Scrap These STUPID Psychometric Tests!

Tulip09

A few years ago i was looking for part time temp work whilst at Uni, and applied for a temp job with a frozen food company working the checkouts & stacking shelves etc. I had to sit one of these tests and told that the test had shown i wasnt suitable for the job despite having previously worked in retail for 8 years,and having excellent references. The person who actually got the job had no previous experience, had just left education 16/17 years old and had downs syndrome but had obviously scored what they were looking for. I was a little miffed to say the least.

dmg24

Tulip09 wrote: »

A few years ago i was looking for part time temp work whilst at Uni, and applied for a temp job with a frozen food company working the checkouts & stacking shelves etc. I had to sit one of these tests and told that the test had shown i wasnt suitable for the job despite having previously worked in retail for 8 years,and having excellent references. The person who actually got the job had no previous experience, had just left education 16/17 years old and had downs syndrome but had obviously scored what they were looking for. I was a little miffed to say the least.

Sometimes experience in a certain field means you are very set in your ways. An inexperienced person may have shown more of an aptitude for their way of working, and indeed a greater enthusiasm for learning.

I have no idea why you would refer to the fact the person had Downs. Do you think that makes them a lesser person?

Tulip09

Actually i refered to it because the person did have downs, was young and inexperienced. Please dont see nastiness or look for it where there is none there at all. But i can see your point about people being set in their ways.

dmg24

Tulip09 wrote: »

Actually i refered to it because the person did have downs, was young and inexperienced. Please dont see nastiness or look for it where there is none there at all. But i can see your point about people being set in their ways.

It really is not relevant though - it is like saying that a person has red hair. Those with Downs can display endless different attributes, so in itself it means nothing but stigma.

Tulip09

I am aware of a couple of people with downs and their personal attributes and weaknesses, thanks. If my post is has been taken out of context by yourself or others then so be it.

KiKi

Tulip09 wrote: »

A few years ago i was looking for part time temp work whilst at Uni, and applied for a temp job with a frozen food company working the checkouts & stacking shelves etc. I had to sit one of these tests and told that the test had shown i wasnt suitable for the job despite having previously worked in retail for 8 years,and having excellent references. The person who actually got the job had no previous experience, had just left education 16/17 years old and had downs syndrome but had obviously scored what they were looking for. I was a little miffed to say the least.

Again, another unsuitable and inappropriate time to use psychometric tests. I don't know of one which would indicate your ability and preference for shelf stacking. This is why the tests - as I stated before - are only as good as the person administering them, and only help to give them a bad name when they are actually excellent tools if used properly!


I have no idea why you mentioned they had Downs Syndrome, though. The education and youth part were relevant to your annoyance, I'm sure, as they don't have your experience.

But I can't see why having Downs Syndrome was a factor in you being miffed.

KiKi

Maz

Tulip09 wrote: »

A few years ago i was looking for part time temp work whilst at Uni, and applied for a temp job with a frozen food company working the checkouts & stacking shelves etc. I had to sit one of these tests and told that the test had shown i wasnt suitable for the job despite having previously worked in retail for 8 years,and having excellent references.

A similar thing happened to a friend of mine who applied for a checkout/shelf stackers vacancy at our local Mr T's. The test was part of the application form.

She too had worked in a similar role and despite having experience in this environment and a degree, she still got turned down!

hcb42

AS well as in team building seminars, I have seen them used where they simply enable some more probing questions at interview stage, if used well/properly, they simply supplement the process, e.g. as part of an assessment centre - not dictate it. Interviews, for example, can be a very unreliable way of recruiting on their own as well, yet we have been doing that for years.

axomoxia

Tulip09 wrote: »

A few years ago i was looking for part time temp work whilst at Uni, and applied for a temp job with a frozen food company working the checkouts & stacking shelves etc. I had to sit one of these tests and told that the test had shown i wasnt suitable for the job despite having previously worked in retail for 8 years,and having excellent references. The person who actually got the job had no previous experience, had just left education 16/17 years old and had downs syndrome but had obviously scored what they were looking for. I was a little miffed to say the least.

and at 16/17 they can pay them less.....

bristol_pilot

Scores in numerical and verbal reasoning tests can be improved by practice, as I well remember from when I was younger!