How to Find the Right Answer to Job Assessment Questions

Taking a job assessment test is a relatively common part of the job application process. While there are technically no right or wrong answers, the questions can sometimes be tricky.
Typically, these questionnaires are used by employers as a type of personality test to help a hiring manager get to know you better.

Here is some information about why hiring managers ask you to complete assessment tests, as well as example job assessment test questions and answers and tips for how you can prepare for taking one.
What is a job assessment test?
Sometimes a hiring manager may ask you to take an online job assessment test as part of the application process. While these tests aren’t “graded,” they are a way for the hiring manager to understand your personality and skills. A right or wrong answer doesn’t exist, but they are looking to see what you think of like the right answer.

These tests are particularly used to place job seekers in positions that are right for both their skills and personality types. It also can help employers understand if your personality is a right fit for the company, team, or role you’re applying for.

There are three different times when you may be asked to take a job assessment test:

Before your first interview. This is to help screen unqualified candidates so that neither the applicant nor the hiring manager wastes time.

After a first interview, but before a follow-up. If you’ve had your first interview and it went well, and the hiring manager feels like you may be a good fit, taking the test at this stage helps them check your skills and abilities, as well as further confirm you’re a good fit for the company.

During an interview. There are cases when, during an interview, you may be asked to take a job assessment. Typically these are behavioral and personality-based, or they may be a skills test to ensure you are capable of doing the tasks required by the job.

No test is perfect, but they all help to give an indication of how you will respond to challenges you may face in your day-to-day role.

There are different types of assessment tests based on the type of role you’re applying for. For example, the simulation-based assessment helps to hire managers to understand your thinking and decision-making styles. The psychometric test questions help show behavioral style, and the aptitude tests measure critical thinking and problem-solving skills. These can also show hiring managers how quickly you’ll be able to learn and perform tasks. Skills tests help determine your specific job skill capabilities, and personality assessments measure personality traits related to the workplace.

The test you may be asked to take could be one of these, another type, or a combination of several.
Job assessment questions and answers
Job assessment questions are made to showcase your strengths, weaknesses, and personality. They also can show:

How well you relate to others and can adapt to different people.
How well you can think critically and clearly.
Problem-solving and decision-making skills.
Your ability to collaborate and be a team player.
Organizational skills.
How motivated you are, and what motivates you.

Here are some example job assessment questions, and example ways and tips to answer them.

Statement-based personality test questions
One of the most common types of personality test questions is statement-based ones, where you’ll receive a list of statements and are asked to state the extent to which you agree or disagree.

For example, you may be asked “I like to multitask and work on multiple projects at one time,” and be asked to agree or disagree on a scale from 1 to 5 (1 strongly agreeing, and 5 being strongly disagreed).

These questions can help the hiring manager place you in a role that best matches your interests and skills.

Forced-choice personality test questions
In this type of question, you’re typically given a list of three or four adjectives or statements, and you’re asked to rank them in order from the most like you to the least like you. For example risk-taker, planner, outgoing.

These questions can help the hiring manager understand the type of person you are and your personality traits. In most cases, some or all of the adjectives are desirable for the job you’re applying for, so how you rank them can help the hiring manager understand where to best place you.

Open-ended personality test questions
In some cases, you may be given the option to write out your answer to a question. The question may ask something like “How would your previous boss describe your work habits?” or “How would your friends describe your personality?”

With questions like these, the hiring manager is able to look at your answers and measure your tendencies and preferences, as well as understand how you portray yourself to others.
Tips for answering job assessment questions
When taking an assessment test for a job, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

If you’re nervous or want to know what to expect, you can take practice tests online that may ask questions similar to the job assessment test.

Also, take time to review the job description and think about what traits would make someone most successful at that role. While you should never lie on a job assessment, you may want to consider answering based on what traits would thrive in that role.

When it comes to answering questions on a job assessment test, be as honest as you can. If you answer questions the way you think the hiring manager wants you to answer, you may be placed in a job that makes you uncomfortable, you don’t enjoy or doesn’t use your skills. Long term, you likely won’t be happy or even successful in that role.

When you’re taking the test, try to go with your first answer. Don’t overthink the question, especially since there is no right or wrong way to answer it. Typically, your first answer will give the most accurate results.

Remember, in most cases, you will not be disqualified from a role based on your assessment results alone. They are only one part of the application process and are viewed along with your resume, references, interviews, background checks, and other parts of the interview and hiring process.

Both you and your prospective employer want to make sure you’re in a role and on a team, you like and can thrive in. Assessment tests are designed to identify your strengths, weaknesses and preferences, so being honest with these answers can help you both find a position that fits your personality type and skills, and meets your professional, social, and emotional needs.