Hi All, If I am successful with an interview I attended during the week, I shall have to sit a 4 hour psychmetric test. Could anybody recommend practice tests that I could purchase, specific to health and safety professionals. I did google it, yet there is a vast array of results, at varying prices. Would appreciate any recommendations! :) Thanks!

4 hours is a big test - I hope the job is a very significant one to merit that much effort in recruitment. Psychometric tests are designed to establish what makes you tick as an individual and therefore trying to tailor answers towards what you perceive to be the answers that are wanted will produce strange results. Also your perception of what is expected and what the recruiter hopes to see may wildly vary. This also supposes that the recruiter knows what they are looking for in a candidate and how to interpret the answers given. And if you do manage to answer in the way that the recruiter thinks is a good fit for their organisation whilst not revealing your real preferences and character, what will be the outcome? My advice would be to tackle the tests head-on. If you do not get a job offer accept that they were looking for a different person and the job would not have been any good for you.

Hi Tessie, I'd ask them why they intend to do this and what their objectives are. I would agree with David about the difficulty of 'second guessing' the 'right' answers. I've done them before and I'm informed that I'm a stable extrovert [amongst other traits!]- didn't get that job so I guess they may have wanted someone unstable perhaps-it really is a 'snake oil' business and some recruiters haven't the faintest idea of the limitations of such tests. Regards Mike

I agree. I would not want to work for any company that believes in this mumbo jumbo

Sometimes there is no choice - it is a requirement of an international convention. No idea on this particular post, but you sometimes have to do it, whatever your views on the validity!

Some of these posts reminded me of the Groucho Marx quote "I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member"

It is my understanding that psychometric tests could be a part of the selection process that provides limited insight into personality type. The properly designed ones do indeed provide the insight, but the outcomes need to be judged professionally, and not by lay-persons, as for many of the questions, there is no "perfect" or "correct" answer. The tests can be one of the wide range of tools used, especially for positions in which the employer is looking for a particular personality type or wanting to avoid particular perosnality types. It need not be mumbo-jumbo.

If you can, ask them what sort of things you'll be doing before the day - they may give you some pointers at least! Types of test Numeracy skills - you can practice beforehand on the lines of what's next in sequence 1, 2, 4..... Logical reasoning tests Lateral thinking (can you think out of the box or do you take more of a methodical, step by step approach). Risk taking exercise (scenario given and asks how you would approach this - cut corners to get task done or fail to complete the task but taken every precaution). Extrovert / introvert Loner v's team player. How you cope with stress situations (you have 15 minutes to undertake the task or everyone in the room dies...not literally but to see how you do against the clock and when the stakes are high). Communication skills - leader or follower? I've done a few in my time (online and in person) and they aren't pleasant. If you don't know the answer then move on (or say so if its a one to one or group exercide) rather than flannel or waste time trying to work out the answer. If you have time, you can always go back and have another go (depending on the system). Good Luck!

I always wanted to be a... Lion Tamer or a Lumberjack. Sing along if you wish.....

There may be some benefit in these tests on a personal basis however if an employer starts this type of harassment at interview imagine what else might be in store for you if appointed.

Many thanks to all for taking the time to share their comments and knowledge. I was called for a second interview and a "timed exercise" which was to conduct a plant risk assessment on a chainsaw. Currently awaiting to hear if I'm through to the next round. It will be the psychometric test. The HR lady said, the Senior Management of the company reviewed the position and have denoted approximately 8 key attributes they believe are essential in the role. The test is developed to the company's needs, not a general test! Fingers crossed! Thanks again :)