Psychometric Tests For Simple Retail Jobs

Truegho

What do you all think about these online psychometric tests that a lot of the big retail employers are using now to sift out job applicants?

Personally, I HATE them. No matter how much emphasis I put on my customer service skills and enthusiasm for retailing, I can never pass them, a fact which I am really baffled about

Does anybody here work in retail recruitment, and perhaps know exactly how these tests work? I know there are no right or wrong answers in these test exercises, but I was just wondering.

You need to be an intellectual Steve Austin (remember him, The Bionic Man?) or a Krypton Factor winner, I think, to pass these accursed tests!

Sambucus_Nigra

Well, they sift out unsuitable people. What's not to like?

Truegho

They are STUPID, and a totally inaccruate method of finding the best candidates for a job.

Thousands agree with me on this.

These tests need to be scrapped. Period.

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

Well, they sift out unsuitable people. What's not to like?

hcb42

you cannot fail a psychometric test!!!They show preference. Therefore they are the easiest kind of tests there is.

Perhaps if you are thinking too much about the answers to say what they want to hear. They can spot this, best to be spontaneous.

Hammyman

Seriously, I don't know how you can fail them. All you have to do is put your brain in "politically correct rights based moron mode" and the answers are obvious. I passed the DWP one by putting down what I thought they wanted to hear.

925dancer

I've taken and passed them, they're not that hard!

If you're not passing them there's a reason. Do I enjoy taking them? No. Are they a necessary evil these days? Yes. Is it a useful way to help sort out hundreds of applicants for entry level positions in a more manageable way? Yes.

Thousands may agree with you but there are thousands more who are gainfully employed with the companies that use them.

The problem does not lie with the tests..................

Truegho

Hammyman, welcome to the club. I too have passed the DWP psychometric tests - on a number of occasions, I hasten to add - and deem them to be reasonable when measured against the kind of qualities that the department is looking for.

No, in my previous posting, I was referring to mainly the retail chains and their psychometric tests. I don't know what it is, but theirs seem even more tricky to pass. What puzzles me is that you tick all the kind of customer service qualities and strengths you think they are seeking - but then get knocked back. Why???

Hammyman wrote: »

Seriously, I don't know how you can fail them. All you have to do is put your brain in "politically correct rights based moron mode" and the answers are obvious. I passed the DWP one by putting down what I thought they wanted to hear.

hcb42

because you are answering it the way you think it should be answered!

Just answer it with your OWN beliefs. Inconsistencies are reported.

I have implemented these in CS roles and many people do find the reports that come back are pretty accurate

Truegho

I DO answer each question with my own beliefs. Sadly, apart from passing the DWP ones, I never have any luck with the retail tests.

hcb42 wrote: »

because you are answering it the way you think it should be answered!

Just answer it with your OWN beliefs. Inconsistencies are reported.

I have implemented these in CS roles and many people do find the reports that come back are pretty accurate

bluebeary

i did one for the first time yesterday and passed

hcb42

Truegho wrote: »

I DO answer each question with my own beliefs. Sadly, apart from passing the DWP ones, I never have any luck with the retail tests.

It didn't sound like that from your earlier post.

Truegho wrote: »

What puzzles me is that you tick all the kind of customer service qualities and strengths you think they are seeking - but then get knocked back. Why???

Have you worked in retail? Are you any good at it?