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Psychometric testing
Psychometric testing is becoming more and more popular with larger organisations and, regardless of the seniority of the role you are applying for, you may be expected to undergo a number of different tests.
You may be asked to complete these on arrival, prior to your interview, and will be given a quiet room in which to do this. However, more and more companies are using testing as an initial screening mechanism and whether you are invited to an interview may depend on your results. This does seem a little harsh, as your ability to function within an exam situation, may not reflect how you react within an operational environment. However, some companies, particular larger, blue chip organisations, view these tests as an indication of your intellectual capability as well as your ability to work under pressure. Due to their increased popularity, psychometric tests are becoming an important element of the recruitment process.
The type of questions you may face will differ according to the role you are going for, but the tests usually fall into two categories
Aptitude testing
These tests relate directly to your ability to do the job and will test your numerical, verbal and logical reasoning skills. There are a number of companies who administer these tests on behalf of organisations and they all provide practice scenarios on their websites, to enable you to get a feel for what to expect. These include:
Personality questionnaire
Often referred to as an OPQ (Occupational Personality Questionnaire) this is a multiple choice questionnaire and will ask you questions concerning how you would react in certain situations. There are no right or wrong answers and the OPQ is used to determine how you would fit in culturally within the organisation. Do not be tempted to lie as some companies may ask you to complete the same questionnaire again at a later date and will cross reference your answers.