Psychometric tests 'largely discredited by today's recruiters'
1st July 2009
Jobseekers have been advised that they are unlikely to be asked to sit a psychometric test by an employer, with most HR specialists having now grown to be wary of the results produced by such procedures.
Earlier this month, the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) confirmed that prospective teachers will be made to take psychometric tests in order to ensure that they have the right personality to succeed in a teaching job.
However, while the agency has revealed that it will make use of the tests as it looks to deal with the biggest upturn in interest in teaching positions for years, some experts have argued that most other sectors have already done away with such tests and now prefer to rely on tried-and-tested means of recruitment.
Philip Parkin, general secretary of the union Voice, explained: "There has been much criticism of their use in other sectors and doubts raised about their reliability, objectivity, fairness and whether they take account of social or cultural backgrounds.
"Candidates might be tempted to try and give the answers they think employers are looking for rather than giving 'true' answers."
Applications for teacher-training positions are up by 23 per cent this year in comparison to 2008 levels, the TDA has reported.
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