DO'S AND DON'TS IN AN ONLINE ASSESSMENT

Taking the online assessment as an in-between task

A no-brainer: that's definitely a don't. We recommend starting the online assessment when you're well-rested. Preferably in an environment where you won't be disturbed by others or have minimal distractions. Put your phone on silent (or turn it off) and sit down comfortably. It doesn't have to be done in one long sitting: you can take breaks between questionnaires and tests. You can also exit the online assessment and continue at a later time; you'll automatically resume where you left off.

Preparing well by practicing

That's a do and a don't combined. When it comes to personality questionnaires, you can't prepare. The questions are about what you find important or what you do or don't recognize about yourself. There are no right or wrong answers.

This is the case with intellectual capacity tests. These tests have a time limit, and you're asked to answer as many questions correctly as possible within the available time. You can prepare by practicing with tests available on the internet. This mainly helps you become adept at different types of questions, such as logical relations, syllogisms, and number series. It doesn't significantly impact increasing your work and thinking level.

Attaching a value judgment to the results

You can do that, of course, but we don't recommend it. If you're taking an online assessment from iScreen, you'll always receive an explanation of your test results and how to interpret them. This will tell you what your strengths and talents are, what comes easily to you, and what might be challenging. Again, there's no right or wrong, but one situation might be more desirable than another.

The results of an online assessment are a means to have a conversation with you, to see where you can or want to grow, and what suits you. Its purpose is never to approve or disapprove of you.

Seeing the online assessment as a gift

That might sound a bit exaggerated, but try to look at it this way. Whatever the reason you've been invited to take an online assessment – whether it's for a job application or to aid in your personal development – make the most of it. It can provide insights you might not have had before. Why communication goes more smoothly with one person than another, why certain tasks drain your energy, and especially what things excite you. Take that with you in your career path or personal growth. It can help you make conscious choices and accept your strengths and weaknesses.

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- Carlijn Witvliet, Work and Organizational Psychologist