How to Test Skills for Industrial Jobs
Business is booming. In the U.S., the unemployment rate has wavered in the past year only slightly between 3.5 and 4.0 percent—reaching a 50-year low. Companies hiring for industrial positions are in the midst of a candidate-driven market, and the cost to fill open positions is high.
According to research by The Talent Board, a global talent management and HR consulting firm, organizations spend:
30% – 50% of entry-level employees’ annual salaries or $12,000 – $20,000 to replace employees making $40,000 yearly.
150% of mid-level employees’ annual salaries or $120,000 to replace employees making $80,000 yearly.
400% of high-level employees’ annual salaries or nearly $1 million to replace employees making $120,000 yearly.
The exceptionally high cost of employee turnover is due in large part to the cost of recruiting and onboarding new employees. When the talent supply is low, and job demand is high, a hiring and talent development process that accurately predicts individuals best suited for positions is critical. Employees who do not have the skills to succeed in a position end up costing companies big when they need to be replaced.
eSkill, an industry leader in employment testing solutions, provides businesses with an innovative approach to talent management. eSkill’s industrial skills tests can be used to evaluate candidates, identify skill gaps within an organization, and customize training to employees’ existing skills. Using information gathered from the objective measurement of skills to make talent management decisions enables companies to reduce employee turnover and increase productivity while improving the bottom line.
1.Align Skills Tests with Job Requirements
Whether evaluating candidates or assessing the skill level of current employees, the requirements of positions must be clearly defined to create the most accurate skills test possible. Start the skills testing process by outlining the tasks to be performed, the responsibilities to be taken out, key performance factors, and other necessities that identify effective execution of the position being filled. Include key stakeholders in this process, such as team members familiar with the role, high performing employees currently in the position, supervisors, department leads, as well as hiring managers.
Once key skills like industrial math, measurement, unit conversion, and industrial workplace safety have been identified, select the industrial skills test or tests that best align with the position. With eSkill, it is easy to customize skills tests to match the specific requirements of any role by combining job- and subject-specific skills tests.
eSkill’s most popular job-specific industrial skills tests:
Assembly Technician Skills Test
Automotive Mechanic Skills Test
CNC Operator Skills Test
Carpenter Skills Test
Forklift Operator Skills Test
HVAC Technician Skills Test
Maintenance and Repair Worker Skills Test
Warehouse Worker Skills Test
Warehouse Supervisor Skills Test
Welder Skills Test
eSkill’s most popular single-subject basic industrial skills tests:
Assembly Skills Test
Basic Industrial Math Skills Test
Warehouse Pick and Pack Skills Test
Forklift Skills Test
Reading Rulers – English and Metric Units Skills Test
Unit Measurements Skills Test
Unit Conversion Skills Test
Reading Charts and Tables Skills Test
Workplace Safety Skills Test
Mechanical Aptitude Skills Test
Plumbing Skills Test
Welding Knowledge Skills Test
Easily add more questions to any basic industrial skills test from eSkill’s library. For instance, choose additional packaging operations, order picking, and warehouse paperwork questions and merge them with eSkill’s Warehouse Pick and Pack Skills assessment to create a more comprehensive light industrial skills test. These questions can be chosen by difficulty level to assess test-takers of different experience levels.
eSkill’s assessment experts will walk you through choosing the ideal skills test or combination of skills tests to match your organization’s talent acquisition and development goals. Whether your company requires a light industrial skills test or a heavy industrial skills test, eSkill has the solution.
2.Use Skills Tests to Gain Insights
eSkill’s user-friendly platform makes automating the administration and scoring of industrial skills tests streamlined. The online skills tests are fully automated, and test-takers have access to eSkill’s 24/7 customer support should they run into any issues. After each skills test is completed, the results are immediately available and can be reviewed, shared, and made into detailed reports on the hiring team’s dashboard, accessible anywhere and anytime.
Recent research shows that utilizing skills testing increases the likelihood of placing the right person in the right position from 50% to 80%. Company stakeholders should leverage the results of skills tests to identify internal talent who have the skills necessary to succeed in open positions or to create a shortlist of candidates. The results should be compared against existing employees’ scores, as well as across candidates. This quantitative data can then be used to make strategic talent management decisions.
3.Leverage Skills Tests to Bolster Workforce Development
With unemployment at historic lows, investment in human capital is more important today than ever before to develop a sustainable workforce. Skills testing helps companies identify skills adjacencies—the skills people possess that can be easily adapted and applied to new roles. The strategic use of skill-based testing enables companies to train employees based on existing skills and cognitive abilities for new roles efficiently. This approach prepares businesses for future talent shortages by developing internal staff and candidates who may be lacking experience, but have the skills to succeed in high-demand occupations.
Follow these three steps to optimize your organization’s talent management processes. By administering eSkill’s legally defensible industrial skills tests, you will be able to identify qualified candidates and internal talent, recognize internal skill gaps, and optimize workforce development efficiently and effectively.
Interested in Industrial Skills Tests?
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