Psychometric Testing

Psychometric testing is a process that is used to evaluate performance of an individual in particular domain. It is used in particular circumstances to meet individual’s needs and demands. It is not limited to performance measurement but also helps in identifying individual’s abilities, skills and potential.

Range of Psychometric Testing

The area of psychometric testing involves wide range of testing in the field of aptitude measurement, behavioral measurement as well as personality assessment. Most of the tests are time framed to assess how well an individual can overcome the time pressure and compete successfully.

Use of psychometric tests in job assessment

Psychometric tests are used for the assessment of job applicants due to its increase number of advantages and lesser value is given to disadvantages. One of the reason of using psychometric tests is that it’s less time consuming and companies can tests wide number of population in lesser time frame. Another main advantage is it reduces cost effectiveness. It is less expensive and more useful as compared to other methods of assessment.

Process of Job assessment

Following is the process of job assessment.

1. Online application: First step involves the online submission of application form against any jobadvertisement so that individuals can be assessed on basis of job criteria and specifications.
2. Online Psychometric testing:Second step involves the candidate to appear in psychometric testing. It involves wide range of personality and assessments tools that measures individual’s attitude and potential. There are following major reasons why psychometric tests are used for the selection of individuals related to specific job description.

• One reason is that it identifies individual’s knowledge, skills and abilities thus it helps in best selection of an individual.
• Secondly it reduces employee’s turn over as it identifies best fit for a job on basis of individual’s interests and benefits.
• It also help to identify individual’s intelligence level and how he deals in present circumstances if any particular event take place.

3. Interview: Third step includes the formal interview of an individual. It involves the verbal and non-verbal questioning which is also a part of psychometric testing. It includes questions related to personality and experience and attitude towards different settings and arrangements. There are few psychometric tests that require paper questionnaires and more than one sitting which is then followed after or during interview sessions for finalization of job candidate’s process.

Types of psychometric tests

There are two types of psychometric tests.

1. Personality tests

Personality tests helps to explore individual’s interests, motivation and values. It helps to identify individual’s dealing with emotions, relationships and stressful circumstances. It helps to determine individual’s particular set of traits and behaviors and how an individual adjust himself according to environmental circumstances.

2. Aptitude tests

It helps to identify individual’s cognitive abilities and logical reasoning. How an individual deals with numerical reasoning, verbal and non-verbal skillset. There are further types of aptitude tests that are designed to identify individual’s related abilities and skills according to job demands and description.