SATs At Work Hate grilling candidates for the job? Give testing a try.
By Ellen Paris
Opinions expressed by BIZ Experiences contributors are their own.
If you dread interviewing prospective employees, you're notalone. Interviews take lots of time, and hiring decisions can betough.
To help business owners find the best candidates, some companiesoffer pre-employment tests designed to gauge whether a person hasthe skills needed to do the job. Wonderlic Inc., a provider ofemployee recruiting, assessment and selection technologies inLibertyville, Illionis, offers Basic Skills Tests, which quicklygauge math and verbal skills for entry-level applicants. "Manypeople rely on educational credentials," says Wonderlicpresident Charles Wonderlic Jr., "but the problem with that isthere is no standardization. The Basic Skills Tests give employersthe ability to objectively compare candidates to eachother."
An introductory kit, includes 25 versions each of the 20-minutemath and verbal skills tests and scoring software for $130. Othertests are available for in-depth testing at different prices. Visithttp://www.wonderlic.com formore information.
Also, try AMO Employer Services, a St. Louis-based consultingfirm that specializes in employee selection and productivitysystems. It offers free audiocassettes on pre-employment testing.You can order one through AMO's Web site at http://www.amo-es.com or by calling(800) 245-0445.
Ellen Paris is a Washington, DC, writer and former Forbesmagazine staff writer.
