Application season is upon us once again. Many of us are now in the process of applying for spring insight weeks and, in some cases, early opening summer internships. The process is familiar yet rigorous: submit your CV, progress (ideally) to online assessments, move on to job simulations, telephone interviews, assessment centres, and finally, an in-person interview. It is a lengthy, demanding, and often nerve-wracking journey.
Everyone has their own Achilles’ heel in this process—the component they find most challenging and struggle to overcome. For me, that is the psychometric test, particularly the situational judgement test (SJT). What is a psychometric test? an inexperienced applicant might wonder. These assessments are designed to evaluate aspects such as personality, workplace behaviour, and, in certain cases, cognitive ability.
Focusing on my specific difficulty: the SJT. As defined by Wikipedia, an SJT is “a type of psychological test that presents the test-taker with realistic, hypothetical scenarios… designed to determine behavioural tendencies by assessing how an individual might behave in specific situations.”
If you are a reader of Finsights, you have likely encountered an SJT before, so I shall refrain from reiterating the basics. Why do I find these tests so challenging? I struggle to articulate the precise reason, but every question feels like a conundrum. I am constantly asking myself: What would I do in this situation? What would [employer] want me to do? Should I answer honestly, or choose the ‘ideal’ response?
Although I do not claim to be an authority on SJTs, I have spent time attempting to master them and have come across various guides, strategies, and resources. Below, I have outlined the most valuable advice I have encountered:
Thoroughly research the company. Familiarise yourself with the organisation’s values, ESG commitments, diversity and inclusion policies, and workplace culture. These elements often underpin the scenarios presented in SJTs and enable recruiters to assess whether candidates align with their ethos.
Understand the role you are applying for. The expectations for responses can vary significantly based on the specific job description and level of seniority. Tailor your approach accordingly.
Identify the objective of the question. Try to discern the skill, quality, or value being assessed in each scenario. This will help you interpret the question correctly and choose the most appropriate response.
When in doubt, choose the ethical option. This may seem straightforward but avoid selecting responses that involve undermining or offending colleagues. Demonstrating integrity, a strong moral compass, and ethical decision-making is always a prudent choice.
Practice extensively. There are numerous websites offering practice SJTs. Even if they are not tailored to your specific industry, they provide valuable insight into the format and question types. A particularly useful resource is SHL (search “SHL SJT practice tests”).
While these five points may not cover every nuance, I hope they provide some clarity and guidance to those facing similar challenges. I consider myself still in the learning phase, but we all begin somewhere.
Best of luck with your applications!
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