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EXPERT Q&A FOR ADMINISTRATIVE
PROFESSIONALS
QUESTION: I have a few questions related to skills assessments:
♦Why
do employers conduct these tests during job interviews?
♦
How can I prepare?
♦
If I get called back after an interview to take a skills assessment, is this
considered a good sign?
♦
How much will my results affect my chances of getting the job?
ANSWER (by Diane Domeyer, executive director of Office Team):
Skills assessments are performed to gain insight not available during an
employment interview. They give employers a chance to confirm you have the
abilities you claim and verify the depth of your knowledge. Common skills
assessment tests for administrative professionals include software
applications (such as Microsoft Word or Excel), typing speed, transcription
speed, spelling and proofreading. Software evaluations usually go beyond the
basics and require you to perform complex tasks. For instance, a PowerPoint
assessment might ask you to demonstrate advanced expertise by including
custom animations, sounds and graphics on slides.
You can prepare for skills assessments by taking another look at the job
listing. A company that emphasizes certain skills, such as knowledge of
Microsoft Office, Oracle or Crystal Reports, is likely to focus testing in
those areas. If you are applying for a position through a staffing firm, you
will most likely be required to complete skills assessments in a variety of
areas so your representative can best gauge in which functions you are
strongest.
When the hiring manager calls to set up an interview, you might ask if
testing will be conducted at the meeting. This information will not only
help you prepare, but it also can tell you to allot more time for your visit
to the company. If you will be evaluated with a particular application,
practice using both common and little-used functions or review a user guide
to jog your memory. If typing or transcription speed is the focus, doing
repeated drills can be useful. Keep in mind, though, that now isn’t the time
to learn a skill from scratch.
If a hiring manager calls you back for an assessment after an initial
interview, you’ve made a positive impression. Any time an employer seeks
additional information about your qualifications, you’re at an advantage
because you have another opportunity to demonstrate that you are the best
person for the job.
While skills assessments do play a role in the hiring decision, they are
just one of many factors hiring managers consider when evaluating
prospective employees. Middle-of-the-road test results will not put you out
of the running, nor will above-average results guarantee you the job.
Today’s employers seek administrative professionals who possess not just
solid technical expertise but also a flexible mindset, interpersonal skills
and enthusiasm — qualities that can’t be graded through testing. If you can
demonstrate that you have the complete package through both assessments and
interviews, you will be a strong contender.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Diane Domeyer is executive
director of OfficeTeam, the nation’s leading staffing service specializing
in the temporary placement of highly skilled administrative and office
support professionals. OfficeTeam has more than 300 locations worldwide and
offers online job search services at
www.officeteam.com.
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