If you’ve just left university with top marks, you’ve probably already started applying for many jobs, but how much thought have you put into the types of test you may be asked to complete during your interview? Very little I presume. Well, luckily for you, I’m a pro at interviews, so I’ve written this short guide to help you out.
One of the most common types of test employees are asking their graduates to complete these days is numerical reasoning. More than a basic maths exam, these tests let potential employers know more about aptitude than you might imagine. You may be asked to work out specific values based on graphs, and your assessment of the provided information could well have a significant impact on your chances of getting the job. So, ensuring you’re well prepared is paramount.
Have a quick read through the rest of this article because I’m certain you’ll benefit from my advice.
Practise Practise Practise
I don’t mean to sound like your dad, but the most important thing you need to do is spend time honing your skills. You can either get a friend to write some test questions or use some of the free examples you’ll find online at websites like numericalreasoning.org. Either way, you’ll definitely get more used to the type of questions you’ll be asked, which should in turn help your confidence considerably.
Ensure You’re In The Right Mindframe
People generally find that their performance is seriously affected when they’ve not had enough sleep, or they’ve not eaten enough food. So, make sure you get a minimum of 8 hours in bed and invest in some healthy brain food like fruit and vegetables, as this will guarantee your body is as ready as it possibly can be.
Use Technology To Benefit You
Although you definitely need to ask ahead of time, we do live in a culture that is surrounded by electronic devices, so it would seem rather silly not to take full advantage of them. Most employers now realise this and allow potential employees to bring a calculator along with them. Just think, if you don’t being yours and some of the other candidates do; who is most likely to avoid mistakes and achieve the best possible score? Exactly, it’s probably not going to be you.
Never Give Up
Completing a numerical reasoning test correctly could well mean the difference between you scoring a £50,000 per year job, and ending up on the breadline, so make sure you answer every single question that is put in front of you, regardless of how difficult it seems and how long it takes. Employers will not take kindly to someone who appears lack in effort, so often, even a wrong answer is better than nothing.
Also, ensure you always show your working, even when using a calculator. This will show employers that you understand the question, even though you might have an incorrect answer.
So there you have it my mathematically minded friends. That was a quick guide to some of the things you need to think about when undergoing a numerical reasoning test.
I honestly wish you the best of luck, I know it’s not always easy.
