Can you prepare for a Psych Test?
Had you asked me this question, 12 months ago I would have said no. I would have gone with the standard line that is passed on from my clients: “Tell them there is nothing to stress about, nothing they can prepare for, don’t worry it’s not a pass or fail situation, we just use the results as a management tool”. I took this at face value and dutifully passed this advice onto my candidates. It’s funny how in a non-pass or fail situation, I had a number of candidates fail and not receive the job offer that we were expecting. After this, I started to look in to psych tests in more detail and I have changed my position:
Absolutely, you can prepare for a psych test and without doubt you should!
The argument against:
A psych test, by its very nature, is there to show hiring managers an accurate reflection of the person they have invested time in interviewing. Completing mock tests could run the risk of overthinking it, trying to 2nd guess the system and answering favorably. Not answering honestly and answering with what you think people want to hear is a quick way to ruin your credibility.
The argument for:
A Director at a successful IT recruitment agency recently commented to me that without sitting practice tests she is 100% sure that she would not have secured her current role. Sitting practice tests (google it; there are plenty of free ones on line) prepares you for the types of questions you will face. You can practice numeric, abstract reasoning, verbal reasoning and personality preference type questions. In addition, it prepares you to work to a time limit. When it comes to the real thing, you will feel calm and prepared because there will be a certain familiarity around the process and the questions.
Looking back at the “stand out” candidates who I have worked with this year, when it comes to psych tests, they all demonstrate a similar characteristic. They will prepare and research for it in the same way they did for the face to face interviews.
If a psych test is looming, you should be asking your recruiter / hiring manager the following questions
- What is the length of the test – 30 minutes vs. 2 hours. There is a big difference in mental preparation!
- Is there a time limit per question / per test?
- What is the focus of the test – Behavioral, Cognitive, Numeric ability?
- Who assesses the results?
- Will they share the results?
- If anything “left of center” comes out of the test, will I be given a chance in interview to discuss?
Preparation:
We worked with a candidate recently who could have written a “What Not to Do Guide to completing a psych test”. After 3 interviews, they were given a 30 mins psych test to complete over the weekend. They did not take it seriously: The waited till late on Sunday night (tired), to complete on a bus (lots of distractions and in on the move so in and out of network coverage) and on a phone (small screen). Their results were all over the place and guess what….they did not get the job.
You have already invested so much time and effort into this process…why sell yourself short at the last hurdle? In terms of preparation; set yourself up properly, make a cup of tea, and find a quiet area where you won’t be interrupted, on a computer with a good internet connection. Choose a time of day when you are not tired, when you are feeling alert and there are no distractions (never do a psych test with kids in the house!!) Psych tests are designed to make you think on your feet – they can be challenging, give yourself the best chance of success.
Conclusion: Don’t count your chickens
The best advice I can offer is to keep focused, and prepare. Do not be fooled. For a lot of companies, a psychometric evaluation is an integral part of the selection process. It shouldn’t be taken lightly just because it’s a 30 minute exercise that can be done from the comfort of your own home.
