A cover letter and resume are a thing of the past now. Companies are leaning towards employee testing software for their hiring requirements. This ensures data-driven decisions are made and not instincts. However, finding a great pre-employment testing software can be challenging with so many options.
So what are the best pre-employment testing software on the market?
SAJOKI, Mercer Mettl, HireVue, Talview, and Criteria Corp are some of the best options out there. Apart from that, Harver, High Match, and iMocha are also some popular and effective solutions.
Nevertheless, a product is only best when your requirements and the features of the software are the same. Here, we will cover the 10 best pre-employment assessment software along with their core features, pros, and cons so that you can choose the best one for you. Let’s start.
Why Use Pre-employment Testing Software: 5 Key Benefits
Pre-employment testing software has seen a spike in usage due to its effectiveness. However, it has been kept secret by many companies due to the competitive mindset.
Here, we will share 5 key benefits of this assessment software that will give you a better idea regarding why you should switch from the traditional method.
1. Improved Hiring Accuracy
The most notable benefit of these tools is serving their purpose rightfully, improving hiring accuracy. Traditional methods rely mostly on instincts rather than data alone.
On the other hand, assessment software helps employers to see more objectively and identify the best fit for each role.
2. Reduced Hiring Bias
Whether it be consciously or subconsciously, we all are biased. For example, a recruiter might favor a candidate who shares similar interests or background, even if they are not the most qualified for the role
Pre-employment assessment software standardizes the evaluation process by only focusing on their skills and personality. Overall, promoting fairness in the hiring process.
3. Time-saving
The traditional method that includes going through hundreds of CVs and interviews takes hundreds of hours combined for the hiring team.
Conversely, the automated screening process that comes with pre-employment software can save countless hours.
4. Cost Efficiency
Similarly to time-saving, evaluating tools can also save costs by lowering the manpower needed for the screening process.
Additionally, by reducing the risk of bad hires, companies can avoid expenses related to rehiring and training.
5. Better Employee Performance and Retention
By utilizing pre-hire testing software, allocating the right people in the right roles becomes the easiest. As a result, a surge in employee performance is seen.
On the other hand, employees allocated to their strong role tend to grow faster which ensures they are satisfied with their jobs. Consequently, enhancing employee pretending.
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Types of Pre-employment Tests
Before we dive into the best pre–employment testing software out there, we need to understand the types of pre-employment tests available. This is because you won’t know what you need from the software if you don’t understand how each test adds.
Cognitive Test
Cognitive tests take a peak at your thinking process. This includes how you solve new problems, and learn new things.
Skills like reading, mathematics, and logical reasoning come in handy to pass these tests.
Personality Test
Personality tests focus deeply on your character traits. The test is quite versatile and gives you insight into many things about a person.
For example, how you handle stress, collaborate with other team members, and solve conflicts. Overall, a test to figure out cultural fit and job role fit.
Skills Test
As the name suggests, a skill test measures your expertise on a specific skill that is required in a role.
Let’s take coding, for example, a coding skill test will assess your coding abilities and rate as well as give insights on that skill.
It is a promising test for roles that involve technicality.
Job Simulations and Work Samples
These tests simulate the challenges and scenarios that they are likely to face in the job role. Later on, the candidates answer how they would handle them.
This shows how well they can actually do the work required for the position.
10 Best Pre-employment Testing Software
The market is full of pre-employment testing software. However, not all of them are good for professional use. Here are the best ones you can rely on blindly;
1. SAJOKI
On the top of our list is SAJOKI, an AI-driven soft-skill assessment tool. It is a scientifically validated pre-employment assessment platform that offers deep insights into candidates. The insights include soft skills and cultural fit.
Furthermore, comes with many features to ease the hiring of the right talents. Overall, an excellent option for pre-employment testing.
Core Features:
- AI-powered role-specific assessments
- Soft-skill focus
- Compare profiles with spider-chart
- Automated job description and questionnaire
- Detailed analytics
- Scalable solution
| Pros | Cons |
| Affordable pay-per-test model | Relies on the candidate’s honesty like other platforms |
| User-friendly interface | Practical skills are not part of SAJOKI’s assessment |
| Seamless integration with existing job posts, and workflow |
2. Mercer Mettl
Mercer Mettl is one of the top 3 pre-employment assessment platforms that has gained enough recognition as well as validation.
The best thing about Mercer Mettl is that it has a wide range of tests available and all of them are scientifically validated.
