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shl candidate help information
Candidate Tips for SHL Tests
This page provides candidate help and tips for the SHL questionnaire and different types of SHL psychometric tests. It is designed to help you prepare both physically and mentally before any SHL assessment.
The information below has been prepared and presented by KSL Training not SHL. Should you not be able to find the information you are seeking, please do not hesitate to contact KSL Training or SHL Direct for further help and advice. SHL can be contacted by telephone on 020 8335 8000 (from within the UK or +44 20 8335 8000 from abroad).
Summary of Contents
About SHL Occupational Personality Questionnaires (OPQ)
Questionnaire benefits: Completing the OPQ within a recruitment and selection context allows both the candidate and assessors to understand more about the candidate's preferences and how that might affect someone's suitability for a particular role and how they may fit into the culture of the organisation. In a development context, the questionnaire helps a candidate, their manager and coach identify potential strengths and areas for personal and career development.
Questionnaire format: The OPQ therefore is not timed, but candidates should aim to take between 45 to 60 minutes to complete the questionnaire. During the questionnaire you are presented with 100 questions, each offering you four statements of behaviour that you need to determine which statement is most and least like you at work.
As you work through the questionnaire, you will see behaviour statements repeated which encourages you to identify your true preferences of behaviour when working with others, your thinking style and your feelings and emotions whilst at work.
The questionnaire also measures how consistently you have responded to the statements presented, so our advice is to be honest in your answers to ensure that the results truly reflect your behaviour at work.
Questionnaire versions: There are different derivatives of the OPQ such as the Customer Contact Styles and Work Styles Questionnaires that you may be asked to take dependant upon your occupation. The preparation tips are still relevant regardless of the version you are taking.
About SHL Ability Tests
Ability tests such as Verbal and Numerical Critical Reasoning seek to measure the candidate's ability to rationalise information presented to them and draw accurate conclusions. For this reason, the tests are timed and written to address a wide range of capability within a particular population group such as managerial/professionals, senior managers etc.
Verbal Critical Reasoning
Measures the ability to evaluate the logic of various kinds of argument. The task is to decide whether a statement made in connection with given information is true or untrue, or whether there is insufficient information to judge. These Verbal tests range from 17 - 19 minutes to complete, dependant upon the job level.
Numerical Critical Reasoning
Measures the ability to make correct decisions or inferences from numerical data. Calculators are allowed. These Numerical tests range from 17 - 25 minutes to complete, dependant upon the job level.
Preparation for SHL Tests and Questionnaires
Preparation is key to achieving success in the most important factors affecting our lives, so we have listed below some helpful hints and tips for completing the questionnaires and tests:
- Before starting the questionnaire/test:
- During the completion of the questionnaire/test:
- After completing the questionnaire/test:
Before Starting the Questionnaires / SHL Tests:
Plan when you are going to complete the SHL psychometric test / questionnaire: When scheduling your time, make sure you still have sufficient time to complete the test/questionnaire in order to achieve the required deadline just in case something unforeseen happens or something has changed your positive mindset.
Schedule the best time of day for you: Think about the best time of day to complete the SHL ability tests or SHL occupational personality questionnaire. What time are you at your best to concentrate, feel inspired / motivated to succeed and think objectively? This is, without doubt the best time to complete the test or questionnaire you are about to take.
Practice before hand: In each ability test or personality questionnaire, you will be provided with a few practice questions to become familiar with the process. Always ensure with the ability tests that you know how you calculated the correct answer before moving onto the main questions. Consider using some of the practice questions available to you e.g. SHL's practice section can be found at: http://www.shldirect.com.
Plan and maintain a quiet, calm environment: When taking an ability test or completing an occupational personality questionnaire, it is vital that you maintain a quiet, non-interrupted environment all the way through the process. As many people complete these on-line tests and questionnaires at home, it is crucial that you anticipate any potential interruptions such as the telephone ringing, loud music starting up or the kids shouting to you, to ensure they are effectively "managed". Check that you will be comfortable for the duration of the test/questionnaire before starting.
Maintain a positive frame of mind: Whilst you need to visualise yourself being successful in completing an ability test to ensure lack of confidence doesn't get the better of you, over confidence can have a detrimental effect on candidates where they fail to pay sufficient attention to the questions and skip through them too quickly. Even if you have done well in the practice tests, remember the questions are likely to be different ones and require fresh thinking. A happy balance is required here.
