To prepare for the interview, you've researched the organization, determined what kind of clothes to wear, removed all of your unusual and visible body piercings, covered up your tatoos, had your hair properly cut or styled, practiced answering all of the typical interview questions, stayed away from the bar scene the night before, and now feel ready for anything the interviewer(s) may throw your way. But maybe, just maybe, they'll include a couple of tests that will surprise or discomfort you. To borrow a phrase from the Boy Scouts of America, "Be Prepared!"
If you're seeking a position that requires certain skills or abilities (keyboarding, stenography, drafting, artistry, etc), you normally expect to be tested on those skills and abilities. No surprise here. And all job seekers should expect a drug screen, since, according to an American Management Association survey, 78 percent of the nation's largest companies subject prospective employees to such a test aimed at detecting illegal drug use.
Then there are a number of controversial tests a few companies depend upon to weed out job candidates. These include blood typing, graphology, and the use of psychics.
Few companies in the United States use blood typing as a performance or personality predictor. But in some other countries, especially Japan, blood typing is considered an excellent tool for determining personality traits. Supposedly, type O blood indicates generosity and courage; type A, diligence; type B, unpredictability as well as adaptability; and type AB, creativity.
Graphology, the study of handwriting, is used by some organizations to uncover clues to the writer's character and personality. Because the value of graphology in screening prospective employees is questionable, few U. S. companies actively use this test, although it is widely used in France and a number of other countries. To learn more about this practice, visit the website of the American Society of Professional Graphologists (ASPG) at www.aspgehandwriting.org.
Believe it or not, some companies have been known to quietly or secretly use psychic "advisors" to help them determine if a candidate for a mangerial position is a good fit for the job, both emotionally and cerebrally. Fortunately for all of us, the corporate use of psychics is extremely rare.
So, even though companies interviewing you don't rely of blood typing, graphology, or psychic advice, there are plenty of other ways they can test your attributes, including your patience. Some pre-employment tests measure your current skills, some calculate your aptitiude to learn new skills, some gauge your mental capabilities, some try to determine your personality and psychological characteristics, and some are designed reveal your sense of honesty. Some tests can be legally administered before a job offer is made, while others can only be administered following a formal job offer.
