In job interviews everywhere you’ll almost inevitably run into the same handful of questions time and time again. One of the most popular is why you left your previous position. Answering this question can be tricky: you have to be able to give a logical explanation of why you left without coming off as bitter or negative. The difficulty of this question is compounded if you were fired or asked to resign from your last position. Fortunately, it doesn’t take an online PhD to come up with an effective response, and with a little forethought you can answer this question without hurting your chances of getting hired.

To begin, it’s important to understand why employers ask this question at all. Applicants’ resumes may look terrific, but there may be a difference between what’s documented on paper and how people actually handles themselves on the job. By asking why you left your previous job, employers are looking to uncover potential problems with prospective hires that might not be reflected by their application materials.

The interviewer is also trying to glean information about how you handle adversity. Whether you left your job voluntarily, were laid off, or were fired, your answer to this question will give a glimpse of how you act under trying circumstances. Asking this question is an investigation into your personal integrity. So, armed with this knowledge, how should you answer the question?

It’s important to answer the question in a way that isn’t critical of your previous employer. Respond as positively as you reasonably can. If you left because you were burnt out with working for the company and decided you couldn’t stand to work there any longer, don’t trash your employer. Instead you might respond by saying you were seeking a position that would offer you greater opportunity to develop professionally. If you quit because you hated the job, you can talk about wanting a position with different responsibilities that your old company couldn’t provide. Whatever the case, don’t focus on the negatives about your previous employers. Instead, come up with a reason that casts your desire to switch jobs in a positive light.

Another thing you can do to make yourself stand out is mention what you’ve been doing since leaving your job. If you’ve done consulting work or enrolled in classes, then by all means point it out. Employers tend to look favorably on activity between jobs that shows you can take initiative and handle adversity well.

Finally, it’s important to make sure your delivery is accurate. Never tell an outright lie to an interviewer. A company can easily cross-check the reason you left your job with your previous employer. If a potential employer finds out you’ve misrepresented the circumstances of your last job, you’ll be in a worse predicament than if you had just told the truth, even if it isn’t totally favorable.

Keep your response positive, but truthful as well. It may be necessary to practice your answer several times before the interview to ensure you can be honest without hurting your chances of being hired.

This is a tough question, and leads many applicants to stumble if they’re unprepared. By being truthful and well-rehearsed in your response, you’ll be able to make a great impression on interviewers. A solid answer here will help push you to the top of the recruiter’s list, and put you that much closer to landing your next job. Good luck!

This is a guest post from Elaine Hirsch.

Related posts:

1. How To Quit Your Job Without Burning Bridges
2. How To Handle The “What’s Your Greatest Weakness?” Question In A Job Interview
3. How Your Credit Score May Affect Your Job Search

Continuing my “why” series, it’s time to tackle the most asked question on this blog.

Consider this scenario: you’ve gotten the interview. You think it went well. They told you they’ll get back to you with their decision.

So you wait. And wait…. And wait…

Why are employers so bad about geting back to you after the job interview? Is this a bad sign? I’ve already written several posts about this situation, including a discussion on how long you should wait before following up, and some rules on how to follow up after a job interview.

But let’s just deal with the “why” of it for now. Why is it taking so long to hear back?

These are the most likely scenarios:

1. You’re not going to get the job. I know, this is exactly what you didn’t want to hear, but it might be the most likely reason.
2. Some employers are just slow. Have you ever applied for a government or public sector job? The mountains of bureaucracy involved can be immense. Don’t underestimate the glacial speed at which some organizations move when it comes time to make decisions.
3. Maybe the position is not available. I can’t tell you the amount of times I’ve had clients tell me they’ve interviewed for a position only to find out it had already been filled. Sometimes an employer is big enough that one hand doesn’t know what the other one is doing.
4. Maybe they’re just filling a quota. There are tons of instances where an employer is simply advertising and interviewing for an opening just to say that did, when, in fact, they are going to end up hiring the person they had in mind all along.
5. Maybe the person who interviewed you isn’t the same person who makes the final hiring decision. You might have been interviewed by one person, or by a team, but either way, in the end the decision is made by committee. If it’s one person interviewing and that same person makes the decision, then the decision can come fast. But if it’s decision by committee, then that could take a while to hash out.
6. Maybe you’re their second choice, but they expect their first choice to turn them down. They’re keeping you on the line just in case.
7. Maybe they no longer want to hire anyone, much less you. Sometimes the actual act of seeing who’s out there to fill a given position makes an employer change their mind and decide it’s not worth it after all.

