Job/Europe
Logic tasks and other assessment tests at an interview in a western company. How to properly prepare
You have an impeccable resume and it is not a problem for you to pass an interview. Are you sure the offer is already in your pocket?
Perhaps so, but it is at this point that corporations often play one of the main cards of the hiring process - psychometric testing.
Psychometric tests allow you to look, if not into the soul, then at least a little deeper than the CV and diploma. In international corporations, tests are a kind of checkpoint, which allows them to cut off most of the candidates.
In this article, we will tell you about logical tasks in an interview and other assessment tests when applying for a job. We will also share working tips on how to properly prepare for this selection stage.
Who needs your logic?
There are more and more educated candidates with the right work experience and the competition for prestigious positions is growing every year. At the beginning of the selection process, recruiters and companies use psychometric tests to evaluate not only your knowledge, but also your potential, as well as your ability to logically approach new challenges.
In the UK, one of the most common sets is the multiple choice numerical, verbal and logical reasoning tests. Below is an example of one of the typical logic test questions:
Choose which one of the options best fits the missing symbol
Correct answer:
The first picture is in the second row. First, note whether the hand is moving clockwise or counterclockwise (counterclockwise). Secondly, look at the trajectory of movement (turn length). Thirdly, pay attention to whether the arrow is inside or outside the pentagon and in what sequence its position changes. Finally, note that not all of the suggested answers have a black dot in the middle of the pentagon.
More examples of practice tasks can be found here.
Logic tests show your ability to:
- Make the right conclusions even in non-standard situations;
- Present your findings clearly and concisely;
- Use the necessary arguments to convince the interlocutor;
- Be objective about your work and be able to correct mistakes.
The ability to think logically is useful not only in a professional environment, but also in life, regardless of the type of activity.
Our brain solves many problems every day, where it is very important to be able to reason consistently. If you are looking for a job in consulting or another field where a specialist must quickly understand the jungle of new information, then the ability to understand and analyze the problem will be your undoubted advantage.
Types of assessment tests
Employers around the world use at least 5,000 assessment tests. Some of them contain questions of only one type (for example, verbal thinking, computational ability, etc.), others combine questions of different types. Below you will find information about the most popular assessment tests in Europe.
Verbal Thinking Tests
Verbal thinking tests measure your understanding of language, your ability to quickly interpret information, use grammar, and understand terms. In a verbal reasoning test, there will often be a paragraph of text or several paragraphs and questions about them.
If they are checking spelling or grammar, then you will have four or five different spellings of the same word or phrase from which you need to choose the correct one.
Another subtype of the verbal thinking test is the assessment of understanding of terms and their definitions. You may, for example, be shown a word and asked to pick up an antonym for it.
If they want to see your ability to interpret information and make decisions, they will show you a rather saturated text-task that will need to be solved.
Computing Tests
Numerical reasoning tests are designed to understand how well a person understands everything related to numbers: sequences, graphs, tables, mathematical equations (see example 3 below).
The tests are used for administrative positions, but they can also test graduates and managers.
In advanced computational tests, blocks of information are provided to be processed and interpreted.
Abstract thinking
The ability to think abstractly is considered the best indicator of the flexibility of the intellect and the ability to learn new things. Such a psychometric intelligence test usually implies a certain pattern, the logic of which needs to be understood and continued: for example, in each picture the triangle is rotated by 30 degrees or one arrow is added, and you need to choose the appropriate next picture (see examples 1 and 2 below).
Such tests are used to select candidates for technical positions related to abstract ideas and concepts.
Spatial Ability Tests
Such tests often include visual assembly and disassembly of shifted objects. They test the ability to manipulate shapes in two dimensions or to visualize three-dimensional objects represented as two-dimensional images. Spatial ability is important in manufacturing, technical and engineering positions where plans and drawings are used. For example, engineering, architecture, surveying and design.
Spatial ability is also important in some areas of science where the ability to anticipate the interaction of three-dimensional components is critical.
General Ability Tests
Generalized aptitude tests measure the analytical and deductive abilities of candidates. They aim to test your general ability to learn, even if you don't have specific skills in a particular subject or topic.
Most often, the general test includes a little bit of different checks at once: the ability to understand numbers, the ability to draw conclusions, understand what is read, and recognize logical connections.
