Hiring Success with Online Pre-Employment Assessment Tests
Imagine this: You post a job opening and receive 200 resumes. After careful screening, you move forward with candidates who look great on paper. Still, once in the interview, you find out most don’t have the skills needed for a key task. Sound familiar?
Old-school hiring methods rely heavily on resumes and interviews, which can:
- Be time-consuming.
- Miss critical skills or traits that determine success.
- Introduce unconscious bias.
The cost of a bad hire is steep. The U.S. Department of Labor says that a poor hiring decision can cost 30% of the employee’s annual salary.
But here’s the game-changer: online pre-employment assessment tests! These tools can transform your hiring process by using a data-driven approach to confirm that skills on the resume translate to actual ability.
OK….you’re heard this before, right? Still not convinced these assessments save time, cut bias, and boost your hiring success? Let’s do a deep dive:
What Are Online Pre-Employment Assessment Tests?
Online pre-employment assessments evaluate candidates’ skills, aptitude, and behavior and cover a range of competencies, including:
- Cognitive abilities (e.g., problem-solving, logical reasoning).
- Technical skills (e.g.,, software proficiency).
- Behavioral traits (e.g., reliability, adaptability).
Because these tests can be administered online in remote settings, they are accessible and scalable for organizations of any size.
Benefits of Using Online Pre-Employment Assessment Tests
1. Faster Hiring Process
Time-to-hire is a critical metric for most organizations. Online skill assessments improve this measurement by:
- Streamline Screening: Quickly identify top candidates by filtering out unqualified applicants.
- Save Time: Reduce hours spent on resume reviews and initial interviews.
Check out the case study on how pre-employment assessments streamlined a real estate company’s time-to-hire by replacing multiple paper-based assessments with a single online testing platform.
2. Objective Decision-Making
- Standardize Evaluation: All candidates are measured against the same criteria, on the same test.
- Data based tests results: Decisions are based on data, not subjective impressions.
No matter how much you think you’re “neutral” with resumes and interviews, bias happens. Unfortunately, bias in hiring can lead to missed opportunities and reduced diversity. Online skills assessments help overcome this challenge through:
Unconscious bias often creeps into traditional hiring—whether it’s favoring candidates from your favorite universities or being influenced by charismatic interviewees.
You know the ones…they capture the hiring committee’s hearts with their bubbly charm and promises of brighter tomorrows. Skills assessments level the playing field by ensuring everyone is evaluated fairly.
3. Improved Quality of Hires
Hiring the wrong people can disrupt team dynamics and drain resources. Pre-employment skills tests help you:
- Match Candidates to Roles: Ensure skills, behaviors, and personality align with not only the job, but the productivity expectations of the manager.
- Increase Retention: Employees who are well-matched to their roles are more likely to stay and move up in the ranks.
Example: Pre-employment testing helped the company “Foundation Partners Group” reduce their 30% turnover rate by ensuring candidates had the necessary skills before hiring.
4. Cost Savings
Hiring the wrong person is a costly mistake for any organization. Online assessments can lead to significant savings by reducing turnover costs and optimizing your HR resources.
Want to see the potential ROI? Our ROI Calculator will reveal the financial benefits of implementing pre-employment testing in your organization.
6. Scalability
For organizations that need to hire many employees at once (typically 50+ positions), these tests:
- Handle Large Volumes: Easily test hundreds of applicants simultaneously.
- Ensure Consistency: Deliver reliable results across all candidates. From seasonal hiring spikes in retail to large-scale recruitment drives in tech, online pre-employment assessment tests are built to handle the pressure.
Addressing Common Concerns
Some organizations hesitate to adopt online pre-employment tests due to misconceptions. Let’s address a few:
“These tests feel impersonal.”
Reality: Tests are just one part of a holistic hiring process, and because most companies are using screening tools, candidates should be familiar with them. The tests complement, not replace, human interaction. Candidates still have opportunities to showcase their personalities during interviews and other stages.
“Do these tests really work?”
Reality: Studies show organizations using assessments see improved hiring outcomes, including reduced turnover and higher employee performance. The key is to sample tests, before using, to make sure they cover required skills.
“Aren’t these online pre-employment assessment tests expensive?
Reality: Online assessments can save money in the long run by reducing turnover, improving hiring accuracy, and cutting down time-to-hire. While they do have a cost, they provide measurable ROI by ensuring you hire the right person for the job.
Pro tip: Choose pre-employment test providers with flexible, budget-friendly pricing models.
How to Implement Online Pre-Employment Assessment Tests
Here’s a step-by-step guide to integrating these tests into your hiring process:
Define Job Requirements
Start by outlining the role’s essential skills, behaviors, and traits. Be specific about technical and soft skills to streamline the process. For example, a customer service role might prioritize communication and stress management, while a manufacturing position might focus on mechanical aptitude and adherence to safety standards.
To build the most comprehensive requirement list, get input from team members who understand the role’s day-to-day responsibilities.
Choose the Right Assessments
Select tests tailored to your job requirements. Cognitive tests can measure problem-solving abilities in analytical roles. Behavioral tests evaluate soft skills like empathy and adaptability in customer-facing roles.
Software skills assessments are ideal for positions requiring specific proficiencies, like Microsoft Excel or Word skills.
Take advantage of customizable testing options to match your organization’s needs. This ensures that the tests you administer genuinely reflect job demands.
Analyze Results Effectively
Instead of relying on a single score number, review specific areas of strength and potential gaps and use suggestion interview questions found on the score report.
Share the results with hiring managers and consider combining assessment outcomes with other candidate metrics, such as past work experience or interview performance.
Take the Next Step in Smarter Hiring
The evidence is clear: online pre-employment assessment tests are your key to smarter, faster, and more reliable hiring. Stop gambling with traditional hiring methods and start making data-driven decisions that:
- Cut hiring time to find your preferred candidates faster
- Eliminate bias and reliance on “gut feelings”
- Boost retention to decrease costs
Take the first step. Book a call with the team and see how tests can help your hiring process.