Friday, August 2, 2013

The Different Kinds Of Pre-Employment Testing

By Cathy Mercer


Pre-employment testing is quite commonly used by those employers who want to eliminate unsuitable job applicants as early on as possible. Generally speaking, there are a lot of different kinds of pre-employment tests out there. However, the most common ones fall into three categories: skill tests, aptitude tests and drug tests.

The most common kind of pre-employment tests would be the skills tests. Applicants will basically have to demonstrate their skills for the job during these tests, or at least confirm the skills that they claim to have. These tests may range from basic typing tests to report writing, object lifting and even complex mechanical designs.

While it may be possible to prepare for some of the tasks in this department, you will need to think ahead and consider what they might ask you to do when you get there. You can practice typing online beforehand, for example, or practice designing logos. If you already know the skills that they are looking for, then it would actually be highly advisable for you to get a head start and start practicing at home as soon as you can.

On the flip side, there is the aptitude testing method, which basically exists to find out how capable applicants can be. Here, they might test out the applicant's skills in reasons, writing, counting or speaking. Without a doubt, this is very different compared to former method because it also checks whether applicants can still learn more as time goes by.

In other words, aptitude tests can tell employers how much time a person will need to learn how to do certain jobs at a satisfactory level. Some general aptitude tests include intelligence tests and IQ tests. However, there are also certain tests out there that focus on certain aptitudes, like mechanical aptitudes.

Drugs can actually result in a ton of lost work time and even accidents in the long run. This is why it is so important to make applicants take a drug test before their employment. This is also why employers can ask their potential employees to get the testing done as long as it is done properly and in line with the law.

Generally speaking, the laws on employment drug screening differs from one state to the next. Some states may require employers to only test applicants after they have already been offered a proper position that is conditional to a negative drug result, for example. This will depend on the employers, too, though.

The most common kind of drug test involves applicants visiting a collection site where they will submit a urine sample that a certified laboratory will analyze for them. This is called a five-screen test and involves testing for five different kinds of street drugs, namely cocaine, marijuana, PCP, amphetamines and opiates like morphine and heroin. This type of testing is quite popular with most employers out there because of how reliable, non-intrusive and cheap it is as a whole.

Other pre-employment testing methods include hair, saliva, blood and breath tests. Either way, though, most job applicants will have to go through some form of these testing methods before they are hired for work by a company of their choice. Fortunately, you can prepare yourself for some of these tests if you find out beforehand what the job that you are applying for requires in terms of them.




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