Holden1989 Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 Hi Guys, Does anyone have any experience with these kinds of tests? From both an employers point of view and a candidates point of view - for example, just how much do they really count? Basically I have got through to the final application stage for BMW Finance UK/Alphabet and it is down to me and one other (internal) candidate, I have had a look at the practise tests and the questions are proper dodgy, written to catch you out etc Its an epic job, would include a company car etc but im 'slightly' worried about this testing malarky..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Littler Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 I've did those for my old job, as far as I could gather it was a matter of you needed to reach a certain percentage before you would get considered. But I'm under the impression that it varies company to company as where I am now they look at whether you got certain questions right rather than the overall mark. Hope that made sense lol, it did in my head Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_b Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 I've got experience of them, from both sides of the table. I did graduate recruitment as part of my previous job. Not the sort of thing you can train for in a short space of time. Those papers tend to be designed such that there are too many questions for the time available. PM me if you want to know more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holden1989 Posted March 6, 2012 Author Share Posted March 6, 2012 Hmmm. I would assume that as I am down to the final two I have a good shot but to if they really mattered I guess to introduce them so late in the stage is a little risky if I turn out to be a complete nonce at math. Stevie - Any extra info would be a great help, inparticular for the verbal one - the questions are a bit weird in the way that they are written Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_b Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 If they didn't think you could be a good fit in the company, you wouldn't have reached this final stage. It's been a few years since I did the recruiting, but I'll do my best. I don't remember many specifics, and each company's tests are likely to be slightly different in format and structure. I once sat the tests myself so I knew what the candidates were going through. Best thing to do is to post up an example of a question that you think is weird: I'll try to explain it and what I think the answer should be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faye Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 Funnily enough I've just been through one of these today. I used this site below to prepare me and the questions were very similar in style to what I actually experienced. All I can say is time is of the essence when doing them, it's amazing how quickly the time goes in the real thing http://www.practiceaptitudetests.com/ Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 I did those tests when applying for my apprenticeship. As said they are designed so that you don't have time to finish them. I would concentrate on doing as much as you can and doing it right to the best of your ability. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ozz Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 I did those tests when applying for my apprenticeship. As said they are designed so that you don't have time to finish them. I would concentrate on doing as much as you can and doing it right to the best of your ability. I did the same, I got through it by estimating answers rather than detailed working out so I got through all the questions (someone said they take off points otherwise) and I pretty much aced it. It was pretty easy IIRC, though was more years ago than I care to think about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holden1989 Posted March 6, 2012 Author Share Posted March 6, 2012 Well the tests are on Thursday, with a bit of luck i'll have my company bimmer by the end of next week Faye - This is the site I have been using - http://www.shldirect.com - Il have a look at the one you used later, after a bottle of wine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sideexitsupra Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 Good luck! I did the sales tests for BMW about 10 years ago and they included these. Very straight forward. Just keep calm and work quickly but accurately. They were amazed when I finished the numerical test early and gobsmacked when I got them all right. I am no Einstein by the way! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_b Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 How did you get on with it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holden1989 Posted March 15, 2012 Author Share Posted March 15, 2012 Well the whole interview process including the telephone interview, the face to face interview and the testing took 3 1/2 hours out of my life in the end. I was told that it was down to me and another internal candidate, I performed well on the tests which was the final stage but they decided to take on the internal guy - based on the interviews alone. Kind of annoyed me as the tests in total took 1 1/12, if they were going to base their decision on the interviews alone then I feel that it was a waste of my time. They have put me forward for another job within the company though. Based on my experience so far with them though I have declined the offer for yet another interview.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bradleyh_15 Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 Ahh really sorry you didn't get it been there before and it's so frustrating especially when they say they gave it to an internal, just makes it feel they had to put the advert out and go through the process just so they are doing things in line with employment law Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_b Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 Sorry to hear that. Some companies can be strange like that: perhaps the internal guy was a shoe-in for the job but they needed to be "seen" to be holding a competitive process to ensure VFM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noz Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 Don't forget you can also be considered too good for a position. I got turned down because I was `too motivated` and they wanted someone who would stay in the position they were recruting for. I even got called back to meet the MD as they were so impressed they wanted me to come back in for a chat about future possibilities. What a load of tosh! At least you got that far, that shows you will soon be snapped up by another company not so keen to let you slip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holden1989 Posted March 15, 2012 Author Share Posted March 15, 2012 I get job offers everyday through linkedin etc, the joys of working for the company I do. I had an interesting conversation with a lady yesterday which looks promising, she was originally looking for a junior but has requested budget for a senior from her MD to consider taking me on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David P Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 It's not what you know, it's who you know. Nepotism is rife, keep 'networking'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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