When money is involved, it is better to be safe than sorry. This idiom is apt when it comes to recruitment. 

Recruitment process costs are stringent and ending up with a wrong fit may not be what a recruiter wants. When the cost of a hiring mistake can be as high as 30% of the employee’s annual salary, it is prudent for recruiters to invest more in pre-employment testing to pick the relevant candidates from the talent pool.

Hiring has been a complex process since it is tricky to evaluate a candidate for his skills and attributes in a short period. Quite naturally, candidates present themselves in the best light while applying to an organization.

A survey conducted by criteria pre-employment testing found that up to 78% of resumes contain misleading statements, while 46% contain actual lies. 

While a recruiter tries to filter through so much information a candidate shares to get to the facts, there is a loss of time, effort, and resources. Often, recruiters’ hiring experience, the urgency to fill a position, and their own unconscious bias may give way to hiring incorrectly. 

This is where automated tools of employment testing came into play.

Several organizations have customized tests and scientifically designed assessments to help recruiters gain data-driven insights for better hiring decisions. Of course, this costs money but investing in assessment tools will save a lot of wrong hiring decisions.   

What is pre-employment testing software?

Employment testing has its roots way back in the 18^th century in France. Later in the century, the US Military used assessments to screen candidates for government positions. Today, pre-employment testing has evolved to a great extent. Some noticeable transformations are the shift from:

• Pen-paper-based quick tests online assessments and even video-based responses
• Only skill tests including personality tests
• Evaluation by a person to automated scoring

These are some of the most common pre-employment tests in effect today:

#1 Aptitude Tests

They measure the natural ability, or a set of skills needed for certain job positions viz. verbal ability, logical reasoning, numerical ability, etc. These tests are usually multiple-choice and timed.   

#2 Skill Tests 

They evaluate the ability to carry out certain on-the-job tasks. Tests have specifically tailored questions, related to the tasks of the job role. These may include situations, coding challenges, or simulations. Questionnaires or video interviews also evaluate soft skills.

#3 Technical Tests 

They measure the technical talent and skills needed for a specific job role. These include programming tests where candidates must write codes, troubleshoot, or debug programs. These are evaluated by code playback tools. Other technical tests also include simulated challenges. 

#4 Psychometric Tests

Literally meaning “measuring the mind”, these tests became more prevalent in pre-employment in the 20^th century. These tests measure intangible attributes of a candidate like aspects of their personality, values, motivators, competencies, interpersonal skills, etc. Some or all of these tests are woven into an Assessment Centre, which contains a series of activities that measure specific skills expected from a candidate for a certain role.

Here are a few types of psychometric tests:

• Behavioral assessments assess the possible response of candidates in various situations they may encounter on the job. These questions can be multiple-choice, rating scale, adjective checklists, open-ended questions, and/or one-way video responses to questions. Some commonly heard-of tests are In-tray exercises, Situational Judgment Tests, group activities, role plays, case studies and presentations, gamification, etc. 

• Personality tests are used to get a glimpse of a person’s personality. Although the results obtained from these tests are not definitive but offer great insight into a person’s character traits. Today results from a personality test can be a make-or-break parameter in applying for a job role. Some commonly used tests are Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), 16 Personality Factors (16 PF) questionnaire, Big Five personality test, DISC personality test, Eysenck Personality Inventory, etc.   

#5 Video Responses 

These are new to the bouquet of pre-assessments. Slightly different from video interviews (which are two-way), video responses expect a candidate to record their responses to pre-determined questions. The candidates get to view one question at a time and record their responses in a certain number of words.

These tests measure language fluency and softer aspects of communication. The responses can also be used as insights about the candidate in further interview rounds.

Many of these modalities of assessment are automated today, user-friendly, and more efficient in evaluation. This makes the assessment process organized, tangible, and somewhat unbiased. These results can further be substantiated through further interview rounds. 

Why must you have pre-employment testing software?

The following are the benefits of adopting pre-employment testing software:

Ensure job fit

The more detailed your pre-employment screening is the higher your chances of finding candidates fitting well into a job role. Since most of the skills and attributes are assessed through various modalities, selecting only the relevant candidates becomes easy. 

Data-driven hiring

The selection of candidates through personal interviews is largely dependent on the interviewer and has a large scope for unconscious bias. Therefore, whether a candidate is a right fit remains a mystery for the future to reveal. 

Assessments bring in more tangibility to hiring. 

With the right testing, the quality of hires is improved, eventually reducing the turnover rate. This is not only useful for hiring new candidates but also for Internal Job Promotions, Succession Planning, and Job Transfers.

Check – A Detailed Guide – Data-Driven Recruitment

Reduce time and cost

Multiple levels of interviewing in hiring cost a considerable amount of time and money. 33% of organizations stated that pre-employment assessment reduces costs and time per hire.

Add structure to recruitment

The introduction of pre-employment assessment software makes the process more streamlined by filtering candidates, setting benchmarks, and providing insights to the interviewers in further rounds.

Top 10 Pre-Employment Testing Software

Here is a list of some commonly used pre-employment software (these tools offer free and/or paid subscriptions): 

#1 The Predictive Index 

This tool specializes in Cognitive, Behavioral, and Job Assessment.  It focuses on understanding individuals for talent optimization.

