Like hundreds of thousands of other companies, your business probably relies on Microsoft Office applications to perform essential daily tasks. Of the various applications offered as part of the MS Office Suite, the two most critical to your operations are likely Excel and Word.
If this is the case, you are undoubtedly screening candidates with a Microsoft skills assessment, right? If not, then it is well past time to start.
Even though countless businesses use Microsoft Word, few organizational leaders measure candidates’ Word proficiency with a formal skills test. This careless practice drastically increases the risk of bad hires, leading to lackluster performance from new staff and to high turnover.
We have created this detailed guide to help businesses like yours remedy this too common problem. Our team outlines when you should screen candidates with a Microsoft Word skills test so that you can hire smarter and more efficiently.
What Is a Microsoft Word Skills Test?
A Microsoft Word skills test is a purpose-built screening tool designed to measure a candidate’s proficiency with the word processing program. The eSkill Microsoft Word skills test includes 40 questions of various types, such as multiple-choice, select all that apply, and true/false. It covers key topics such as modifying documents, printing documents, formatting, and editing.
In addition to a Microsoft Word skills test, you can also use a Microsoft Word simulator in your hiring process. A simulator immerses applicants in a sandbox environment and requires them to perform real-world tasks in a faux Microsoft Word application. It provides even further insights into the applicant’s skills and abilities so that you can make informed hiring decisions.
When Should You Screen Candidates?
When deciding whether to screen a candidate using a Microsoft Word skills test, you should ask yourself the following questions:
Will the employee be required to use Microsoft Word regularly as part of their normal job duties? Will the employee perform advanced operations on Microsoft Word beyond “common knowledge” features? Does a lack of proficiency with Microsoft Word have the potential to impact job performance or lead to the employee’s termination?
If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you should strongly consider administering a Microsoft skills assessment. A Microsoft skills test covering the Word platform will reveal if an applicant possesses the abilities and knowledge necessary to succeed in a particular position.
Microsoft skills assessments have become necessary because many applicants inflate their Microsoft Office abilities on their resume. Many educational institutions and job search sites encourage applicants to highlight their Microsoft Word skills by listing specific operations within the platform.
While these recommendations are made in good faith, some job seekers overestimate their understanding of MS Office software, which may cause them to inadvertently mislead prospective employers.
Utilizing skills testing can shed light on any discrepancies between applicants’ listed abilities and their actual talent level. This insight will help you make wiser hiring decisions, reduce turnover, and find the best candidates in a given talent pool.
Is There a Microsoft Word Skills Test Free Online?
There are no free Microsoft Word skills tests available for candidate screening purposes. However, top testing providers do offer free demonstrations so that you can try out products before you administer them to applicants. A demo is a great way to gain additional information about a product and determine whether it is a good fit for your hiring needs.
When searching for a skills testing partner, ensure they offer a free demo. Providers that do not may lack confidence in the quality of their content. More importantly, skills testing partners that do not offer demos often have strict contract terms.
Are There Other Microsoft Skills Assessments?
Yes, premier testing providers such as eSkill offer Microsoft skills assessments for all core Microsoft Office products. Examples of other skills tests include MS Office 2019 Excel, MS Office 2019 Excel Functions, MS Office 2019 Outlook, MS Office 2019 PowerPoint, and MS office 365. Each skills test covers a unique set of topics.
When deciding which skills tests to incorporate into your screening processes, select assessments that align with the responsibilities of a position — individuals expected to use Excel, Outlook, and Word may need screening with all three skills tests. Alternatively, you can create a custom skills test using eSkill’s pool of questions.
In addition to providing positive pre-hire screening, skills tests can identify skill gaps in existing staff and help your HR team build better-targeted in-house training.
Start Screening Candidates with eSkill
Are you ready to learn how you can screen candidates more efficiently and more accurately? You can try a Microsoft Word skills test free online if you contact us to request a demo.