Understand the potential consequences before consenting to pre-employment tests

Q: I'm going on an interview shortly. I was told that prior to receiving an offer there would be some testing. I doubt there are any tests that relate to the job content of this particular job. What other kinds of tests are typically given?

NICK'S REPLY: Companies routinely administer tests without notifying candidates what tests they're going to give them. That's not acceptable. You should ask the employer in advance exactly what tests will be administered to you.

Usually, if a test is skill-related, it's administered early in the process as a way to determine whether an applicant is qualified enough to be interviewed. Since this testing will be done at the offer stage, my guess is they're talking about psychological tests. Skills tests are pretty straightforward. Personality tests are worrisome because they are open to interpretation.

The American Psychological Association and other standard bodies have established stringent codes regarding the administration and interpretation of such tests. These codes dictate that the tests must be valid and reliable, and the results of the tests must be properly interpreted and shared with you. If this company doesn't abide by these rules, I'd decline to be tested. You're not back in grade school, where tests are forced on you. You're an adult, and you are not required to take any test unless you want to.

You have the right to know what the test is about and what the results mean. You also need to know whether and how the results will be stored -- it's a privacy issue. If you're uncomfortable, ask questions before you consent until you are satisfied the testing will be conducted properly and how it will be used to judge you.

While some companies administer tests in ethical, appropriate ways, others have little idea what they're doing and that puts you at risk. Before you let anyone poke and prod at your personality, make sure you understand the potential consequences. All job hunters should visit the American Psychological Association's Web site and learn about their rights.

THE HEADHUNTER TIP:

The employer wants to hire you.

Job candidates approach interviews with trepidation, and that's understandable. But as you sit nervously in a job interview, does it occur to you that the manager wants to hire you?

A company holds interviews so it can hire the best person for the job. The hiring manager will be ecstatic if that person turns out to be you because then he can stop interviewing and get back to his regular work. The position is filled!

Use this insight to control anxiety and to bolster your confidence. If you behave as though the manager wants to hire you, then you'll have a positive attitude when you walk into the meeting. You will be calmer and more convincing. This marginal attitude adjustment will reveal itself as confidence and motivation, and it can influence the manager to see you in a more positive light -- and to hire you.

Copyright 2009. Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate

Nick Corcodilos is author of "Ask The Headhunter: Reinventing the Interview to Win the Job" and the host of www.asktheheadhunter.com. He can be reached by e-mail at seattle@asktheheadhunter.com or at North Bridge Group, P.O. Box 600, Lebanon, NJ 08833. Sorry, no personal replies.