The Royal Mail ask PSL to deliver over 200,000 online tests

Assessment specialist PSL has been awarded potentially the largest ever online testing contract in the UK.

The Royal Mail has asked PSL to design two bespoke psychometric tests: a personality questionnaire and a ësorting simulationí test, both of which will be delivered online via PSLís market leading test delivery engine. One or both of these instruments will be used to help deselect potentially unsuitable applicants from the 125,000 that apply for frontline positions each year.

The Royal Mail - which currently employs over 196,000 people - has switched to online assessment to enhance efficiency in the recruitment process.

ìEach year we have over 125,000 people who express an interest in joining Royal Mail Group ñ more than any other organisation in the UK. With such large numbers it is imperative to make the switch to online recruitment and introduce effective and job relevant sifting tools. We need to deselect the candidates least likely to be suitable from the recruitment process as soon as possible. This will allow us to improve the quality of candidates coming through the assessment pipeline - and ultimately will ensure we are recruiting the best available people to deliver services to our customers,î said Matthew Mee, Head of Resourcing at the Royal Mail.

Richard Alberg, Chief Executive of PSL, was delighted to be awarded the contract. ìPSL is pleased to be working with one of the UKís largest employers. They needed a partner who is reliable and who they can trust, and weíre delighted they chose us to be the company that is best-suited to deliver this unprecedented contract for online assessment in the UK.î

The Royal Mail chose PSL following a review of online psychometric assessment providers. ìWe chose PSL following a market review in co-operation with our ATS supplier, and came to the conclusion that PSL should be our chosen partner. Given the number of candidates we assess each year, robust technology was a pre-requisite. We also wanted to ensure the tests were fit for purpose ñ therefore the capability to undertake bespoke test development was essential. This project will bring enormous commercial benefits to our business and I believe we are now leading the industry in use of high volume online assessments. PSL has a track record of delivery in all these areas and that meant they were the perfect organisation for us,î added Matthew Mee.

Consultants from PSL have spent a number of days at Royal Mail sorting, delivery and Post Offices across the country to get an exact understanding of the key attributes needed to work for the Royal Mail. An online personality questionnaire and a ësortingí test have since been designed and are now being rolled out to all new Royal Mail applicants.

For more information about PSL, please call 020-8585 2345 e-mail info@psl.com