Campaign To Scrap Ridiculous Competency Tests

Truegho

I am thinking about organising a campaign to get the government to scrap these ridiculous online competency questionnaires. You know the ones I mean - where you have to rate your answers "What is most like you, what is least like you blah blah."

These stupid questionnaires are a big hindrance to us unemployed people seeking work, as they just make it harder for us, employing these ludicrous "Krypton Factor-like questions."

So - in the words of Sherbert's 1976 hit - howzat for a good idea? Yes, let's bombard Mr Cameron to force these retail employers to scrap these stupid competency forms and go back to a more sensible method of recruiting.

Gleeful

Truegho wrote: »

These stupid questionnaires are a big hindrance to us unemployed people seeking work, as they just make it harder for us, employing these ludicrous "Krypton Factor-like questions."

Why so? Because they get rid of the people too stupid to fill them out successfully from the outset?

Surely, if you can't pass the competency tests, then you aren't up to that particular job?

Truegho

But that's not the point. A lot of applicants may score the requisite marks in these online tests, but when they come to do the job, they often flounder. And anyway, I'll bet many people just go by guesswork when filling in their answers, thus not really giving an accurate picture of their real strengths and skills.

It should go by work experience, and not some stupid online sift thest.

Gleeful wrote: »

Why so? Because they get rid of the people too stupid to fill them out successfully from the outset?

Surely, if you can't pass the competency tests, then you aren't up to that particular job?

tizerbelle

Truegho wrote: »

A lot of applicants may score the requisite marks in these online tests, but when they come to do the job, they often flounder.

Where's the evidence for this sweeping, subjective statement?

Hammyman

tizerbelle wrote: »

Where's the evidence for this sweeping, subjective statement?

The majority of employees in the DWP.

Running_On_Empty

Truegho wrote: »

But that's not the point. A lot of applicants may score the requisite marks in these online tests, but when they come to do the job, they often flounder. And anyway, I'll bet many people just go by guesswork when filling in their answers, thus not really giving an accurate picture of their real strengths and skills.

It should go by work experience, and not some stupid online sift thest.

No. You have misunderstood the purpose of the tests. These are personality questionnaires. They do not assess skills.
Why 'go by guesswork'?
It's much simpler to give honest answers.

SevenOfNine

If you can fill in an on-line competency test then simply be GIVEN a job on the strength of the answers then point me in the direction of that company. I'll get hubby to complete mine on my behalf!

Competency tests may be the FIRST step - but surely not the ONLY step?

I'm not convinced by Hammyman's statement that the majority of employees of DWP flounder in their jobs, perhaps they are just trying to work within a duff, inefficient, lumbering system.

dmg24

Hammyman wrote: »

The majority of employees in the DWP.

Ironically the only place to offer the OP a job!

Oldernotwiser

Why do I suspect the Truego has just failed one of these?

Proc

If people try and "cheat" on these tests, unless they do it very well, they'll get caught out. The tests are structured in such a way that they will paraphrase the same question three of four times throughout, and overtime they build up a hierarchy of your own traits (e.g. confidence, resilience, motivation, sturdiness etc) so if you start answering questions in a way that it points to a different hierarchy the results will reflect this. If you're going to cheat, you best understand how the test works in order to cheat successfully. If you do have this level of understanding, then you're going to realise you don't need to cheat it anyway.

There are no right or wrong answers within these tests, and the individual questions by themselves are of little use. However, when examining the patterns from the final scores a lot can be deduced about a person. Firstly; are they likely to cheat/lie?

I've only scratched the surface of these tests, and how accurate and effective they are, and although they're not perfect, I've seen instances in the past where they've been incredibly accurate.

OP, the fact is it's up to the employers to decide what hoops they want prospective employees to jump through. Personally, I've never used them and never would, but I'm not in a position where I have to sift through hundreds of applications for each position I make available. They're a great tool for getting rid of some of the sh*te that comes through. No employer would use it as a final test or means of employment.

DCFC79

Dont think you have a chance in hell in getting the tests scrapped, ive done a few and they are fine, dont see why they should be scrapped, if they help to weed out unsuitable candidates then thats a good thing.