Have sufficient resources to hand: Have a few pieces of paper and a pen to hand should you wish to write something down whilst you are on-line. For some Numerical Reasoning tests, a calculator is allowed, so ensure you have one of these before hand.
Take a break between tasks: If you are likely to be sat completing several tests and/or questionnaires, you may want to consider having a drink to hand before starting and taking appropriate breaks between these tests/questionnaires to ensure you maintain full concentration.
When Completing the Questionnaire / SHL Test:
Keep focused and pace yourself: Although personality questionnaire are not timed, you should work quickly and not spend too much time dwelling on the questions. You first reaction/response is usually the most reflective of you. If you have planned your time well, you will probably want to complete the 100 questions at one time, but you can stop part way through the questionnaire and return at a later time should you need to.
When taking an ability test do not dwell on one question for too long. You can always come back to the question at the end if you are unsure or think it may take too long to complete in the allocated time given.
Work through the questions steadily with no distractions or input from any other person.
Keep an eye on the time: If you are completing an ability test such as the Verbal or Numerical Reasoning test, you will be timed and the on-line system will just cut you off once the allocated time has elapsed. Therefore, plan out how long you have for each question based upon the time allocated for the test divided by the number of questions, and keep an eye on a clock or watch that you should have close to hand.
Use all of the time allocated: Remember to use all of the time allocated to you. Even if you have finished the questions, take the final few minutes to review your answers to questions that you were not totally confident they were correct.
Focus on accuracy in SHL ability tests: Remember, ability tests are designed to cater for all levels of capability, which may mean for some of us that we do not answer every single question. Better to answer most of the questions correctly than to speed through the test with little attention to ensuring the answers are correct. A balance of speed and accuracy is required here to succeed.
Press the completion and log out button: At the end of answering the questionnaire, please ensure you click on the completion button, which signifies that you are happy for your responses to be summarised into a report for the interviewer.
After Completing the Questionnaire / SHL Test:
Ask for feedback: Having spent your time completing an SHL ability test or personality questionnaire, ask your interviewer for some feedback on your results or report. It is best practice to provide candidates with either verbal and/or written feedback as it enables you to develop further, whether you get the job or not.
Reflect on your responses: After completing the SHL ability test or personality questionnaire, reflect on your responses and how you applied yourself. What did you learn? What would you do differently next time? Make a note of the strategies that worked and the things you will do differently next time.
Technical Help and Advice
As part of your preparation for taking these SHL on-line psychometric tests and questionnaires, you may find the information below helpful in ensuring you are technically prepared before taking the test / questionnaire.
SHL Technical Helpdesk: In the unlikely event you experience technical difficulties please contact SHL's Technical Helpdesk directly on 0208-335-8999.
PC Compatibility: The system will check you are using a compatible web browser when you first launch a test, so you may wish to do this prior to taking the actual test/questionnaire to ensure you have all the right technology in place.
Recommended hardware & software: The following hardware and software is recommended by SHL the test provider:
- 56 Kbps or faster Internet connection (28.8 Kbps minimum).
- Microsoft Internet Explorer® web browser versions 5.5 and 6.0.A computer with a keyboard and mouse running Microsoft Windows® 98, NT 4.0, 2000, or XP.
- AOL® 9.0 in conjunction with Microsoft® IE 6.0 running on Windows XP.
We are sorry but the tests cannot be accessed from an Apple Mac or Macintosh machine.
Internet Browser: This fully automated service works best using Internet Explorer version 5.5 or 6 with all of the standard defaults in place.
Browser settings: Before attempting the tests please disable any 'Pop-up' Window Blocking, software or Firewalls that may prevent the test from downloading successfully. University or Company networks may have restrictions in place so please check with your local Systems Administrator before attempting to alter PC/browser settings and take the test on a private network.
Browser options: In order for the tests to work the following browser options need to be installed and enabled:
- Macromedia Flash Plug-in v7 or later
- Active Scripting (or JavaScript)
- ActiveX Controls and Plug-ins
Users with an older version of Macromedia Flash will be automatically prompted to upgrade by SHL, which is a quick download. This is available as a free download from the Macromedia Website.
The following browsers are not currently certified, although you may be able to use them without adverse impact, though this is not recommended:
- Netscape 4.78 or 6.2.3 (Note: Netscape® versions 6.0 and 6.1 are NOT supported.)
- AOL® versions 4.0, 6.0, 7.0 and 8.0 running on Microsoft Windows®.
Browser software upgrades: Browser software can be upgraded free of charge from the supplier's website:
- IE7 Dowload Center for Microsoft Internet Explorer
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