Related posts:

1. After-Interview Tip: Send A Thank-You Note
2. Ask Brian- How Long Should I Wait Before Following Up After An Interview?
3. 6 Signs The Job Interview Went Well

Today I’m going to start a “why” series on this blog. A lot of the questions I get from readers (and plenty of the posts in our reader forum) revolve around the question “why?” So I’m going to try to offer some generic reasons “why” things might not be working out in your job search.

Not every point will apply to you, but you should consider each one seriously because if you can change the one or two things that are tripping you up, then you’ll hear more “yes” on your way to landing a new job.

First up:

Why didn’t I get the interview?

So you’ve been sending out resume after resume but you’re not getting interviews. You’re not even getting call-backs or emails! Why? What are you doing wrong? Consider these possibilities:

1. Your resume is hurting you. A resume is all you’ve got to make a first impression. It’s like a pickup line in a singles bar. If what you’re doing isn’t working, then you have to look at what you’re saying. Maybe your resume is not effective enough. Maybe it’s not standing above the crowd. Worse: some resumes make basic mistakes that could actually hurt your chances of landing that interview. Consider tweaking or even rewriting your resume wholesale. If you’re not getting results, then tweak the one thing that is your calling card. Of course, I would strongly recommend engaging professional resume services to help you out. But you know I’m biased on that front.
2. You’re trying too hard. 200 resumes sent out does not equal 200 interviews. If you’re taking the shotgun approach to job applications, then you’re doing it wrong. Seriously study the openings out there and try a targeted application approach. Focus on the 5-10 most likely positions and do your best to stand out for those.
3. You’re not qualified. Be honest with yourself. Are you applying for jobs that are over your head? You might really want that prestigious job, but maybe you’re just not qualified for it yet. If you’re applying for jobs that are out of your league, then you’re just wasting time. Try focusing on jobs that are attainable. Be realistic about your qualifications.
4. You’re not paying attention. The only information you have about what the employer wants is in that job ad. So, is your application/resume targeting what the job ad says the employer is looking for? Have you done your homework and addressed what they say they’re looking for? If you’re just sending out generic resumes without taking the time to do some research and tailor your resume to what they say they need, then you might as well not apply at all.
5. You’re late. In this job market, any job opening can rapidly attract hundreds of applicants. If you’re applying to a job posted 2 weeks ago, you could be completely perfect for it, but your application just joins the pile that has been building all that time. It may seem annoying to constantly monitor the job boards and try to jump on new postings, but it could be well worth your time to do so.

Related posts:

1. The Secret of a Successful Job Interview
2. A Successful Job Interview: My One Best Tip
3. Things To Avoid At Your Job Interview

An interview is your opportunity to sell yourself. Regardless of how much you may look the part, you need to answer the questions correctly to get the job. Interviewers ask key questions and look for certain types of answers. Honesty is always the best policy, but remember that it is okay not to offer information that was not asked.

Never bash your former employer. It doesn’t matter if your last boss was the Wicked Witch of the Workforce, don’t say anything negative about your former employer. Instead of saying that you left your last job to get away from your boss that micromanages like it’s going out of style, say that you are looking for an employer that wants to utilize your talents and allow you to truly contribute to the company. Instead of saying what you hated about your last employer, focus on what you love about the employer that you are interviewing with.

Avoid slang. It doesn’t matter if everyone you know uses double negatives and slang, don’t use them in your interview responses. Always make sure that you look and sound very intelligent and articulate in an interview. You might be a college graduate from an ivy league school, but if you speak like you dropped out of grade school in your interview, there’s a good chance that you won’t be getting the job. An interview is the place to be as professional as possible.

