What’s the best way to really get to know a candidate when hiring? We’re not just talking about their qualifications and experience, personality, or the way they speak and act in an interview. One of the best ways to make an accurate hire is by finding out how an applicant thinks.
While mind-reading devices may currently be a futuristic fantasy – to the dismay of recruiters and hiring managers everywhere – there is another way to get to know a candidate’s cognitive abilities during hiring. Yes, we’re talking about logical reasoning tests.
Logical reasoning tests provide an insight into the cognitive and problem-solving abilities of your candidates through a quick and easy assessment. These tests can act as a gauge of how the individual may perform in the work environment and are a great way to boost accuracy in the hiring process.
Let’s take a look at the different types of logical reasoning tests and how you can use them in your hiring process.
What are Logical Reasoning Tests?
A logical reasoning test is a type of aptitude test that assesses the test taker's critical thinking skills. It focuses on inductive logic and deductive reasoning but can also focus on abstract reasoning to determine problem-solving abilities in real-world scenarios.
The purpose behind logical assessments is to assess how someone approaches a problem and finds a solution in a short period of time.
There are many different types of logical reasoning assessments, but the two main types are verbal reasoning and numerical reasoning tests.
Verbal reasoning test
A verbal logical reasoning test is a type of test that consists of several text paragraphs. Each paragraph usually comes with its own set of questions.
These questions usually have a list of statements, and the test taker must determine which statement is the correct answer according to the information provided.
The reason for verbal logical reasoning tests is to determine a candidate's deductive reasoning skills. They are tested on how well they can assess provided information and come to logical conclusions.
Verbal reasoning tests also require test takers to read attentively while having the pressure of a ticking clock.
Depending on the job role, a verbal logical reasoning test can test for either basic comprehension skills or it can be more complicated, testing how statements are perceived and problem-solving skills are applied.
Numerical reasoning test
Numerical reasoning tests show the ability of candidates to comprehend numbers, ratios and percentages.
A numerical logical reasoning test typically tests how a test taker interprets patterns and data.
Numerical tests are not like your standard maths tests. These tests do not require candidates to apply mathematical equations. Rather, it tests how a candidate understands numbers in a real-world setting.
These tests are comprised of fractions, percentages, averages, and statistics. Candidates must interpret data presented in graphs and tables and apply logic to identify key facts to answer a question.
Why are Logical Reasoning Tests Important for Employers?
As you know, hiring the best candidate for the job can be tricky. Past work experience and a CV often can't accurately indicate how a candidate will fare in a new role – an estimated 40% of people lie on their CVs, after all!
Logical reasoning tests can be utilised by employers, recruiters, and hiring managers to test a candidate's ability to think logically and judge specific situations. Their responses to the test questions can then indicate how they will perform at the new job.
Logical tests are especially useful in high volume recruitment. They are used by recruiters to filter through a large number of suitable candidates who, on paper, seem ideal for the position.
Of course, these tests are not used in isolation. A logical reasoning test is often combined with a CV, prior work experience, personality tests and situational judgement tests. These are used holistically to evaluate how a candidate will succeed at the new company.
What are the Benefits of Logical Reasoning Tests?
Speed up the hiring process
Screening candidates via a logical reasoning assessment can speed up the recruitment process, as candidates with low scores are automatically rejected. Even when faced with a large pool of candidates, all suitable for the position, a logical reasoning test can help you select the best candidates quickly.
Save money
By including logical reasoning tests in the recruitment process, you can simultaneously boost time-to-hire and cost-per-hire. But that’s not the only way that logical reasoning tests in recruitment can save money. By improving the accuracy of hires, it’s more likely that new employees will stay in the role longer and boost retention. As we know that the cost of replacing an employee can be anywhere from half to twice their annual salary, ensuring that new hires want to stick around in their role is crucial for staying on budget and saving money in the long term.
Remove unconscious bias
Using standardised logic tests means that the recruitment process is more objective. The tests provide data on the candidates, and decisions can then be made based on the data received. This reduces the risk of unconscious bias in the hiring process and ensures a more equitable process for all candidates.
Test candidates on skills that can’t be gauged from a CV
Beside the fact that we all know that candidates lie on their resumes, a CV cannot always demonstrate skills in real-world scenarios. Logic testing allows employers to determine which applicants have the required abilities and can apply these abilities in a practical setting.
Highlight a candidate’s ability to work under time constraints
Logical reasoning tests assess how well someone copes under pressure, as these tests are timed. The results of these tests indicate how well a candidate can cope in a high-stress situation when there is a time limit.
How to Implement Logical Reasoning Tests in your Hiring Process
With remote hiring becoming the norm in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, it is easier than ever to include logical tests in the recruitment process. Employers can set up a logical test on an online platform, sending the link to the relevant candidates for them to complete at their convenience.
Many of these secure online platforms have anti-cheating features and can be set up to automatically grade the answers, meaning a hassle-free and hands-off process for overstretched hiring managers.
Once the results are in, employers can compare the scores to evaluate the applicants’ performance and choose whom to progress to the next stage of the hiring process.
Conclusion
So yes, logical reasoning tests may fall short of a mind-reading device straight out of science fiction, but for hiring purposes they are a great way to gain insights into how a candidate’s brain works.
Including logical reasoning tests in your recruitment process allows you to hire more accurately and effectively, better predicting how each candidate will perform in a role. For those hard-to-fill or competitive positions, these tests are a great way to ensure you’ve got the best person for the job.
Considering implementing logical reasoning tests in your hiring process? Our easy-to-use online tests make implementation quick, accessible, and effective. Try ours today and make sure to contact us to have all your questions on logical reasoning tests answered.
