter of minutes.
In their article “Screening by Means of Pre-employment Testing," SHRM states: “The power of the Internet to quickly deliver psychometric, behavioral, aptitude and other types of assessments has brought testing to the mainstream, enabling organizations to make quicker and more intelligent hires."
Pre-Employment Testing means equal evaluation of candidates, better hires, and a more painless hiring process. For more information about integrating pre-employment testing into your hiring process, visit selectivehiring.com.