Hiring processes mix several kinds of assessment. This guide explains each one, what it checks, and how to get ready without guessing.
Pre-employment assessments are structured steps used before a job offer, typically cognitive ability tests, situational judgement tests, video interviews, work samples and assessment centres. Which ones you meet depends on the employer, the role, the country and the year, so check each invitation.
Many processes also include a questionnaire about work preferences or personality; that stage exists, but ReasonEra does not cover it.
There is no universal sequence, but a typical pattern looks like this. Treat it as an illustration only, because employers reorder and drop steps.
| Stage | What it is looking at | Preparation that helps |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive tests | Reasoning speed and accuracy on new material | Timed practice by question family, plus error review |
| Situational judgement | How your choices fit the employer's expectations | Read the values and role description, practise scenarios |
| Video interview | Clarity, structure and examples of past behaviour | Rehearse concise answers aloud, test your camera |
| Work sample | Practical skill on a job-like task | Learn the format; see the in-tray exercise guide |
| Assessment centre | Teamwork, communication and problem solving across tasks | Practise group discussion and presentations |
Employers do not always weigh each stage equally. Some use an early test as a gate and treat later stages as the main decision. Others combine scores into one profile. Saville Assessment states that the inviting organisation decides who sees results and whether feedback is given, which fits the general pattern that candidates see little of the scoring logic.
Because of this, a good approach is to prepare for every stage in the invitation and ask the recruiter when something is unclear. For how results are read, see psychometric test results explained.
If you need reasonable adjustments for a disability or a health condition, ask early. Employers usually have a route for this, and requests are normal.
The reasoning-test stage is where practice usually pays off most, and that is where ReasonEra is useful. It is a browser-based AI tutor: upload a screenshot of a practice question, pick Quick Verify or Tutor Explanation, and read the reasoning. It covers abstract, inductive, diagrammatic, logical, numerical, verbal, spatial and situational judgement formats, plus game-based and matrices items, with 50+ supported tests and providers. A free account includes 3 free trials, with a 14-Day Pass at 49 € beyond that. It is for preparation only and does not cover video interviews, centres or questionnaires.
Employers and test publishers change their processes, so treat the invitation you receive as the authority.
Use ReasonEra to build the skill, but conditions for a real test are set by the employer and are often strict, so read your invitation and keep ReasonEra for preparation.
It is a structured step used before a job offer to evaluate candidates, such as an online reasoning test, a situational judgement test, a video interview or an assessment centre. The mix depends on the employer.
Common types include cognitive ability tests, situational judgement tests, work samples and exercises, video interviews and assessment centres. Some processes also add a questionnaire, which this site does not cover.
No, employers vary their process by role, country and hiring year. Always follow the details in your own invitation.
Identify each stage in your invitation and prepare for it specifically. For reasoning tests, timed practice with error review is the most useful approach.
Yes, employers commonly offer adjustments such as extra time or a different format. Contact the recruiter early and explain what you need.
Pick a question that has been stumping you and upload it. The first three tries are free with an account.
Payments are processed by Paddle; cancellations and refunds are covered in the Refund & Cancellation Policy.
Notes. The details above were taken from pages anyone can read, with the links given above. ReasonEra is independent of the companies and publishers mentioned.