by Ruaidhri Horan, Marketing Manager, Abrivia Recruitment
Psychometric tests are increasing in popularity in an Irish context. The main advantage to employers in commissioning psychometric tests are as follows:
1. Understanding of Skills and Competencies
Psychometric tests provide employers with a deeper understanding of a candidates personality skills that can usually be ascertained from a 45 minute/1 hour interview. The employer can then ascertain if the candidate’s personality type will fit in easily with the team he/she will be potentially joining.
Psychometric testing also helps employers identify high performing candidates and is fairer on candidates who may have an unstructured interview, denying them the opportunity to sell their skills and competencies in an interview situation. Occasionally, poor performing interviewees can be high performing employees when put outside the stresses and strains of an interview environment. Also the revenue generating potential or Return on Investment (ROI) is much higher with high performing candidates
2. Saves you time and money
By getting candidates to complete psychometric tests, the hiring manager saves both time and money by only calling suitable candidates to interview. A considerable amount of a hiring manager’s time, which obviously costs money, can be wasted by interviewing and screening candidates who are ultimately deemed unsuitable for the job on offer.
3. Evaluate a Candidates Potential
Rather than solely focussing retrospectively on skills and experience that a candidate has accumulated to date, psychometric tests can determine a candidates future potential, which is often very difficult to ascertain under the constraints of an interview situation. This is of advantage to candidates also who may feel that they have underperformed in their interview.
The main advantage of psychometric tests is that they help ensure that only the best candidates are selected for interview, who not only have the skills and competencies to do the job but whose personality type will complement the culture of your organisation. Psychometric tests vary in price but for as little as €200 hiring managers can re-affirm their decision to make a significant investment in a particular candidate, thus helping ensure that the anticipated Return on Investment (ROI) is achieved for the organisation
