Pre-employment online assessment tests

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I've never posted in this forum before, it's always the General Discussion forum I go to but for this topic I thought this forum would be more appropriate. I just took an online assessment test for a job I had just applied for and of course at the end it said based on my answers I don't qualify for the postion. Those things are so unfair! It says to answer honestly, there are no wrong or right answers. Well, obviously that's a lie in itself because if there are no wrong or right answers it wouldn't have come back at the end to bite me. Every stupid section has something pertaining to working with groups and all that stupid nonsense I can't stand so I answered honestly and either put disagree or unsure under the group type questions but that obviously was the WRONG answer.

I think I would make a good employee and if I could explain I would say I prefer working alone but can work with people in groups just as well. But to say I really like working in a group, I'm going to freaking disagree! Well, maybe it's better I was rejected because if that's the way the companies going to base who gets an interview and who doesn't, then I would rather not work for the fools. It just sucks being an Aspie sometimes and looking for a job because crap like online assessment tests pretty much makes it impossible. What those things are saying is they are looking for normal thinking people, or NT's, and anyone who thinks differently will fail because there are wrong and right answers! Blah!

Sometimes, if you just really need the job, and you know you can at least handle it, you should answer most things the way you think they want you to. That is just to help them weed out the worst people, as in the people that most likely will not fit in at all. You still want it to be believable, so don't go crazy with it, but make yourself look a little better.

At the same time, it might just not be a job you'll be happy in. I totally know how you feel, but I only have experience in retail situations.. which sucks, because I no longer want to do retail. Bleh.

I did a computer test and I got distracted by the wording of the stupid questions. I mean... come on. Here's an example:
"Do you agree with this statement: Some bosses exploit their employees. Y/N"

I *hate* being told not to overthink things, but how can I not? Clearly, the answer is 'yes', because there are some bosses who do; but saying so apparently makes me seem paranoid.

Also, they didn't think I wore enough makeup to the interview.

Droopy,

Your Aspie overly-honest ideals are getting in the way of you getting a job. Never be honest at interviews or at work as that gets anyone fired. You should answer yes or no based on what is perceived as the correct mode of behavior for that job. You also need to research the company prior to interviewing and learn if the job requires working in teams. If it does either don't apply or lie and say you like working in teams. Most employers these days are big on teamwork. Few non-professional jobs involve working alone.

I might be of some help here since I have some experience with pre-employment screening tests.

First, I agree with most of what Ticker posted. That does not mean you should go overboard in presenting yourself the way you think a potential employer would want to see you. If you do, the test will show that you have answered questions with the intention of manipulating the results by anwering in a manner you think will get you the job.

How do I know this??? Well, last November I was hired by a large international company and given one of these tests. When I was hired, my boss told me that I was his first choice but not corporates. The reason was the test. I was hired on the condition that he speak to me about it. I actually started laughing when he told me.

Now I will bore you with the really funny part of this. Seven months later they fired my co-worker and my boss. Since I was the only one left in the department, I opened the cabinet and pulled out my file. Sure enough, the results of the test clearly point out that I tried to affect the score by answering the questions with the intent of manipulating the score.

Needless to say, if I answered the questions honestly I would have never gotten the job.
Only very likeable sheep could be honest on those tests and get a job based on the results.
Unfortunately for me, I really hated the job and just quit in June and started my own business.

The Unicru tests are the ones I'm most familiar with. The only two times I've gotten an interview and job is when I sped through them answering "very strong" on either side. You can't tell the truth and take your time on them, they're meant to weed out good people and put in mindless people who switch jobs every few months. Only a few companies understand what it means to have a person be a "good fit" for their company.

If you know you're going to be a good employee for them, you might as well try to stick your foot in the door and then explain yourself.