“Why should we hire you?” It’s the all-important question that you face every time you want to be considered for a job. But aside from conjuring the answer to this and other questions, think of undergoing a number of exams ranging from aptitude to medical condition as part of getting the job.
With the gravity of pre-employment testing looming above your head or possibly clouding your prospects for the job offer, preparation is your best weapon to the first stage in landing your dream job.
The Pre-employment Test
Notwithstanding the importance of the job interview, there’s the initial screening in the form of preemployment exams that requires your focus and attention if you want to book that all-important interview.
Employers devise preemployment testing to pare down the pool of applicants who go by the hundreds for the same position. The competition is indeed getting tougher, with more venues, primarily online, to send in job applications.
By screening candidates this way, employers save on recruitment costs and resources by putting only those who match or meet the minimum requirements on their watch list. With such exams in place and the deliberation afterward, they hope to make better-informed decisions and ultimately hire only the best, if not the most qualified, for the job opening.
Preparing for Pre-employment Testing
Do you have the skills and attributes for the job? Companies or employers will find out through pre-employment assessments or exams that can cover any or all of these:
- Skills
- Aptitude
- Emotional intelligence
- Computer skills
- Personality
- Language literacy
- Medical condition
Ask and Relax
When you get the call from the hiring personnel, ask about the preassessment exams—e.g. personality, skills, aptitude, and the like. This can calm you down a bit and help you create a solid action plan. If math is your weakness, then you surely need to brush up on your problem-solving skills.
There are a lot of websites that let you practice your analytical, grammatical, and cognitive skills or even know your personality type. Do read up on the latest events happening around the world.
Eat and Come Early
It’s best to take the exam or pen that essay beautifully on a full stomach. Don’t forget coffee or tea for that much-needed burst of energy. More importantly, come to the venue early. This gives out a good impression to your future employers.
You will also give yourself time to catch your breath and steady your hands that might have been shaking out of nervousness. Rein in your anxiety or stress as it will affect how you answer the tests.
Read and Review
It’s fairly common to fail the exam by not following instructions. Don’t let your nerves get in the way, and read what is required in every test once or twice. Take time to answer the questions, but don’t dwell on one item for too long, or you’ll run out of time.
Skip the difficult questions, and go back to them later on. The key is to answer all the questions satisfactorily and within the time limit.
Pass the Drug Test
For medical reasons, some employers want to test their future hires for drugs before the interview or while making the job offer. While there is a reported decline of employers requiring drug testing, it does not remove the possibility of undergoing one as the nature of the work demands it and that only a few states have legalized marijuana so far.
While it’s nice to be adequately warned of an upcoming drug test, you can take several measures on short notice to flush THC out of your system and pass the drug test. For instance, you can drink water and coffee or exercise just to dilute the substance’s concentration.
Hoping for the Best
After all the tests comes the agony of waiting for the results. Keep your fingers crossed for what’s to come next, and keep your options open to other work prospects. Apply what you’ve learned to your next employment test and ace it.