Examples of logic tests and puzzle questions
In this section you will find examples of psychometric tests used by companies. Verbal, numerical, and abstract reasoning tests are often submitted online after you've uploaded a resume or filled out a job application. In rare cases, the test may be repeated offline at the last stages of selection to ensure that you completed the tasks honestly and on your own.
“Puzzle Questions”
Brainteasers are used both in interviews and when passing through Assessment Centres. When solving such problems, it is important for the employer not only to hear the answer, but also to understand the logic of your reasoning, on what your conclusions are based. At the same time, it is imperative to bring your reasoning to a logical point, to name at least an approximate answer, even if you are not at all sure about it.
Advanced logic tests when applying for a job
Make up a figure
The candidate sees a finished figure in front of him, as well as individual blocks of this figure. The task is to make the final image from disparate parts. The most difficult thing about the task is that there is very little time to complete it.
Choose the correct answer
The candidate sees the equations appear on the screen, as well as the final figure. You need to choose the equation that fits the answer as quickly as possible.
Tetris
Figures appear on the screen that need to be combined into one according to the Tetris principle. You also need to act very quickly.
A few steps that will allow you to successfully pass logical tasks at an interview or online
1. Do your research
First, find out which test provider is used by the company where you will be taking the test.
The most famous providers in England, SHL and Kenexa, post test questions on their official websites. Companies can either use different names for the same tests or give different tests the same name.
If you are not sure which tests and in what format you are expecting, write to the recruiter or HR manager to clarify these details, depending on who originally informed you that you need to take the test.
If the invitation was sent automatically, and you did not find any useful information on the Internet, try writing an email to the general email address of the HR department. For example, for some math tests you will need a calculator, and for certain logic tests it is good to have a piece of paper and a pencil handy.
2. Don't panic
While mild anxiety can often help you achieve results, intense anxiety can prevent you from concentrating and successfully passing logic tests at a job interview.
The more trial tests you take, the more confident you will feel during the actual testing.
Keep in mind that this is just one of the selection stages and different companies may have a different approach to the importance of such tests compared to other stages of candidate evaluation.
There are many cases when a person did not pass one of the tests, but he was still invited to the next stage of selection. Counting on chance is not the best option, but blocking a recruiter in the mailbox immediately after you decide that you “failed” the test is also not worth it.
tip!
Find other companies that use the same tests as the company you're applying for and practice on those first. In the case of PwC and Vodafone, both companies use the SHL provider. Therefore, if you have a PwC test soon, you can try to take a test with Vodafone (you will most likely have to register an application on the company's website for this). Even if the test is not completely identical, it will improve your practical skills and prepare you for unexpected and non-standard questions. The easiest option is to google “which companies use SHL (Kenexa)”. Also, look for other free trial online tests, such as:
If you feel that preparation is not enough, consider paid sources: Graduate Monkey or Job Test Prep.
3. For each other
Often, well-meaning friends will offer to help with a particular test, and sometimes they are even willing to take the test for you.
Do not forget that many large firms arrange an additional selection stage, which includes re-passing the test, but already directly at the office of the company itself.
At the same time, there is practically no chance of getting the same questions that a good friend decided for you. It will be very disappointing to miss out on the desired job just because there was no time or desire to train for the test you needed.
Tip!
Try asking your "more logical" friend specific questions that you're having a hard time getting to grips with, and ask them to explain their train of thought in detail. Prepare for tests with others! On career forums, you can find people preparing for the same tests as you, who also prefer to study in pairs or even groups.
4. Elementary, Watson
Do not be discouraged if one of your tests is lame, because, according to statistics, there are very few people with equally developed mathematical, verbal and logical skills. Keep working on your strengths and focus on your weaknesses. In England, for example, the personality test is very popular, and so, “math geniuses” often fail this seemingly easy task.
Many consider the ability to reason innate, when in fact this skill can be successfully developed.
Logic is usually not taught as a separate subject in school, but if you were not taken to the chess section as a child, and at the university they were not forced to read Aristotle, you can still train your thinking. To do this, you can easily find a wide auxiliary arsenal on the Internet, from intelligence tests to Sudoku and IQ tests.
Now that you know so many preparation options, the psychometric logic test won't take you by surprise. And most importantly, the time spent on self-study will in no case be wasted, because the ability to think logically is useful not only in the office.
Source: EP Advisory
