You have the experience. You have the interview skills. You know what you’re doing! You ace the phone interview, the in-person interview is a cakewalk, and you know this job offer is coming your way. But before you can get the offer, your would-be employer asks for an aptitude test. It’s just a formality, so it shouldn’t be anything to worry about, right?
But then when it’s time to take the test it’s confusing. Maybe the questions are odd, there’s a time limit, or it covers information that isn’t really relevant to the position. But you persevere and finish it. However, you get a call two days later from the company’s HR department, who you didn’t even interview with, telling you that you didn’t get the job.
It’s hard not to feel devastated. How do you deal with losing a job you were perfect for due to what feels like a technicality? Here are a few things to know.
- The Company Doesn’t Make the Test
In most cases, the company you’re interviewing with doesn’t actually create the aptitude test themselves. They usually partner with an outside company. That means that these tests don’t necessarily reflect the job you’re in the running for. There isn’t anything wrong with you, and you aren’t deficient in any way—the test is likely based on ambiguous algorithms, or possibly flawed in some way.
- You Might Not Want to Work for a Company That Relies on an Aptitude Test
Aptitude tests can be a useful tool when it comes to evaluating new hires, but they are just that: a tool. Ideally, aptitude tests should be used in combination with your interview results and experience to determine if you’re a good fit. If a company immediately denies you a job offer purely because of test results, they might not be a great place to work after all. If they deny candidates on test results, they might fire or punish employees for other arbitrary reasons.
- Your Dream Job is Out There
There are plenty of positions out there that don’t require any sort of aptitude test. If you didn’t get this one, maybe it just wasn’t right for you. It can hurt, especially when you need a paycheck, but you’ll find a job that’s even better for you.
If you’re still looking for ways to ace your next aptitude test, check out this article from the Harvard Business Review. We’re rooting for you!
Have you ever taken an aptitude test for a job? How did it go? Let us know in the comments section below!