Key Features: 

1. Assists in sorting candidates based on the requirement and the talent pool available

2. Measures intelligence, personality traits, and behavioral tendencies of the candidate

3. Provides an analytical tool to reveal business metrics and track progress

4. Automation of operation-related tasks.

Pricing: There is a free trial version available. Paid version cost on direct request.

#2 TestGorilla 

This tool offers assessments for job-specific skills like coding, programming, languages, time management, and digital marketing as well as general skills like critical thinking. It also offers personality and value tests, automated CV screening, and customized assessments. 

Key Features: 

1. Automotive screening process where candidates are graded and ranked as per the requirement.  

2. Creates job-specific assessments

Pricing: Free tests are available. Packages start at Rs 1650 per month and can go up to Rs 135,000, depending on the type of package you choose.

#3 Mercer | Mettl 

Mercer offers customized online talent assessments with AI-based proctoring to prevent cheating.  The assessment suite includes all types of assessments including technical ones, coding simulators, interviews, ‘hackathons’, and L&D solutions as well.  

Key Features: 

1. Psychometric tests curated to assess and identify key personality traits of the candidate. A Dark personality test is also available to identify negative traits

2. Online and offline Behavioral tests to identify workplace traits and triggers.

3. Technical test to measure roles and job skills.

Pricing: Free trial available. Price on direct request.  

#4 iMocha 

This tool offers a variety of skill assessments that spans over 2500 skills including over 500+ IT skills, 25+ Coding languages, 50+ Next-Gen skills, 20+ Domain skills, and 20+ cognitive tests with digital proctoring. 

Key Features: 

1. More than 2000 skill tests are available

2. Assessment of tech and coding skills

3. Upskilling and Reskilling assessment

4. Fresher training program available

5. AI-powered insights

Pricing: Price on direct request 

#5 Vervoe 

Vervoe helps predict job performance using customizable skills assessments. It also offers role-specific simulation testing, coding challenges, video responses, dynamic skills testing, and AI-powered hiring automation.

Key Features: 

1. Create specific and unique assessment test

2. Templates can be chosen from over 300 assessment skills.

3. Easy Integration of existing recruitment and workflow tools.

Pricing: Pay&Go plan costs $228/year and is billed annually.

#6 Wonderlic 

This software offers assessments that measure cognitive ability, personality, and motivation and analyze it into a single score for better decision-making. It also offers structured interview guides, an onboarding guide, and a unique ROI calculator for recruitment. 

Key Features: 

1. Finds candidates based on job-specific scores

2. Cognitive test that can help understand if the candidate will be able to do the job

3. Motivational test is available to know if the candidate has a more practical and innovative approach.

4. Personality test to give you an insight into how the candidate will behave while on the job.

Pricing: Price on direct request 

#7 eSkill 

eSkill offers flexible assessments that include over 800 skill-based and subject-based tests, skill gap tests, behavioral, and cognitive assessments, and video response questions. It also offers a savings calculator to find out how much money can be saved using the tools. 

Key Features: 

1. Subject-based assessment available.

2. Option of 800 plus jobs and subject-based tests available in their library

3. Integration of Applicant tracking system and Learning Management System possible

4. customization of skill tests can be done

Pricing: Small Business Plan is priced at $100/month. There are basic, premium, and enterprise-based subscriptions available as well. Prices for these plans can be received from the company.

#8 Harver 

Harver offers unbiased soft skills assessments, tests for cognitive and problem-solving behavioral assessments, and job knowledge and skills assessments. It also offers a realistic job preview to candidates, automated interviews, and reference checks. It believes in engaging assessments, job simulations, and video response questions. A unique feature is the Collaborative Interview Scoring where all evaluators involved can review the same responses from the candidates’ recorded interviews to reduce bias.

Key Features: 

1. Offers situational as well as cultural fit assessment tests

2. Presents candidates with a chance to perform jobs under realistic scenarios pertaining to day-to-day work.

3. Behavioral-based AI methodology for soft skill assessment is available.

Pricing: Price on direct request 

#9 Modern Hire 

This software has two main aspects that help in identifying the right candidates: Virtual Job TryOut assessment with simulated tasks and job-relevant exercises, and Automated Scheduling, Interview, and Scoring. A unique offering is a brief Text Interview and Automated Phone Screening with custom screening questions.

Key Features: 

1. Virtual Job Tryout simulation and text-based assessments can be done. 

2. The competency tool assesses candidates based on task, social and interpersonal skills, and abilities and expertise. 

Pricing: Price on direct request 

#10 WeCP (We Create Problems) 

This tool specializes in technical hiring to evaluate over 2000 technical skills. It allows recruiters to create a talent pool from job sites, universities, and social media. It has AI-led video interviews and web proctoring with great reporting tools to assess candidate performance.

Key Features: 

1. Holds a library of over 2 million questions

2. Technical assessment skill tests can be customized as per the client’s needs.

3. Screening test is automated

4. Collects feedback from the candidate.

Pricing: Pricing depends on the plan that is chosen.

Wrap Up

The implementation of pre-employment testing software is quite a project and may seem like an uphill task to introduce a newer process into your seemingly smooth recruitment process. But if you calculate the costs of attrition (especially new hires), training of poor performers, or retention of employees (owing to culture or personality misfit), you will be astonished to see how much money is being spent anyway. 

From the recruiter’s point of view, it is just practical that you focus on saving your own time and effort and also money for your organization in the long run.  

After all, it does become a recruiter’s responsibility to find the ‘diamond in the rough’ for their organization!

FAQs on pre-employment testing software