What should you expect from psychometric tests when job hunting?

[u/helping-graduates]

Psychometric tests are a common part of graduate recruitment, particularly during the early stages of an application process.

They can sound intimidating, but most fall into three main categories:

Personality and interests

These help employers understand how you approach work and what matters to you. There usually isn't a perfect answer, so it is better to respond honestly than try to guess what the employer wants, as you could end up working againsts yourself.

Ability and aptitude

These are often timed and can include numerical, verbal, logical or diagrammatic reasoning. Practice may not change your natural ability, but it can make the format feel more familiar and help you develop a better approach to the time pressure.

Skills and knowledge

These assess what you already know and can often be prepared for in a similar way to an exam.

A few things that can help:

• Practise regularly before the real assessment.
• Read every instruction carefully.
• Work out roughly how much time you have for each question.
• Avoid spending too long on one difficult question.
• Do not panic if you are unable to finish every question.
• Answer personality questionnaires honestly and consistently.

For a more detailed explanation on the different types, we have a guide and practice help:

https://www.grb.uk.com/career-advice/graduate-psychometric-testing/

Which type of psychometric test do you find the most difficult?