Kolbe A Assessment used for Hiring
I took the Kolbe A Assessment last week as part of a screening process for a new job. After a brief phone interview, a recruiter from company X said that they wanted me to come in for a couple of hours so that they could see how I measured up to what was required for this position. The phone interview went well, so I was really excited if a little unsure about what to expect next. The recruiter also requested a copy of my college transcripts. While this is a relatively entry level position, I graduated from college quite a while ago, and it’s been a long time since anyone asked to see my transcripts. Nonetheless, I was prepared, or as prepared as I could be seeing as I was warned that I could not study for this test.
Three Separate Tests
I showed up early with the requested documents ready to get started. I was set up in an office and handed the first part of the examination – an 80-question test covering word problems, vocabulary, logic and spatial reasoning. Much of it was multiple choice, but there were some questions where you had to come up with the answer and write it down. The recruiter who I’d spoken with over the phone was the one administering the tests and she assured me that everyone that they hired had to undergo the same process. She also said that most people left feeling defeated after taking the test which was not exactly a confidence booster for me. The next part was a relatively simple grammar test. It seemed kind of basic, so I was not worried about it.
The final component was a type of personality exam known as the Kolbe A Assessment. There were a list of scenarios with four statements about how to proceed and the applicant was to select two answers for each of these questions – one representing how you are most likely to react while the second one indicates how you are least likely to react. There were about 35 questions in total.
The test is designed to determine how you work and learn best – as part of a team or alone, and you can learn more about the test on the developer’s web site.
I found the process interesting since I had never gone through this type of testing as part of the interview. Ultimately, I was not selected to move forward in the process, but it was a great learning experience. The last time I had to look for a new job I simply checked the paper and responded to an ad. That seems downright quaint now. One thing is certain, you have to prepared to adapt to rapidly changing realities or be left behind with very few options.