Core Features:
- 150+ scientifically validated tests (cognitive, personality, skills)
- Proctoring tools to prevent cheating
- Customizable assessments for role-specific needs
- Detailed analytics and benchmarking
- Integration with popular HR tools like SAP and Workday
- Global compliance with regional hiring laws
| Pros | Cons |
| A wide variety of validated tests | Higher pricing for advanced features |
| Strong anti-cheating measures | A steeper learning curve for customization |
| Global accessibility and compliance | Limited customer support for small businesses |
3. HireVue
HireVue takes pre-employment testing to the next level with its gamified assessments as well as AI-powered interviews. Nevertheless, their main focus is on soft-skill as well as job simulation assessments.
This can be a solid option if you want to make the testing process more fun and ideal for assessing communication and problem-solving.
Core Features:
- Video interviews with AI analysis
- Gamified skill assessments
- Integration with ATS platforms like Greenhouse
- Automated interview scheduling
- Predictive analytics for candidate success
| Pros | Cons |
| Reduces time-to-hire significantly | Premium plans can be costly |
| Strong focus on soft skills | Candidates may find video interviews overwhelming |
| User-friendly candidate interface |
4. Talview
Talview’s testing platform emphasizes remote hiring and focuses its features entirely on it. Whether it be video interviews, soft-skill assessments, or cognitive tests, Talview has it.
Furthermore, the AI-powered proctoring feature ensures no one is cheating on the test which is a big plus.
Core Features:
- Live and recorded video interviews
- AI-powered proctoring
- Multiple languages are supported
- Can be integrated with LinkedIn and Zoom
| Pros | Cons |
| Strong remote hiring capabilities | Occasional technical glitches |
| Analyzes facial expressions and voice modulation | Limited customization for small teams |
| Fast candidate feedback | Higher pricing for enterprise features |
5. Criteria Corp
Criteria Corp is best known for their ultimate Cognitive Criteria Aptitude Test (CCAT). It’s their own customized test that combines personality as well as cognitive tests in a single piece.
Nevertheless, it is mostly used to predict the job performance of an applicant.
Core Features:
- Skills tests for typing, Excel, and more
- Predict job performance and team compatibility
- Allows candidates to take tests on any device, such as mobile phones as they are compatible with almost all platforms
- Scientifically validated for predictive hiring accuracy
- Easy-to-read scorecards
| Pros | Cons |
| Affordable for small businesses due to the pay-per-test model | Limited advanced analytics |
| Takes only 15 minutes to complete | Basic UI compared to competitors |
| Scientifically validated |
6. Harver
Next up on our list is Harver which should be your go-to solution if you are looking for high-volume hiring.
Moreover, you should opt for Harver for roles like retail and logistics due to its engaging job simulation tests.
Core Features:
- Job simulations for realistic role previews
- AI-driven candidate matching
- Customizable assessments for high-volume roles
- Integration with ATS like Lever and SmartRecruiters
| Pros | Cons |
| Scalable for bulk hiring | Not ideal for niche or executive roles |
| Engaging job simulation tests | Setup requires significant time |
| Powered by AI | Limited personality assessment depth |
7. HighMatch
For roles like software engineer, and business consultant where communication and team collaboration is crucial, HighMatch can be a great fit.
Another good part of HighMatch is that it evaluates both the soft skills and hard skills required for the role. You will never feel the need for more tests with HighMatch due to its wide range of tests.
Core Features:
- Predictive personality assessments
- Team compatibility analysis
- Integration with ATS like BambooHR
- A wide range of tests
| Pros | Cons |
| Easy-to-interpret reports | Limited technical skill assessments |
| Free trial available | Basic anti-cheating features |
| Affordable for startups |
8. iMocha
The 8th best pre-employment testing software in our list is iMocha which is trusted by hundreds of companies. It offers 2500+ assessments that include soft-skill, coding challenges, to cognitive abilities.
Furthermore, iMocha allows you to integrate video interviews within the platform and has AI-powered proctoring.
Core Features:
- 2500+ assessments
- Live coding interviews
- AI proctoring and plagiarism detection within iMocha
- Integration with Zoho Recruit and Slack
- In-depth analytics
| Pros | Cons |
| Massive library of assessments | Complex pricing tiers |
| Strong anti-cheating measures | Overwhelming for non-technical recruiters |
| Supports 50+ languages | Limited personality assessments |
9. Hire Success
If you are looking for an easy-to-use testing software, then Hire Success can be a wise option due to its simplicity. Your HR team won’t need any sort of training to get started with it.