Always have questions. Almost all interviews end with the interviewer asking you if you have any questions about the position or the company. Be certain to have some questions. However, avoid questions about pay, vacation time, hours, bonuses, and similar things that depend on you actually having the job. Instead, do some research on the company that you are interviewing with and ask a question about something that you read. This shows that you are interested about the company and have done some research.

Never say you were fired. When asked why you left your last place of employment, try to avoid saying you were fired. You could say instead that you and your manager agreed that your last position may not have been the best fit. Do not lie about why you left, but avoid using the words fired, terminated, and let go in your explanation of why you are no longer with your previous company.

Don’t lie. It’s better to admit that there is something that you don’t know than to lie. If you find yourself put on the spot with a question that you don’t know how to answer, it is perfectly acceptable to ask for a moment or two to consider your answer. When you give the interviewer a well thought out response to the question that was posed, you can also make a point of emphasizing that you don’t make snap judgments and decisions, but instead prefer to think through how you are going to answer the situation. In many situations, this type of personality trait can be an asset.

This is a guest post. About the author:

Erin Kennedy, CPRW, CERW, BS/HR, is a Certified Professional & Executive Resume Writer/Career Consultant, and the President of Professional Resume Services. She is a nationally published writer, and achieved international recognition to the prestigious T.O.R.I. Award.

Related posts:

1. Things To Avoid At Your Job Interview
2. Questions to Ask at Your Job Interview
3. Interview Tip- Have Some Questions

How long should I wait to hear back?

This is the most common question I get on this blog. You’ve interviewed with an employer, and then you wait to hear if you’ve gotten the job. And you wait. And you wait. I’ve addressed the etiquette question about how and when to follow up. But maybe that’s not enough. Maybe it’s time I give you some ideas about how to encourage an employer to follow up with you.

I don’t know why employers aren’t better about following up after interviews. It seems to be quite common, however. Sometimes it takes forever to hear. And sometimes you hear nothing at all. I think in the end, if you don’t hear back from an employer, it’s probably because they’re just not that into you. But here are a couple of things you can do to help ensure you’ll hear something:

1. Don’t leave it unspoken. Before you leave the interview, don’t be afraid to ask the explicit question, “When can I expect to hear back from you?” At least that way you have the concept on the table, and it can’t hurt to show eagerness because, this suggests interest in the job on your part.
2. Suggest a date. If the employer doesn’t volunteer a time period, go ahead and suggest one yourself. “So, you’ll likely have a decision by the end of the week…”
3. Tell them they should expect to hear from you. If things seem like they’re being left vague and open ended, then one way to politely push the matter is to suggest you’ll be following up yourself. “Well, I’ll drop you an email on Monday then and see where we’re at in the decision making process…”
4. If they balk at a date, ask when it would be appropriate to follow up. It’s not rude to expect an answer. If they say, don’t call us, we’ll call you, then counter with something like, “Well, if I don’t hear anything by the end of the month, would you mind if I gave you a call on the first?’
5. If you haven’t heard anything, come up with some new information to call them about. If you haven’t heard anything at all, sometimes the best thing to do is act dumb. Act like you haven’t noticed the lack of contact, and follow up as if it just occurred to you… not because you’re desperate, but because you have some new information. “I just wanted to call you because I thought of a couple of more ways we can reorganize the division when you bring me on.” Sure, this is a bluff. But it’s a bluff that might intrigue them enough to call you. Just make sure that if you do hear from them you can back up your bluff with some actual new info!

Employers aren’t often very good at calling you back after an interview. But there are definitely some proactive things you can do to at least prompt them to action, and at best, keep them on the line and interested in you.

And as always, hiring a professional resume writer can help make sure call backs are a sure thing!

Related posts:

1. Ask Brian – Don’t Call Us, We’ll Call You
2. Ask Brian- How Long Should I Wait Before Following Up After An Interview?
3. Ask Brian – How Long Should I Wait To Hear Back? – Some Rules

A business thank you letter or a letter of thank you after a job interview is one of the most under-utilized ways of obtaining employment there is. Send them a thank you letter for the fact that they called you in the first place. They invited you because they have a strong curiosity concerning you. I always look at an interview as mine to lose. They wouldn’t have me pass through their doors if there wasn’t a high degree of interest.

