Advantages and Disadvantages of Psychometric Testing

1.  Psychometric tests are specialized tests, aimed to achieve successful recruitment of personnel by conducting series of personality and ability tests designed as per the organizational needs. These tests are company specific, task/ job oriented, dynamic and flexible, and are conducted in controlled environment by a certified clinical psychologist. Psychometric tests are considered to be of paramount importance in selection process to meet the desired needs and standards of HR department. There are many recruiting firms which are providing a wide range of psychometric testing services specially designed to match client’s job description and job specification.

2.  If a company wants to conduct a psychometric test for a manager role it would be design to test cognitive abilities, personality trait assessment and assessment of desired skills required by the firm to be present in the applicant to fulfill that job description. Since these tests are focused to test the knowledge area that is not imparted in educational institutions. To succeed in psychometric test is a challenging task as it takes a lot of preparation and practice to train your brain accordingly. Psychometric tests generally comprise of two types i.e. cognitive ability tests and personality trait tests.

3.  Psychometric tests are not only used for job selection or recruitment purposes but it also has a pivotal role in assisting young students in a challenging task of career path selection. These tests are also useful in assisting current employees, who are looking for a job switch at a higher management level. Moreover, it also helps those applicants who are entering into the job market for the first time. Following are the astonishing features that these tests provide to variety of users i.e. students, fresh candidates and already employed personnel.

• Career Path Selection.  Career path selection is very critical decision and it is difficult for a student or teacher to have complete knowledge about the skills, interests and abilities required to make right decision. It is therefore necessary for a student to undergo a controlled psychometric test to make correct decision about professional studies that matches his / her aptitude that keeps him / her motivated to excel in his / her field of interest.

• Job Seekers.   Finding a right job at right organization where an applicant can utilize his/ her skills in an effective and efficient manner is a difficult task, therefore, it is mandatory for a job seeker to go through a series of psychoertic tests that enables him/ her to have his/ her own assessment about what really is desired skill set and job requirements which are to be performed by that applicant. When a fresh job seeker goes through a process of psychometric testing, it helps him find a job he would love to do. It allows him to avoid job that makes his life miserable.

• Uses of Psychometric Testing for Career Counselors. These tests makes it easier for career counselors to find out candidates abilities, skills and personality traits and relate these personality features with demands of a job, to find out which job best fits his/ her true potential and personality. Psychometric testing helps candidates to gain insight into their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and strengths in job environment to make informed decisions on their future career and path selection process.

• Psychometric test results provide insight into an employee’s role in the organization.

• Psychometric tests have the capability to predict how a candidate is likely to perform and whether the individual will fit into the organizations culture.

• On part of the candidates appearing in psychometric tests, it provides an equal opportunity to all candidates to be tested in a standardized environment.

4. Psychometric testing is an important assessment tool for HR department engaged in finding right person for the organization.

• These tests are very constructive for HR personnel of any organization as it provides assistance not only in hiring right people for right job but also aids in ascertaining, whether the person assigned with a particular position matches his/ her skills, abilities and temperament.

• HR personnel can use psychometric tests to explore causes of under-performing employees and can suggest suitable remedy either by replacement or job rotation to bring efficiency and effectiveness in a particular department.

• Psychometric testing also provides objective assessments about which/ when an employee needs training, development or motivation to perform better.

• Psychometric tests also provide insight into the personality traits an employee carries and results of these tests are useful in ascertaining whether which employee is best suited for which type of job. Moreover, these useful assessments also bring forth the inefficiencies of employees and how to reduce/ overcome those inefficiencies.

• Psychometric tests helps in assessing organization’s training and development needs, explore job specific inefficiencies, job rotation and enrichment needs and development of HR policies.

• Psychometric testing is not only cost beneficial but it also provides a long term benefit in the form of providing best suited person to the organization.

• Psychometric testing provides objective preview of a prospective employee, whereas, other type of tests are more off subjective in nature. This all-round assessment process measuring attributes including knowledge, critical reasoning, enthusiasm and personality profile provides objective data about suitability of a candidate.

• In today’s competitive environment where HR specific organizations are highly dependent on high performing employees, psychometric tests extraordinary benefit in making correct HR decisions.

5.   There are many pros and cons of psychometric tests but in the nutshell it is the most reliable and valid testing method, which can be implemented in many different scenarios. To conclude above discussion we may reach a consensus that there are many types of psychometric tests that can be applied to many different situations and when it comes to dealing with HR, it is not wise to stick to any one type of method but an array of tools both psychometric and traditional approaches customized, to fulfil a given situation is a perfect remedy.