With thousands of applicants waiting to get employed, recruiters now utilise aptitude tests to shortlist candidates. This does not only save them time, but also provides a cost-effective means of selecting the right candidates for the right jobs. With today’s technology, applicants do not have to converge at a place; you can write an aptitude test right within the confines of your home.
Aptitude tests are designed to assess your thinking performance, and your result will be compared to those of the control group so that the examiner can judge your abilities. As a candidate, this is the time to display your professional skills and make a good impression, as this will determine your movement to the interview stage.
Aptitude tests come in different formats – numerical, verbal, abstract, spatial, mechanical, personality etc. and are usually timed, so the faster (and more correct) you are, the higher your chance of being shortlisted.
While recruiters see these tests as a saving grace, applicants see them as the Goliath they have to conquer, and if they have their way, they would avoid the tests at all cost. But, having the right strategies can give you just what you need to cross the hurdle successfully.
Here are 5 ways to overcome aptitude tests:
1. Relax!
When you are about to write one, you may find your heart beating faster and your muscles tensed. This is a normal body response, but you cannot concentrate well if this continues. Therefore, you need to relax your mind and body. This test is to check what you already know and if you have the right skills, there is nothing to worry about. You can start by taking five deep breaths.
2. Practice!
For you to feel more comfortable, you should take some practice tests. Many are available on the internet. This will help you know your weak areas and work on them. Make sure the tests are related to the actual one you want to write. If the actual one will be a personality test, do not waste time practising mechanical tests.
3. Ask questions.
If you do not know the kind of test you will be writing, contact the human resources department of the Organisation. Most times, a contact number or email will be on your invitation letter. Do not be afraid to ask questions and they will be willing to answer you. Remember that if they did not need your enquiries, they would not have put their contacts on the invite.
4. Time yourself.
Aptitude tests are always timed, and whether you like it or not, the time will not wait for you, neither can you manipulate it. Therefore, you have to think and write fast. If you have difficulty answering a question, leave it and move on to others. You do not want to lose the opportunity of ticking the right answers because you wasted time answering those you do not know.
5. Seek feedback.
It is necessary to know how well you performed in this test as this will give important insights into how your personality and reasoning have been judged and which areas to improve on. For personality tests, where there are no right or wrong answers, feedback will give you indicators of areas to improve yourself; and if you do not succeed at first, never give up. You will definitely be more confident and perform better the next time.
