Today, more than ever before, recruiters, managers, and HR representatives are struggling to hire the best talent. Many organizations resort to raising wages and offering frills that candidates will not use or appreciate. All to solve this employee demand. Instead of running around and attempting everything in the book to hire skilled workers, there's a better way. That's with job simulations. This ultimate guide for recruiters is everything you need to know about job simulations.

Recruiting doesn't have to be a pain. There are several job simulation options to use in your hiring strategy. While they're instrumental in finding the right candidates, the timing must be correct. It's essential to value the candidate's time. As they're searching just as hard for the right fit for themselves and their families.

What is a Job Simulation? 

A job simulation assesses skills in various tasks to ensure a candidate possesses the know-how to perform the role. These assessments focus on the functions candidates do daily. There are several job simulation assessments to test a wide range of abilities.

Job simulations help select only the best candidates. They can accurately depict how a candidate will do when working in their role. With a job simulation, you can cut through flashy speakers and fancy accomplishments. You can get right to the heart of your business needs.

How Job Simulation Assessments Help Hire the Best Candidates

Job simulations are a great objective way to assess a candidate's abilities. Job simulations eliminate any personal bias one may have toward a prospective employee. Without being aware, you could be missing out on a great candidate due to personal reasons rather than objective awareness.

A job simulation helps filter out average candidates, as well. The return on investment in finding the proper candidate will further save time and money. Finally, a job simulation will filter out those who pad their resume with false skills or abilities. It will be evident if a candidate isn't qualified for the position based on their results in the job simulation.

How Does a Job Simulation Benefit the Candidate?

Working for an organization that isn't a good fit is challenging. The lack of motivation decreases performance. And poor relationships can negatively impact one's career. What better way for the candidate to size up your organization than by performing tasks they must do daily?

Job seekers can see if an organization is a good fit for them through the use of a job simulation. It's an excellent opportunity to see if a candidate is a good culture fit. A job simulation is also a great way to set expectations for the role. That way, a candidate can decide if the expectations will match their work style or personality type.

Types of Job Simulation Assessments

There are several types of job simulation assessments. They vary depending on the role or industry. It wouldn't make sense to have a candidate perform a written test if the position you're hiring for requires physical dexterity.

Job Simulation Test Example 1: The Screening Assessment

Screening assessments test various abilities, soft skills, and technical knowledge. These screening assessments happen at the beginning of the hiring process to screen out those who only have an impressive resume. Here are some examples of screening assessments:

• The Role Specific assessments - These are tests that ask direct questions about the role. Those who score poorly will not be able to handle the position's essential functions. 

• Programming Assessments - These are tests that examine the ability to program or code specific types of programming languages. This type of test is most important for highly technical fields. 

• Situational Judgment Assessments - How a candidate will perform under certain situations. Will the candidate crack under pressure if your organization works in high-pressure environments? 

• Personality Assessments - Is the candidate suited for the role you're hiring for? And will they have the right temperament? These tests will also illuminate if a candidate will become burned out quickly. 

• Culture Fit Screenings - Will the candidate fit in with the rest of the team? Finding a good culture fit isn't just good for the organization. But it is critical for the candidate's fulfillment. No one likes working somewhere they don't like. 

• Cognitive Abilities Work Simulation Tests - does the candidate have the mental or cognitive ability to work well in the role? If the role you're hiring for demands excellent cognitive skills, these simulation tests are ideal. 

• Language Comprehension Test - Can the candidate communicate with the rest of the team? Or, more importantly, with your business clients? Language comprehension is especially critical for roles handling international business. 

Instead of relying on sifting through resumes, these initial screenings help filter out unqualified candidates early in the process. Saving time, money, and headaches. These types of tests should be short, as many candidates are spending significant time searching for employment. Great candidates may move along if tests are lengthy. 

Job Simulation Test Example 2: The Take-Home Assessment

As the title suggests, a take-home assessment happens after the first conversation with the candidate. The take-home assessment has a set time frame for when the candidate should complete it. The candidate must return the finished product to move forward in the hiring process. 

It's most effective to assign the take-home test after the first phone interview. Also, be sure to keep the assessment short. Candidates who are required to invest heavily in this early assessment are likely to seek employment elsewhere. Wasting time and effort.

Design the take-home assessment to focus on the critical needs of your organization. If a candidate needs a skill in a particular program or ability, the test should reflect this need. The take home-assessment also eliminates candidates who cannot meet deadlines or quality benchmarks. 

Job Simulation Test Example 3: The On-The-Job Preview

On-the-job previews are another excellent job simulation assessment for both candidates and organizations. Similar to the job screening tests at the beginning of the selection process. The on-the-job previews help gauge how a candidate will react once they're in the role. These assessments can take several forms and include: 

• In-basket exercises - Present the candidate with several assignments. And give them a time limit to determine how the candidate prioritizes activities. These can be an essential tool when dealing with multitasking.

• Role-playing - Role-playing exercises are great to see how a candidate would interact with a client or customer. Role-playing can even include how a prospective supervisor coaches a team member. 

• Group exercises - Group activities gauge how well candidates work in teams. These types of exercises help determine a candidate's abilities in a customer or client-facing role. And they are popular with team-focused organizations. 

• Presentations - A presentation helps determine the capabilities of public speaking, persuasion, and audience engagement. 

• Case studies - High-level interactive assignments that test critical thinking and working under pressure. These types of interviews are perfect for senior leadership positions. 

It may be beneficial to have the candidate take on a live role with minimal instruction. This is to see how the candidate can handle the pressure of adapting. Remember, if you have a prospective employee work, you need to pay them per the law. 

The Two-Hand Test Job Assessment

Elon Musk uses a two hands test that goes against traditional job requirements such as degrees. He famously designed a thought-provoking method of hiring the best candidates that rely on hands instead of formal education.

Musk first looks at first-hand experience. What type of tasks was the candidate doing before relating to the role. Often candidates who have real-world expertise performing jobs are better acclimated than those who have education alone. 

He further relies on hands-on testing to gauge a candidate's abilities and knowledge. These hands-on assessments complete the "two-hands" approach. With hands-on testing, recruiters use job previews, screenings, and take-home assessments to test a potential employee.  

Elon Musk may be crazy, but it's hard to argue against this method as SpaceX and Tesla hire some of the brightest minds. The two-hand test method can work for your organization. Because it doesn't rely on the showy education but rather on what the candidate can bring to the table.  

Final Thoughts on Job Simulations

Job simulations provide an excellent resource for recruiters and managers to find the best candidates. The workforce is changing dramatically. And finding candidates who match the skills needed for particular roles and projects is more vital than ever. By using job simulation assessments, you can locate the best talent for your organization.

Many successful organizations use tactics such as screening assessments, take-home assessments, and on-the-job previews to weed out candidates who will not meet expectations. Taking a page from Elon Musk’s playbook with work simulations will have the very best flocking to your organization.