Remember that not all employee evaluation tests are suitable for hiring. Here are 10 extensively validated, highly respected tests that are.
Cognitive Tests
1. Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal
This test has legions of fans, including JCPenney, Coors, and US government intelligence agencies. It measures problem-solving skills, creativity, and other factors with 40 rather difficult questions.
It should not be used for entry-level positions but is great for management and higher.
$10 to $20 per test (prices for this and most assessments vary depending on the volume ordered) at assesstalent.com or 800-211-8378.
2. Wesman Personnel Classification
A combination of verbal and numerical questions used by Bayer and Valtera, among other companies. It's meant primarily for hiring into decision-making roles; it is predictive of on-the-job performance and the ability to learn.
$7 to $15 at assesstalent.com or 800-211-8378.
3. Multidimensional Aptitude Battery -- II
A recent test, created in 1998, with 303 questions; applicants are given 100 minutes. It measures general mental ability: the ability to reason, plan, and solve problems. It's suited for technical and professional/managerial jobs.
$190 for a 25-test kit at sigmaassessmentsystems.com or 800-265-1285.
4. Wonderlic Personnel Test
An old classic, created in 1937. It takes 12 minutes, and the 120 million people who have taken the test include most NFL players -- the league uses it to assess college recruits. However, this is best for entry- to midlevel jobs, as the questions are quite simple.
$10 at wonderlic.com or 800-323-3742.
Personality Tests
5. NEO Personality Inventory -- Revised
NEO measures respondents on five scales: neuroticism, extroversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. It is appropriate for everyone from salesmen to executives to security guards.
$245 for a kit including 25 tests at parinc.com or 800-331-8378.
6. 16PF
This 185-item test measures the 16 personality factors identified by Raymond Cattell (see page 93); invented in 1949, it's in its fifth edition. Fortune 100 retailers and software developers are among the clients. It's meant for leadership positions.
$8 to $30 at pearsonassessments.com or 800-627-7271.
7. Hogan Personality Inventory
Robert Hogan has been refining this test for 30 years. It asks for true or false responses to attitude and biographical questions, like "I don't care if others like the things I do" and "I like classical music."
It measures subjects on seven personality scales such as ambition and prudence, and six occupational scales such as service orientation and clerical potential. The company can compare subjects' answers with those of people in most jobs in the U.S., from nannies to bomb-disposal technicians to CEOs.
$25 to $175, depending on the amount of detail in report, at hoganassessments.com or 800-756-0632.
8. Personality Research Form
Created in 1967, this 352-item test is in its third edition. It measures 22 job-relevant personality traits and is appropriate for any level of employee.
$80 for a five-test kit at sigmaassessmentsystems.com or 800-265-1285.
9. Global Personality Inventory
The GPI, a 300-question test, is made especially for multinational firms or firms employing foreign workers; it's used to test senior salespeople, midlevel and senior-level managers, and executives.
$40 to $50, depending on the number of factors tested for, at previsor.com or 800-367-2509.
10. Occupational Personality Questionnaire
The OPQ32i asks candidates to look at 104 sets of statements, choosing the statement most and least like them. The test's more complicated sibling, the OPQ32n, has 230 questions. Companies can choose a general profile of the subject, or order specific leadership- or sales-potential reports.
$30 and up at shl.com or 800-899-7451