We get lots of questions about testing workers-how can we ensure they have the job skills they claim and that their employers need. We ran a couple of tests for employers. The first one involved a bit of creative thinking. Our client builds custom insulated refrigerated box trucks. This required body builders with skills in wood working and fiber-glassing. Our test involved the candidates each building a wooden box to plan from a sheet of plywood. They then had to line it with insulating foam, line it with sheets of composite and then seal and finish it laying down strips of fiber-glassing. This step was followed by a painting and sealing process. In essence they built a model of the inside of one of the insulated truck bodies. The test was a big success, giving the employer a real look at their skills and a very realistic assessment of their abilities. The best part was all the observers that then wished to requisition the boxes as beer coolers.
Many of our clients recruit Filipino draftsmen, either architectural or mechanical. Our program in this case involves using a test assignment from our client’s, and we arrange the proper equipment and software and monitor the test project in our offices in order to time the applicants and them submit their work to our client for review. This gives an excellent sample of the applicants abilities, speed and accuracy.
Another recent large scale test involved a large national business in Australia. We began with a search for qualified applicants that met the work experience and 457 visa requirements. From this group approximately 260 applicants were accepted. Our testing program was run over 4 days and we worked literally night and day with the employer on this program. The initial testing involves height and weight measurements, range of motion, vision and physical strength testing. This is the preliminary step. Of the roughly 220 applicants that passed through the first round about 185 were moved on to the skills testing and 35 of those were selected.