Quite possibly the most important and effective two words in any language are ‘thank you.’ In general, the world can use more shown appreciation. Exhibiting ones appreciation is undervalued. It is also a sign of maturity. A great leader once said, “‘thank you’ frequently expressed will cheer your spirit, broaden your friendships, and lift your lives to a higher pathway as you journey toward perfection. There is simplicity – even sincerity – when ‘thank you’ is spoken.”

The fact that they considered you in the first place for a job interview should never go unnoticed and a business thank you letter should never be overlooked. I believe that it is one of many qualifiers considered when choosing an applicant for the job. I would personally believe that if they don’t appreciate my calling them in then their value as a team member is diminished. Not sending a letter of thank you shows that he or she shows a lack of interest in the job and an absence of diligence. Basically, they are not the right candidate. Perseverance is a trait most desired by many employers. It is a handy quality especially in sales where rejection is common. If you are not a strong consideration for the job your tenacity may help change their mind.

Like the suggestion in our ‘cover page design’ article you will want to write as if you are speaking to them in person. Don’t’ try to get too fancy or make it flowery. Just write in certain, easy to understand terms. You are kissing up to them but don’t make it obvious. You don’t have to send the most astute note or come up with clever sayings. Just let them know you appreciate their considering you.

Send thank you notes after each of multiple interviews and send one to each person with which you meet. Send a letter of thank you after a phone interview. It is truly a thank you letter for acceptance because they took the time to talk with you. Don’t waste any time in getting your letter of thank you to them. When leaving the interview ask the receptionist for the interviewer’s email. You can let them know of your intentions of wanting to write and give thanks. If they hesitate to give out the email address then be sure to get a letter to them as soon as possible. Overnight delivery is appropriate. Where possible, deliver it in person.

There is much involved in obtaining gainful employment. If it were easy everybody would be doing it.

This is a guest post. About the author:

David Barth believes that quality of life through gainful employment with a knowledge of how to write a Business Thank You Letter is most important. Visit him at http://jobstoworkfromhomeonline.com for more advice on avoiding unemployment.

Related posts:

1. The Number One Cover Letter Mistake
2. Things To Avoid At Your Job Interview
3. The Virtual Job Interview – Job Interviews Via Skype

For the most part, a job interview will consist of you being asked a whole series of questions so that the potential employer can get a good feel for you, but there will also be an opportunity for you to ask questions of your own. While you can feel free to ask any questions that are on your mind, there are some questions that should always be asked so that you can get a good feel for the potential job opportunity you are interviewing for.

Here are some key questions you will want to be sure and ask at your next job interview:

