Forums Forums Wirral Information Jobs - Training Marks & Spencer Online Test Rejection

Has anybody here sat the online Marks & Spencer test for Customer Assistant? I ask this because I sat it yesterday and got the depressing rejection today.

I wish somebody would please tell me just exactly what are these stores looking for when they thrust these annoying behavioural tests upon job applicants? They just seem so impossible to pass. I hate them!

I believe boots have 1 of those screening tests

Sorry to say this, but they do these tests for a reason - face it, if you knew how to pass it in advance, a) you would be cheating and b) there would be no point in them doing them. This might not be the only thing that they use to decide, but it may well mean that a) You probably wouldn't have enjoyed the job anyhow or b) done well at it, so you just have to just accept it and move on - onward and upward!! Stay positive!!!!

Yes. And it seems that most of these big retail chains are using these behavioural tests to screen job applicants.

Boy, would I LOVE to see full employment return, which would soon obviate the need for these firms to use these annoying, ludicrous tests!

asda has one as well!

I did the m&s one and got turned down as well and I've worked in a shop before but am obviously getting them wrong. Had an asda interview months ago after passing their online test and didn't pass the interview because obviously I'm answering their questions wrong. But I still see the need for the tests cos they're much easier than inviting everyone in for an interview to end up wasting everyone's time cos the person hasn't actually got a clue! If asda had the questions I was asked at interview online, I could've either saved myself £4.40 or not missed that day's CAB tutorial, so it did end up wasting everyone's time!

I passed the M&S one last month but didn't go for the job in the end. You have to think of the corporate image, helpful staff blah blah that they want in a person.

Thanks for this link, it's very useful, gives a good idea of how to prepare for questions etc Thanks for sharing :O) x

Always worth a look around the web before attempting these tests to understand what they are constructed for.

http://www.wikijob.co.uk/wiki/aptitude-tests

A Google search of 'retail aptitude tests' brings up loads of stuff with practice tests and explanations. Must be worth a look.

What like this??

This is basically psychometrics and complete b*ll*cks:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychometrics

Note in the third paragraph of Origins And Background:
"Critics, including practitioners in the physical sciences and social activists, have argued that such definition and quantification is impossibly difficult, and that such measurements are often misused, such as with psychometric personality tests used in employment procedures".

I have long refused to complete any of these things and encourage everyone to do the same.

I did loads of them when I was applying for graduate jobs. I got through one once. After doing some research, basically, what happens is that they test your responses against their set parameters. But to try and second guess what they would be is impossible.

The only advice to give is not to try and answer what you think they want to hear. You might notice that they repeat the questions quite alot. That way they can find out. Just answer what you think is best.

Thats why they do them! More effective than an interview

If you hate them, then if you see one when applying for a job, don't bother - it's that simple.

I don't think you can "cheat the test" as there are no hard and fast rules as to what employers want from them. They all want different things. If you try and "cheat" then get the job, there's no guarantee you'll keep the job as they may see that you weren't the "type of person" they wanted and subsequently thought you were. You're also only cheating yourself.

i'd be scared to 'cheat' in case that happened then they sacked me..then i'd have no job..