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June 12, 2010

SkillTesting – Assess the Skills of Job Applicants

SkillTesting is an application that gives employers an easy way to vet job applicants before meeting them in person. Targeted toward computer programmers, software developers, and others in the technology field, the applications lets hiring managers create custom tests based on the skills required for a particular job. Applicants can then take the test from the comfort of their own home, giving hiring managers an easy way to determine which applicants’ skills meet the necessary requirements before offering any interviews on site.

Before you can start asking applicants to take the test, you’ll have to log in to SkillTesting and figure out which questions you want to ask. Tests can have as many questions as you want, and you can even specify how much time test takers have to answer each question. The questions you ask can be multiple choice or fill in, or you can utilize SkillTesting’s code editor and ask applicants to write code directly in their browsers. Once you’ve created a test that meets your needs, enter the email addresses of any applicants you’d like to take it and just press send. Each time a candidate completes the test, you’ll receive an email inviting you to check out the results. The SkillTesting application offers a two-tiered grading system that provides quantitative and qualitative feedback, and allows you to type your own notes on each test to refer to later.

Once you’ve narrowed down your top few scorers, use SkillTesting’s side-by-side comparison tools to determine who did the best job answering the most important questions. You can also use the application’s analytics page to quickly see how many people took the test and who scored the highest. For busy professionals looking for a way to weed out unqualified applicants without taking the time to do interviews in person, SkillTesting is an excellent application that ensures that the employees you’re hiring are ready for the job.

Practical Uses:

  • Test job seekers to weed out unqualified applicants
  • Find new employees who have the skills to work at your company
  • Make hiring easy by choosing the applicant with the highest test score
  • Only interview candidates who meet the minimum skill requirements

Insider Tips:

  • Create tests that are as long or short as your wish
  • Ask applicants to write the same type of code they’d be expected to work with at your company
  • Use analytics tools to see how many people have taken the test
  • Create different tests when hiring for different positions within the company

What we liked:

  • Implementing SkillTesting is a good way to get rid of unqualified applicants
  • Automated email alerts let you know when an applicant has finished his test
  • Applicants don’t need to come to the office to take the test, since they can do so from their home computer
  • The SkillTesting application could be tweaked in the future to be used by hiring managers in other industries, as well

What we didn’t like:

  • The application is currently only aimed at those working in software programming and development

Alternatives:

Company Info:

  • Launched: Launching in private beta in 2010
  • Privately Held
  • Headquarters: Boston, Massachusetts
  • Founded by: Christopher Buchino and Boris Gaber
  • Web site: http://skilltesting.com

Costs:

  • Flexible pricing model is still being determined

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