• What Are the Days and Hours You Will Have to Work: Fist and foremost, you need to find out exactly what hours you will be expected to work. Will they need you for the day time or night time? Everyone has their own time limitations and this can be as a result of other obligations such as school or having to pick up kids, so you need to factor in your obligations when looking at the hours you will be expected to work. You also need to consider the days in which you will be expected to work. Will you be expected to work only on weekdays, or will you have to work weekends? What about holidays? Whatever the case may be, if you can’t meet the day and hour requirements that the job calls for then you will not be able to accept it if it is offered to you.
• What Is the Pay: You will also want to ask how much the starting hourly wage, or starting salary, is. You need to know this as you have certain financial obligations that need to be met, and if the money that they will be offering you is not enough to pay your bills, then you will either be left to negotiate a better starting rate, or keep looking elsewhere for another job opportunity.
• What Are the Opportunities for Advancement: Assuming that the starting pay is enough to for you, the next question to ask is what your long term opportunities are going to be with the company itself. It is important to find out if you are starting out on the bottom rung of the corporate, or job, ladder or closer to the top. While certain positions will allow for much more room to grow, others will not. You also have to realize that certain companies will only allow you to move up so high before your opportunities and your pay are both capped. In order to avoid taking a job where you have little room to better yourself, find out what kind of room for advancement there is before you accept any job offer.
• What Will Your Duties Be: If you are going to do a good job, you first have to know what will be expected of you. Ask what your specific job duties will include. If you know in advance what is expected of you, there will be no surprises at any point down the road. This also gives you an opportunity to look at what you will be expected to do for the amount of money you will be paid so you can decide for yourself if the pay justifies the job responsibilities.
• What Benefits Are Offered: Sometimes employers will offer all sorts of benefits in order to entice people to come to work for them and to keep their current employees happy. These benefits can be anything such as health insurance, retirement programs, paid sick days, paid holidays, paid vacations, and even a company car. Some of these benefits will be offered right away and others will require you to work for a company for a certain amount of time, so you will want to find this out as well. Not all employers will offer these types of perks and depending on the job in which you are applying for, there may be none offered. However, if you don’t ask what benefits you will receive, you will have no idea if there are any offered or not.
• Who Will You Answer to: Find out ahead of time who you will be obligated to report to on a daily basis. In other words, who will your boss be? There is nothing worse than taking a job and expecting to only answer to one boss and then finding out that you have several ‘boss types’ that you have to answer to. Answering to multiple department heads and/or managers may or may not be something you want to do so it is important to know the numbers straight out of the gates.
• What Is the Dress Code: In order to fit in properly with any new job, it is important to dress the part. This is taken a step further as many companies these days have a certain dress code that must be met. In the interview, you should address what is expected to be worn on a day to day basis and also what is unacceptable. This will keep you from ever having that awkward moment when your boss calls you into their office because your clothing doesn’t meet their standards.

Almost every interviewer will ask what they want to ask and then ask you if you have any questions. If you say no, or fail to ask what needs to be asked, then you may be in for some unpleasant surprises when it comes time to start your new job. By asking some basic questions ahead of time, you not only show your interest, but also your intent.

Remember, a job interview is not just so a potential employer can find out about you, but it is also an opportunity for you to find out about the actual company that you might just be working for in the near future. So, when the interviewer asks if you have any questions, don’t be shy, speak your voice and get some answers.

This is a guest post. About the author:

Jason Kay recommends reading resume service reviews to help you choose the best writer for your needs.

Related posts:

1. Sample Interview Questions From Google and Microsoft
2. Interview Tip- Have Some Questions
3. Interview Questions You Need To Know How to Answer

Human resources professionals, recruiters and others who interview job applicants seem to have a fondness for that much-dreaded question about how you would describe your own weaknesses. As much as those hiring love to ask the question, almost every job seeker hates to answer it. Describe your weaknesses is a double-edged sword of a question. There is no one right answer to it. However it is definitely one of the most important questions you will face in a job interview.

Before a job interview it is critical to have a response ready for the weakness question. Failing to answer the question or giving a lame off-the-cuff answer will not cut it. Those who are hiring know that the weakness question is no secret and therefore they expect you to have a prepared response.

When describing weaknesses in a job interview, keep the following tips in mind:

-    Don’t describe perfectionism as a weakness. Once thought to be the perfect answer, it is overused and is clichéd.

-    All humans have weaknesses, including the person interviewing you, therefore choose to describe an actual weakness that you have and give real examples. However, be wary about which weakness you choose to divulge. Do not mention weaknesses that make you look like an absolute terrible choice as an employee. Avoid talking about mental instability or things that would make someone question your values, morals and integrity. The weakness however should be one that is work-relevant.

-    Be sure to mention exactly how you are working to overcome your weakness. It shows great character that you are self-aware enough to be conscious of your weaknesses and have a plan for overcoming or compensating for them.

-    Describing past weaknesses and showing how you have overcome them is always a great way to treat this question.

Remember to keep in mind the type of job you are applying for and the skills required for it. Mentioning the fact that you are non-confrontational may not be a plus for someone in a customer service type of position, but may be okay for a computer programmer. Being talkative may be a drawback for an accountant or actuary. However, it is definitely a plus for a salesperson. Choosing a weakness that is actually a strength in disguise for the job you are applying on is a very smart tactic.

