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Succeed at online testing

Most people applying online for a job in retail can now expect to complete some form of ability or personality test. It is no longer a paper exercise reserved for managers and graduates.

The type of tests you do and when you do them will vary depending on the job you are applying for. For example, some recruiters, such as Costa Coffee, ask candidates for sales assistant jobs to complete a short motivational questionnaire before submitting an application. This is to assess whether or not their experience and/or attitudes to work match what recruiters are seeking.

If you are applying for a graduate or management job you might be invited to complete ability tests - perhaps to test your numerical and verbal reasoning - once recruiters have screened your initial application. Thresher Group is one retailer who has recently introduced online testing for management jobs.

The screening process will work in your interest. It is designed to cut down the number of people employers have to interview and if you don't get through to that stage it probably means the job or the brand doesn't suit you.

If you make it through to the interview, you could again find yourself at an assessment morning or day when in addition to taking tests you could be asked to make a presentation or participate in role plays and discussions. Sales assistants are unlikely to come up against such stringent selection processes but any jobseeker looking to move into a management or specialist role in retail should be prepared.

How to prepare

Be as honest as possible in the tests. Ability tests usually have to be completed within a given time frame and are refreshed often enough to prevent jobseekers getting a sneak preview from their friends. If you try to cheat, you will only succeed in confusing the recruiter, which won't work in your favour in the end.

But you can maximise your performance by planning ahead:

• Find out what type of tests you are likely to have to sit and when. Ask recruiters what impact tests have on their final selection.
• Request sample questions. This is especially important for the verbal and numerical reasoning tests.
• As with every stage of the recruitment process, consider what skills and abilities retailers are looking for.
• Finally, relax, put time aside when you won't be disturbed, and read the instructions carefully. If you have time afterwards, and it's appropriate to the test, review your answers.

Always ask for feedback. Business psychologists regard this as good practice and usually make this a part of the deal for using their test. It will help you with any further job applications.