Psychometric Testing In Recruitment And Its Importance

Employers frequently use aptitude or psychometric exams to learn more about a candidate while minimizing prejudice. An aptitude test can be used to examine your abilities in a certain field (for example, literary or numerical reasoning), evaluate your logical and quick-thinking abilities, or simply gain a better image of your personality and the type of employee you will be.

In an era when every firm seeks the best people, psychometric testing allows you to select the best candidate based on logical reasoning. However, other businesses are still trying to use these tests, with only 18% integrating personality testing in their hiring strategy. To thrive in this advanced environment, you must comprehend the value of psychometric exams. We have a variety of tests available, but the ones you should employ are determined by your organization's demands. In this blog, you'll learn about psychometric testing and its importance. Without further ado, let us begin.

What is psychometric testing?

Psychometric tests are statistically validated assessments that evaluate intelligence, logical reasoning, abilities, capacities, and personality. A resume is packed with catchy buzzwords that address your trouble areas. Resumes alone are unreliable because no candidate will reveal their vulnerability to you. However, psychometric testing can help you assess the concealed. There are numerous types of psychometric exams, such as logical reasoning, personality assessments, verbal reasoning, and judgment. Personality tests assess your behavior and attitude in specific job circumstances. To reduce the cost of faulty hires, you must make precise and correct selections while hiring. Do not forget that bad hires might cost you up to $240,000.

The importance of psychometric testing

Psychometric testing can provide numerous benefits only if the tests are administered in accordance with the job duties. There are many different psychometric tests that fall into two categories: personality tests and aptitude tests. Each test's importance is determined by the type of hire and organizational requirements. Approximately 75% of Fortune 500 firms in the United Kingdom conduct psychometric test for recruitment on their candidates before making hiring decisions.

Assist in judging candidate behaviors

To maintain a positive work culture and work in stressful conditions, your staff must remain cool. Office culture necessitates a high level of commitment, and if your prospects act adversely, they can cause a lot of disruption. Assessing candidates is critical to avoiding misconduct and ill-attitude. For example, if you are recruiting a customer service representative, you will run tests to determine how the person will respond to a furious customer.

Analyzing Problem-Solving Skills

If your company operates in a flexible business where external circumstances have a significant impact on work, you must determine whether the candidate possesses problem-solving abilities. Because your firm does not operate in isolation, you require someone who can solve problems quickly. You can analyze the applicants by presenting them with uncommon situations that they may not have encountered previously. They should think outside the box, as proven by psychometric testing.

Matches candidates to employment roles.

A candidate who exactly matches your job description may lack practical skills. Psychometric testing is essential for determining which applicant will do the best on the ground. Assume a military candidate is a great achiever who has nothing on their resume other than academic credentials. So, you can use appropriate psychometric testing methodologies to assess their logical reasoning in the face of abrupt changes in their circumstances.

Cultural fitness promotes organizational growth.

When you select candidates who fit into your company culture, they increase organizational productivity. However, psychometric tests can be extremely useful in determining whether they are cultural fit. What if a perfect prospect departs after a short period because they feel suffocated in your workplace? You must judge not just their qualities, but also their adaptability. According to a poll, 73% of employees reported quitting their companies due to a bad cultural fit.

Reduces turnover.

When you select the best fit for your organization, with all of the abilities you seek and who are also satisfied in your organization, you reduce turnover. Satisfied employees contribute to increased retention. Only psychometric testing can determine who will survive in your workplace and who may want to quit later. You'll eventually know whether an employee will remain dedicated or depart.

Types of Psychometric Tests

Now, we'll go over a few typical types of psychometric tests that are frequently used for candidate screening. Logical reasoning.

These are numerical reasoning tests in which applicants are given numerical questions to solve, which they must analyze critically before responding. Their data analysis skills indicate whether or not the candidate is a good fit for the job.

Verbal reasoning.

This test assesses the candidate's spoken language and comprehension skills, which are essential to present knowledge, connect facts to problems, and critically analyze it in order to make educated judgments.

Diagrammatic reasoning. 

In a diagrammatic reasoning test, candidates are given charts, graphs, statistics, and diagrams to evaluate as examples of the work. Employers use this test to measure candidates' ability to comprehend diagrams and draw accurate conclusions.

Situational judgment.

This test comprises hypothetical events comparable to those encountered on the job to assess the candidate's decision-making capability and ability to deal with unique conditions. It is critical for organizations that encounter frequent situational problems, such as firefighting firms.

Emotional intelligence

Doctors and military personnel benefit from emotional intelligence assessments, which assist in understanding their emotions in traumatic or difficult situations. The intelligence tests assess candidates' emotions by putting them in painful situations.

Psychometric exams allow you to evaluate the abilities and capabilities you're seeking for without depending exclusively on candidate resumes or interviews. This psychological assessment method is being adopted by a large number of companies. Employers trust it because of its importance and the difficulty in finding qualified people. With the highest turnover rate in history, the globe is currently experiencing a talent deficit. It requires you to base your employment judgments on evidence rather than emotional biases against prospects. Mercer | Mettl can help you increase your chances of placement with its practice test model, online aptitude tests and mock preparations right now.