Some weaknesses that are acceptable to divulge, depending on the job you are applying for and the way you present them include the following:

-    Competitive
-    Impatient
-    Too Demanding
-    Lack of Organization
-    Not Detail Oriented
-    Critical
-    Sensitive

When dealing with the weakness question in an interview, above all be honest.  It is easy to detect lies, especially for those who frequently interview potential job candidates. Have a great answer ready and answer the question with confidence. After all, we really do all have weaknesses. Being able to admit to it and show your dedication to self-improvement proves that you are great employee material.

This is a guest post. About the author:

Jason Kay recommends you read resume writer reviews before choosing a resume writing service.

Related posts:

1. Why Didn’t I Get The (Job) Interview?
2. Multiple Job Offers – Choosing Between Them
3. 6 Signs The Job Interview Went Well

Yes! The Mock Interview is a great tool to greatly help improve your interview skills and thus get job offers much, much faster than those who do not take the time to practice this essential component of their job search arsenal.

The vast majority of job applicants never practice their interview style and technique prior to sitting for a job interview. While for some performing well during a job interview is a fairly easy task, but for the vast majority of us it is a stressful and challenging situation that may require rehearsal and practice in regards to how we structure our delivery and present ourselves to the interviewer.

Being interviewed quite often brings with it a lot of anxiety and stress that can and will interrupt your ability to think rationally and calmly when it is the most important for you to do so. Just think back to your last job interview and recall the emotions you were feeling just minutes before you sat in the interviewee’s chair, nervousness and anxiety I bet were very much interrupting your thought process during that time.

Here are three ways to help you get through the ever challenging interview process by having a partner perform a mock interview with you to better manage your performance as well as soften the anxiety that will be present during your actual job interview.

Number One

Be selective as to whom you select as your mock interviewer! Don’t pick your spouse or your best friend or your neighbor – these folks are not going to be interviewing you in a way that will highlight your weak points, thus they will not be able to provide adequate and appropriate feedback to help you move forward in improving your interview performance. The best people to seek out to provide a serious mock interview session would be a career coach or someone who has significant experience in interviewing prospective employees. This individual needs the depth of knowledge to know what types of questions to ask, and upon your responses be able to provide insightful feedback to enhance your interview capabilities. Again, this will not be your wife or your best friend.

Number Two

Review in detail your performance/feedback by the mock interviewer. Once you have finished the interview with the mock interviewer and he/she has provided feedback on your overall interview performance make sure you thoroughly understand where your weaknesses reside. If you are speaking too fast ask how to better communicate by speaking slower; if you are not being detailed enough in your answers ask for suggestions as well as examples of how to better answer questions requiring more input from you to better inform the interviewer; also, if the feedback is stating you are to negative, for example, ask for suggestions on how to better deliver your answers so that they are more positive as well as factual in the attempt to remove the negative perception from the dialogue.

Number Three

Commit to the recommended improvements. If you are not able to take constructive criticism during the mock interview process you may find yourself reverting back to your old style of communication, thus not being as proficient as you could be during your next job interview. Therefore you must commit to the necessary changes that will better your performance during the interview process. We all need a coach in life, and it is a coach’s job to not only pat you on the back when you do well but to guide you in a better direction when the situation calls for it. That’s what a mock interviewer with significant interviewing skills can provide any serious job seeker; the feedback and knowledge to help you better perform during a critical job interview.

If you find yourself unemployed for any lengthy period of time, and what I mean by that is well over six months to one year, you may want to take a look at how you are interviewing and if your interview performance may be a roadblock to your ability to acquire a solid career position. Utilize a mock interviewer to help you assess your interview skills and have them point out areas that you could improve on to better your chances in the job search arena.

This is a guest post. About the author:

Dave LaShier, of GET EMPLOYED is a seasoned business professional, HR Executive and business owner. Need a job? Not sure what the next step should be? Visit our job search information website and receive free information about methods and strategies to find a new job FAST! Visit: www.GET-EMPLOYED.org

Related posts:

1. 6 Signs The Job Interview Went Well
2. The Virtual Job Interview – Job Interviews Via Skype
3. Things To Avoid At Your Job Interview

Pre employment testing is commonly used by employers to screen out unsuitable job applicants. In the United States more than 30% of companies reportedly use pre-employment tests to help make hiring decisions. Used in conjunction with the interview process employment testing enables the employer to pin-point any areas of concern with regard to the applicant’s ability and suitability for the position. A valid and reliable pre employment evaluation is objective and a good tool for ensuring that the final employment selection is based on the applicant’s ability to successfully perform in the job and not on any prejudice, bias or assumption.

