Job Hunting: online tests

Did the companies you applied for find your application interesting? If yes, you have probably been invited for online tests...and this article is about online tests...so you should read it :)

Companies use different types of online psychometric tests, fortunately most of them outsource this activity to company called SHL. What does it mean to you? You can practice! In the beginning these tests might be tough for you (especially if you have not done math for longer time), but after 5 tests or so you will improve a lot. The first and the most important advice is: take every test you can, because you can learn how to do well.
But how does these tests look like? There are basically 4 different types of SHL tests you may face:

• Numerical reasoning is about counting. You usually don't have much time and it is difficult to solve all the problems you are supposed to solve (usually 1 minute per 1 problem). For this test it is neccessary to be good at elementary mathematics and have logical thinking - it is sometimes not neccessary to count everything, you can guess.
  Example test


• Verbal reasoning is supposed to asses your logical thinking abilities. You are supposed to read short paragraph and then decide whether the statements bellow are true, false or you can't decide. I find this test more difficult than numerical reasoning - some of the questions are tricky.
  Example test


• Diagrammatic reasoning is a test for IT guys. I have taken this one only once, during AXA assessment. It is actually very interesting and quite difficult.
  Example test


• "Picture reasoning" test is a test which official name I don't know. It is very similar to IQ tests - you got set of pictures and your task is to select picture from other set that logically fits the first set. I have taken this test only one during Toyota Assessment.

What is the pass level of SHL test? As far as I know (I have asked HR people during assessment centres) it is about 65 percentile = you must do better than other 65 percent of the applicants. I also know that in case of Big4 companies the pass level is higher, around 75 percentile. There are also some other tests you might face - some companies develop their own tests:

• IBM IPATO test is very stressful and quite difficult test. It is impossible to do everything unless you are a genius. It was one of the first tests I took and had lot of trouble with it.


• McKinsey Problem Solving test is the most difficult I have ever taken. You don't have much time, lots of very difficult questions. It is impossible to prepare for such a test. I guess only the smartest get through. Pass level is 65%.
  Example

Hints

• Take as many of them as you can - if you practice your performance will improve a lot!


• According to previous you should take the tests of the companies you really want to get in later than those you are not that interested in.


• Insider information: HP UK does not use online tests and Allianz UK has lower pass level :-)