Be Prepared for Pre-Employment Testing, says CollegeJournal

Job seekers shouldnít be surprised when a potential employer asks them to take a test or other assessment for a job, says CollegeJournal.com, The Wall Street Journalís guide for career-minded college students. According to a report published on CollegeJournal.com, pre-employment testing is on the rise.

Thereís always an element of risk when taking on a new employee. Pre-employment testing helps hiring managers make informed decisions about who to bring into the company.

ìCandidates should take these assessments seriously because they can measure and predict job success,î says Laura Lorber, managing editor, CollegeJournal.com. ìThey often evaluate how well your work style or personality might fit into the corporate culture.î

CollegeJournal.com offers these tips to job candidates about pre-employment testing:

Curb your antagonism. Many candidates scoff at having to take a test.

ìItís better to have a positive attitude about testing and assessments,î says Ms. Lorber. ìThis shows that you are open-minded.î

Your candidacy can benefit. Testing can be an accurate judge of personality and ability.

Clear your schedule. Find out how long a pre-employment assessment might take and make sure you wonít have any interruptions or distractions. Some tests can take up to several hours to complete.

Exercise your brain. Familiarize yourself with pre-employment assessments by taking free ones on the Web. eTest Inc., a pre-employment testing and assessment company in Atlanta offers a free online personality quiz.

Weak results may not matter. Pre-employment testing is only a part of the hiring process. Candidates who do well in interviews and have the right skills for the job may be offered a position even if they donít do well on pre-employment testing.