On the other hand, there’s no lack of assessments, starting from personality tests, and soft-skill tests to integrity assessments.
Core Features:
- DISC-based personality tests
- Candidate benchmarking
- Simple ATS integrations
- Customizable behavioral questionnaires
| Pros | Cons |
| Easy to implement for small teams | Outdated interface |
| Affordable pay-as-you-go model | Limited technical skill assessments |
| Strong customer support | Basic analytics compared to rivals |
10. Wonderlic
Wonderlic is the oldest player among all the software present here. They started their journey in 1937 and have grown to provide reliable personality assessments in the market.
The flagship product of Wonderlic is the Wonderlic Personnel Test which measures one’s problem-solving capabilities.
Core Features:
- Personality and motivation assessments
- NFL Combine-style tests for sports roles
- Dedicated support for enterprises
- Wonderlic Personnel Test
- Allows candidates to take assessments on any device
| Pros | Cons |
| Takes around 12 minutes to complete | Expensive for SMEs |
| Easy-to-understand reports | Limited role-specific customization |
| Trusted by Fortune 500 companies |
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How to Choose the Right Pre-employment Testing Software: 7 Factors
Now that you are aware of the top 10 pre-employment testing software, it is time to know how you can choose the best one for you. The selection process consists of 7 factors, so let’s check them out.
1. Identify Your Needs in Hiring
As mentioned above, there are multiple types of tests available for pre-employment. However, focusing on one type ensures your hiring requirements are met within the software.
Therefore, assess what type of pre-employment test such as a skill test, personality test, or cognitive test makes the most sense for your company.
2. Ease of Use
This one is self-explainable. You don’t want to get a tool that isn’t easy to use. Otherwise, a lot of time and effort will go into the learning and training process which isn’t ideal for any company.
Thus, stick with the testing software that is easy to use and learn.
3. Integration with Other Tools
While it seems like you don’t need this, the ability to integrate your testing software with other platforms like Greenhouse is a game-changer.
So make sure the software you are choosing is compatible with the Application Tracking System (ATS) and other tools that you use in HR.
4. Customization Options
Customization opens a lot of gates for your company. This is a must-required factor for companies looking to hire for versatile roles.
Customization allows you to tailor tests to match the job role and your company’s needs. This is vital to ensure the tests are relevant as well as effective.
5. Reliability
Ensuring you choose scientifically validated testing software is vital. This ensures you are getting consistent results. Overall, this increases the chances of hiring the right person for the right role.
6. Budget and Pricing
Another key aspect of choosing a pre-employment testing platform for your company is budget and pricing. Firstly, identify your budget for testing software to ensure you know your range.
On the other hand, compare the prices of the testing software to know where you are getting bang for your buck.
7. Customer Support and Training
Good customer support is essential if you need help setting up or using the software. Some companies also provide training to get you started. So look for these to ensure you have a seamless hiring process in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Let’s check out some commonly asked questions regarding pre-employment testing software.
Can interviews be replaced by pre-employment tests?
No, these tests are there to support the interview process with greater insights and the candidate’s capabilities. Interviews are still a crucial part of the hiring process.
How long do the tests take?
The length of the test varies from software to software. Some take 5 minutes to complete whereas others can even take 30 minutes or more to complete.
Are the test results confidential?
Yes, the test results are confidential. They are meant to be accessed by the hiring department only.
Can candidates cheat on these tests?
With good pre-employment testing software, cheating is not an option. There are measures for anti-cheating, and the questions are so random that cheating is not an option.
Can small businesses afford pre-employment testing software?
Yes, there are many affordable options out there where you can get a pay-per-use model. This comes in handy for small companies where a small number of applicants is seen. SAJOKI can be a great example of a pay-per-use model.
Conclusion
To sum up, assessment software has undoubtedly revolutionized the hiring process. The 10 best pre-employment testing software highlighted in this article are the top ones in the market currently that you can count on blindly. However, the best one for you depends on your requirements.
Thus, understanding your hiring needs is crucial. This is why we have already covered the types of pre-employment testing available along with how to choose the right one. By leveraging the right pre-employment testing platform, you not only streamline your hiring process but also build a workforce poised for success.
