What are the most common tests in a job interview

After a few months looking for work, sending resumes to a large number of companies and without receiving any calls, being summoned for an interview is, in addition to a small personal victory, a new opportunity to be able to present yourself to the company personally, to make known Closer to the strengths of one and be able to choose more securely to the vacancy we want to occupy.

But, on the other hand, it is possible that after the momentary joy of having been chosen for a job interview, we begin to worry about having to face it. The nerves for making a good presentation of oneself, the way they have to do the interview (personal or group), the questions they can submit to us ... As we do not know these answers, it is logical that we can go nervous, especially if we have not done many interviews throughout our professional career. To help you, we explain what are the most common tests in a job interview .

The group interview

Companies can conduct interviews to incorporate new personnel in two ways: personal and group . Each of these ways involves certain tests that tend to be different from each other, since the dynamics that are established in the development of the interviews are not the same in one case as in the other.

If you arrive at the address that the company has given you to do the interview and you see a few people waiting at the door, the most logical thing is that they are going to carry out group dynamics tests. Companies usually opt for this method when they have several positions to cover (for example, in the case of placement agencies) or when it is a position that requires very specific characteristics and skills, which are better discovered by comparing the different candidates . These are usually interviews that last several hours.

Format of a group interview

Presentation of the company : first, they will present the company and its objectives. If, for example, it is a placement agency, they will present the different companies.
Personal presentation : afterwards, they will ask you for a presentation of each one.
Test to solve a problem : then, the tests will begin. The first is usually a situation in which you have to solve a very specific problem of the job, so you have to explain your reaction to this unforeseen and the actions you take to solve it.
Priority order test : later, a priority order test is presented, that is, several situations are posed at the same time and they must be ordered depending on which ones would be addressed and resolved first and which ones later.
Test how you would do a task : and the most important test is usually a description of how you would perform one or several tasks that will be part of your day to day in the job you are opting for.

The tests described are usually the most common, but similar ones can also appear, all of them aimed at being solved in a group dynamic. It is possible that at the end of these tests, each one will have to face a personal interview.

For more information, you can read this other article about How to act in a group work interview.

The personal job interview

The other way of conducting interviews is the personal one and is usually carried out by smaller companies that prefer to know the candidate personally and assess in a more particular way if it fits the profile they want. It is possible that some test, such as ordering priorities or solving a crisis in the workplace, also appear in this type of interview, but what matters most is the personal questionnaire .

How to go to a job interview

Before facing a personal interview, it is very important that you take into account your image and the way you approach the test. We advise you to go with clothing with which you feel comfortable but formal and try to maintain a positive attitude . This will make you show confidence in yourself, which is a key factor for this type of interview.

Questions in a job interview

The questions will be carried out by one or several persons of human resources and the department to which the offered position corresponds. The most frequent are:

What has been your professional career?
What is your level of experience for the required position?
What are your hobbies and interests?
Why do you want to work with us?
What do you know about our company?

Tips for a job interview

It shows a relaxed and safe attitude.
Explain chronologically your professional career, from the oldest to the newest, unless you are asked otherwise.
Prepare a little your possible answers at home.
Find out about the company before going to the interview. On the Internet you will find everything you need.

You may also be interested in How to behave in a job interview.

Language tests

Another section to take into account is that of languages. Surely ask to access the job the domain of one or several languages. If so, it is likely that some of the tests described above will be developed in that language, so they can assess the level you have in that language and if you are able to understand and speak it effectively.

In the group interview, the most common is that you have to do a task of the position you are opting for in that language, whereas if it is a personal interview, they will probably ask you to give relevant information about you, for example about your tastes or preferences. hobbies, in that language. In this last case, we recommend that you prepare a small presentation about yourself before going to the interview, so that you have something prepared and your nerves do not betray you.

Now that you know which are the most common tests in a job interview, you may also be interested in this other article about common mistakes in a job interview.