There are many different types of pre employment tests but the most frequently used tests fall into these five categories – personality tests, skills tests, aptitude tests, integrity tests and drug tests.

Personality Tests

Personality tests measure the personality characteristics of job applicants that are related to successful job performance. Typically they measure one or more of five personality dimensions: extroversion, emotional stability, agreeableness, conscientiousness and openness to experience. The test format can vary from a brief written test to a long psychological examination. Personality tests have no “right” answers and cannot be prepared for. Applicants should answer honestly and not attempt to manipulate their answers to fit what they think the employer wants for two reasons. Firstly the tests contain validity scales that are designed to detect inconsistent and fake answers. This will be viewed as dishonest by prospective employers. Secondly applicants are misleading both themselves and the employer about their suitability for the job and are unlikely to be either happy or successful in the position.

Skills Tests

This is perhaps the most common type of pre employment testing. Applicants are required to demonstrate the skills needed for the job and confirm the job-related skills they say they have. Skills tests can range from a simple typing test, writing a report, lifting a heavy object to a complicated mechanical design. Some skills tests can be prepared for. Know which skills you will require on the job and practice these. Practice tests for typing and computer skills are available online.
Skills tests are considered acceptable if they genuinely test a skill needed for the job.

Aptitude Tests

These employment tests explore an applicant’s abilities such as reasoning, numerical, wiring or verbal skills. They differ from skills tests in that they are used to determine an applicant’s ability to learn and be trained in the required skills for the job while a skills test assesses existing skill levels.

Aptitude tests will tell an employer how quickly an applicant may be expected to learn to do the job tasks to a satisfactory level. There are general aptitude test referred to as IQ or intelligence tests and also tests for specific aptitudes such as mechanical aptitude.

Integrity Tests

Dishonesty in the workplace is a business reality. An integrity test explores an applicant’s honesty and trustworthiness. Questions are designed to evaluate the applicant’s attitude to drug and alcohol abuse, abuse of company resources such as phones, internet, email and vehicles, the confidentiality of company information and data, the stealing of company property such as stationery, telling “white lies”, and the approach to work ethic criteria such as time keeping and taking breaks.

Pre Employment Drug Test

The US Department of Labor has estimated that drug use in the workplace costs employers up to $100 billion dollars annually in lost work time, accidents, health care costs and workers compensation costs. As a result a large number of employers require applicants to have a drug test as part of their pre employment testing process.

An employer can have a program for testing job applicants for drug usage as long as it is administered fairly and consistently and is in line with federal and state laws. The laws concerning employment drug screening vary from state to state and some states require that employers may only test applicants once they have been formally offered a position conditional on a negative drug test.

The most common drug tests involve applicants going to a collection site where a urine sample is obtained and then sent to a certified laboratory for analysis. The standard drug test is called a “Five-Screen” and tests for 5 types of street drugs – marijuana, cocaine, PCP (Phencylidine), opiates such as heroin and morphine, and amphetamines. Urine drug testing is popular with employers because it is reliable, inexpensive and non- intrusive. Test results are usually available within 24 to 48 hours. Other testing methods such as hair testing, blood tests, breath tests and saliva testing are also used.

Job applicants are likely to be required to undergo some form of pre employment testing. Although the amount of preparation that can be done for these tests is limited it will benefit applicants greatly to understand the type of tests they can expect.

For a comprehensive guide to the pre-employment test including tips and techniques for taking the tests go to Pre Employment Testing.

Related posts:

1. Crack Dealers Employed, So Don’t Expect Workers Comp.
2. What Is a KSA and How Will Does It Factor in My Job Search?
3. Working From Home Not For Everyone