Psychometric Assessment - what is it?

whitelightrider

Folks,

Anyone know what a Psychometric assessment entails?
Due to have one for 90 mins this week and have no clue what to expect.

AvaKinder

whitelightrider wrote: »

Folks,

Anyone know what a Psychometric assessment entails?
Due to have one for 90 mins this week and have no clue what to expect.

Psychometric test cover a few different area, ability, attainment, personality etc.

You don't really need to be too worried, there's not really any way to know exactly what scores they'll be looking for and you can't 'fail' a psychometric test. Just be very sure you listen carefully to the instructions, and understand the sample questions and ask for clarification if you need it before the assessment begins.

For example, as part of a course I took the IPI Blocks test this week which is a measurement of space relations. I thought I'd do really badly as I'm not great at spatial awareness but I scored in 99th percentile. however, when I took the Numbers test, I scored in the 40-59 percentile, even though I've always worked in jobs involving numbers and done quite well.

They will have built up a profile of the scores they are looking for and use this as a way to select applications.

TheOldHand

AvaKinder wrote: »

Psychometric test cover a few different area, ability, attainment, personality etc.

You don't really need to be too worried, there's not really any way to know exactly what scores they'll be looking for and you can't 'fail' a psychometric test. Just be very sure you listen carefully to the instructions, and understand the sample questions and ask for clarification if you need it before the assessment begins.

For example, as part of a course I took the IPI Blocks test this week which is a measurement of space relations. I thought I'd do really badly as I'm not great at spatial awareness but I scored in 99th percentile. however, when I took the Numbers test, I scored in the 40-59 percentile, even though I've always worked in jobs involving numbers and done quite well.

They will have built up a profile of the scores they are looking for and use this as a way to select applications.

You most certainly can. Many places will be choosing a few key aptitudes and will be looking for people in the top 10-25 percentiles. My current job had over 1000 applicants and they only interviewed the top 50 or so based on the results of the psychometric tests. If I'm ever doing them I would find out which types are going to be used and practice the hell out of them. You might not have worked with quick mental calculations that much recently and it pays to sharpen those skills.

AvaKinder

TheOldHand wrote: »

You most certainly can. Many places will be choosing a few key aptitudes and will be looking for people in the top 10-25 percentiles. My current job had over 1000 applicants and they only interviewed the top 50 or so based on the results of the psychometric tests. If I'm ever doing them I would find out which types are going to be used and practice the hell out of them. You might not have worked with quick mental calculations that much recently and it pays to sharpen those skills.

While this may be accurate in some positions, quite often the top bands are excluded, as people who are deemed 'over' capable for the job would be seen as likely to leave to find better positions. You don't need someone who scores in the 99th percentile with numbers for a Sales Manager job so someone who scores anywhere in 50th - 90th percentiles may be progressed to the next round. It all depends on what criteria is chosen as a requirement.

If by fail you mean not meet the standards that have been set for that specific job, then yes you can fail to progress to the next round for that particular position, but overall your scores may be perfect for other similar positions with another company, depending on which criteria are set.

It's not as simple as always wanting individuals from the top percentiles. And it depends whether you're doing multiple types of psychometric assessments. Some jobs assess personality as well as several different abilities.

TheOldHand

Most jobs will have specific tests relevant to the role. Of course they are going to look for the best people from those tests. If you are applying for a non mickey mouse job then you will have to perform well in these tests or you will not get an interview. Maybe for aisle manager at tesco its a different story.

whitelightrider

Thanks for the comments folks. Ive actually gotten through the first stage of interviews and this is the next phase. Never completed one before so not sure what to expect

The Bishop Basher

whitelightrider wrote: »

Thanks for the comments folks. Ive actually gotten through the first stage of interviews and this is the next phase. Never completed one before so not sure what to expect

Well done so far op !! It will be a series of random questions many if which may be repeat but don't let that put you off. Don't over think the answers just go with your gut and give the first answer that comes to you.

Best of luck.

whitelightrider

Well its all done and dusted. No way to figure out how I did! Just have to sit back and wait for the call now. Either good news or bad news.

whitelightrider

Hi folks, just wondering how long you should wait before contacting the company to see if there had been any update? Its 3 weeks since the assessment and the examiner did mention to it would take 7 to 10 days before we'd hear anything.
Dont want to seem too eager!!