Tricks for Passing Job Questionnaire Questions

by Mark Applegate, Demand Media Google

In a tight job market, there may be a hundred or more applicants for a single opening. One tool human resources departments utilize to prescreen applicants and simplify the hiring process is the job questionnaire. You may be an outstanding fit for the position, but if you don't ace the screening questionnaire, your bid for the position may end before the first interview. Depending on the type of questionnaire, there are tricks that will help you pass and have the opportunity to interview in person.

General Questionnaire

Some employers use a general questionnaire that seems to be requesting basic information, including your demographic information, job history and a few basic interview questions. Strive for consistency with your answers from those you put in your initial application and your resume. Significant variance can send the signal that you are not being truthful. Read every question carefully and answer them with your resume in hand, if necessary. Thoroughly check and recheck the document for typos and other errors.

Personality Questionnaire

Personality questionnaires are used to measure specific character traits that predict the odds of the candidate being a good or a bad fit for the job. These questionnaires feature many questions, sometimes duplicated in exact or near exact detail. They are scored in a way that highlights your likely positive and negative traits and gives a "lie score" that estimates how truthful you were being by comparing answers on similar questions. Practice tests are widely available online. Be careful trusting their validity, but use them to get a feel for the questions you will encounter. Answer the questions honestly and consistently, but be careful. Answer the spirit of the question. For example, if asked whether you have ever stolen an item from an employer, the question is seeking to learn whether you steal, not whether you accidentally took home a company pencil and returned it the next day. Do not over-think the questions.

Skills Questionnaire

Some employers create a skills questionnaire that allows you to expand your information on the skills you have listed in your resume or on your application. Often these questionnaires will allow you to rate your knowledge in a subject into categories such as "Not familiar," "familiar," and "mastered." Answer these questions honestly and add clarification statements if possible. Do not promise you are a master of a topic unless you have a strong, working knowledge of it. Ask for clarifications from the human resources professional, if necessary. Be prepared to demonstrate your proficiency in listed items in the interview or a proficiency test.

Other Considerations

Don't forget to exhibit a keen attention to detail in a questionnaire. Answer every question. If the question does not apply, mark it "n/a" rather than leaving it blank. Remember that your handwriting can also be an indicator of your organization skills, attention to detail and, whether fair or not, your perceived intelligence. If asked to answer longer questions such as a role play or hypothetical scenario, craft your answer in a way that shows a positive character trait that you possess and that the employer needs in the position.

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