Psycometric testing for new job: help please

[fairyglo]

A friend has an interview coming up for a job on promotion within her company. She's just heard that the week before the interview she will have a morning (3/3.5 hours) of psycometric tests. All she knows is that there will be written and numerical tests and multiple choice (I think) plus a psychologist will be present - but not sure what their role will be or if they will be interviewing her/whether they will be present throughout etc. Apparently, the company doesn't often use these tests so my friend doesn't know what to expect. I said I'd asked MNers for advice.

We'd be most grateful if anyone who has been through these tests could let us know:

• what she should expect from the tests? what sort of questions are there going to be?

• what are they looking for from the tests?

• how are the test results likely to be used in the interview ie would she be likely to be asked about them or would they just be looked at side by side with her interview performance?

• is there any way she can prepare for the tests?

• anything else she should know?

Really any thoughts would be useful.

we have them at our place - luckily they were introduced after i started -which is good coz am a complete nutbucket.

we did however go through them for a laugh. cant remember specifics - but its quite obvious stuff - go getter questions for the management or potential management kinda people
communication and team stuff.

my husband once went for an interview fr a bank - we were desperate - he got a second interview but didn't go becuase he found something else - anyway thing is they told them to get into groups - which is in itself a thing - you see who is the natural leader and follower. then they gave them a task to build a bridge using things in the room - paperclips rulers straws and things - then they could see good communication skills, delegation teamwork, communication n stuff

hth!

the thing is i think - she should decide before she gets in there what kind of ob she wants and what kind of person she wants to portray.

so a management person would be more delegation and cut throat and self absorbed

whereas a people person would like to work in a team and work face to face with customers and things.

if she keeps this in her head throughout the questions maybe it will help

I used to know a psychologist who devised psychometric tests for the RAF for fast-jet pilots. She said the best predictor was whether they could already had a pilot's licence at the time they applied to the RAF.

Psychometric tests are nothing to worry about and you cannot prepare for them. If you try to portray the type of person that you think they are looking for, the tests will find you out - it is very hard to give false answers consistently. Often there are lots of questions such as Woudl you rather be a teacher or a mechanic? A gardener or a policeman?

For example the Myers Briggs tests (see \link{http://www.myersbriggs.org/\Myers Briggs}) classify everyone into one of 16 personality types. I think I am ISTJ.

It is a very good sign that they are using a pschologist - it is recommended practice and shows they are taking it seriously.

What are they looking for? They will have a good idea of the 'best' psychological profile for the position, from results of other people who have had a similar job. They will use the test results to think of particular questions to ask at interview. If the tests show you do not like giving orders (for example), they would ask for examples of times when you have given orders succesfully - if that is necessary for the job. (i.e. competencies).

It must be an important promotion, or they would not be doing it.

I think Myers Briggs is fine unless the employers are using it in a stupid way - ie ruling out anyone who is a CGSE or whatever without thinking about it. Because we all adapt our personalities to the job in hand and the environment we are in to some extent.