5 Tools Employers Use to Determine if You’re the Right Fit

If you’re considering changing jobs for the first time in a while, or find yourself unemployed after many years with the same company, you may run across some surprising requests during your job search. Among the things you may encounter:

Personality tests

More and more employers are requiring candidates to complete personality screenings prior to offering them an interview. These types of assessments are particularly common in jobs where you would be required to deal with the public on a regular basis. They’re also widespread in jobs where integrity is paramount, such as positions dealing with money transactions.

Skills assessments

A lot of job descriptions require a “demonstrated aptitude” in a particular software program or type of analysis. Beware that this often means that the employer will test you on these skills as part of the interview process. Sometimes you have to pass these tests before even being considered for an interview. For instance, I know someone who was required to complete an hour-long practice test just to apply online for a job as a bank teller.

Credit checks

Some companies require applicants to sign a disclosure of their credit report as part of the application process, even for positions that don’t directly deal with finances. Many applicants find this practice invasive, but unfortunately there’s little way around it, other than choosing to not apply at companies that request this information.

College transcripts

Most people haven’t seen a copy of their academic transcripts in years. If that’s true for you, you may want to consider ordering a new copy from every university you attended. Some universities offer unofficial transcripts for free, and these are generally accepted by employers. Some companies will ask you to bring copies of your transcripts to an interview in order to substantiate that you have the degrees you claim on your resume.

Government ID

If you make it through the interview process and start a new job, you will be required to produce two forms of government identification in order to start your tax paperwork. While a driver’s license is sufficient as one form of ID, you’ll also need your social security card, birth certificate, or passport as a secondary form. If you don’t know where any of those things are, now’s a good time to order another copy—before you need them on short notice for a new job.

Job hunting is a stressful process, and it can be made even more so when you encounter employer requests that you aren’t expecting. Keeping your personal records and documentation organized can help reduce some of the stress of the application process and interview process.

To secure the interview and move on to the next step in the hiring process ensure you’re giving yourself the best competitive edge available by utilizing a professionally-developed resume and cover letter. It’s important to know that you’re competing against other candidates who are using professionally prepared documents and those candidates have a 77% chance of winning the interview over those who don’t utilize professionally-written resumes. Give yourself the competitive advantage you deserve today and start getting interviews now.