9.5 Evaluating Job Proficiency and Integrity

Job Knowledge Test

A job knowledge test measures the candidate’s level of understanding about a particular job. For example, it may require an engineer to write code in a given period or ask candidates to solve a case study problem related to the job.

Work Samples

Work samples are commonly used in selection to assess skills and competencies. Oral communication skills may be assessed through an oral presentation. Work sample tests ask candidates to show examples of work they have already done or to produce a new work (product) sample. In the advertising business, this may include a portfolio of designs, or for a project manager, it can consist of past project plans or budgets. Work sample tests can be a helpful way to test for KSAOs. These work samples can often be a good indicator of someone’s abilities in a specific area. As always, before looking at samples and simulations, the interviewer should develop particular criteria or expectations so each candidate can be measured relatively.

Honesty/Integrity

Honesty and integrity tests measure an applicant’s propensity toward undesirable behaviours such as lying, stealing, taking illegal drugs or abusing alcohol. Two types of tests assess honesty and integrity. Overt integrity tests ask explicit questions about honesty, including attitudes and behaviour regarding theft. Personality-oriented (covert) integrity tests use psychological concepts such as dependability and respect for authority. Critics have said these tools may invade privacy and generate self-incrimination. They also claim that candidates can interpret the questions’ intent and provide answers that are considered correct but not characteristic of the candidate. However, many organizations are motivated to use them because the behaviours these tests attempt to capture can harm their bottom line. For example, in the retail industry, employee theft is an issue that can significantly impact a retailer. Thus, retail companies commonly use these tests in their selection process.

“Test Administration” in Human Resources Management – 3rd Edition by Debra Patterson is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.—Modifications: Used section Honesty and integrity tests; Used section Job knowledge test; Used section Work sample test, edited.