Sometimes You Should Wear A Hat In The Office - How To Ace Employment Tests

Part Two

When in doubt, guess. Some of the tests you may have taken to get into college nailed you if you guessed wrong, but skill tests usually work differently. They simply add up all of your right answers to get your test score. So, when in doubt, eliminate any of the obviously wrong answers, and take your best shot.

No matter what, use all of your allotted time! Check your answers, and make sure they are written in the right places. Depending on your remaining time, review every other, or every fourth, question.

You may not even realize that you're taking an integrity test until the direction of the questions gives it away: "Have you ever stolen anything?" "Have you ever felt guilty?" "Have you ever told a lie?" Avoid the temptation to respond impulsively with something like "Lies? Not I." The truth is, we have all done these things in our lives. When you are asked, for instance, whether there is anything you would ever change about yourself, or whether you think everyone is dishonest to some degree, the overwhelming likelihood is that your own honesty is being tested: The best answer is probably "yes."

Many tests contain consistency traps or "double blinds" as they are known in the testing biz. Before understanding these tests I can remember seeing a question on page one and then another very similar on page five. I'd think, "well I can't give the same answer, they must be asking something different." In fact these questions are theory is based on the belief that most of us can tell a lie, but few of us can remember that lie under stress, and are therefore likely to answer differently later. This is held to show the potential for untruthfulness. The problem isn't that one answer is likely to deny you employment; the questions are asked in patterns to evaluate your behavior and attitudes on different topics. Wear the professional hat at all times

Relax, if you're too hyped up, you'll get flustered and blow it. You can improve your test-taking behavior, by learning to visualize success in advance. Picture yourself at the test. Go through each step: You hear the instructions, the examiner says to begin. You read the test questions and realize you will do well. You get to a really tough part of the test. Visualize your success, and visualize your setbacks, and realize that you can and you will pull through okay, because you have a clear vision of the professional you. When you finish the test, read through your answers a few times, if you don't like any answers, change them.

You can find more advice on staying calm while beating employment tests in Knock 'em Dead The Ultimate Job Search Guide 2006 (and of course subsequent editions).

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