Government & Public Sector Test

Government and public sector tests measure candidates on the essential skills, competencies and behaviours required to work effectively in the many roles available in these critical fields of employment.

  • What is a government and public sector test?

    As a pre-employment assessment, a government and public sector test helps employers identify the most suitable applicants for any given position by testing fundamental skills relevant to the role they are recruiting for.

    Candidates face a series of questions that look at core competencies such as communication, numerical aptitude, problem-solving and logical reasoning. Taken under timed conditions, these tests are also a measure of how well an applicant performs under pressure.

    Alongside soft skills, government and public sector tests also help to evaluate working preferences, character traits and behavioural styles, so employers can make informed hiring decisions based on well-rounded candidate profiles.

    When administered in the screening stages of recruitment, government and public sector tests both streamline the process and allow for objective, data-driven evaluation of available talent.

Jump to a section on this page:

  1. What is a government and public sector test?
  2. Why use pre-employment testing for government and public sector roles?
  3. Which specific tests should you use?
  4. Personality
  5. Verbal reasoning
  6. Numerical reasoning
  7. Job knowledge test
  8. FAQs

About the Government & Public Sector Test

Government and public sector organisations have a duty towards and are fully accountable to the public. It is therefore vital that anyone working for such an organisation is capable of fulfilling their duties to the highest degree.

Picked's government and public sector tests improve the quality of your hires by assessing the skills and attributes known to be held by effective employees within these fields, so you can narrow down your options and recruit with confidence.

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  • Why use pre-employment testing for government and public sector roles?

    Government and public sector services are subject to constant scrutiny and must continually evolve in line with the changing needs of those they serve. To meet such high demands, there need to be teams of talented individuals working both behind the scenes and on the front line.

    As an employer, how do you ensure that those you recruit stack up to expectations? They may have a glowing CV and an impressive work history, but how can you be sure that what they claim on paper actually translates to real skill?

    Picked's government and public sector tests help solve this dilemma. You can administer them at scale - ideal for high-volume recruitment - and compare each applicant objectively based on comprehensive test report data. You can then use this to make a shortlist of the most talented individuals in your applicant pool.

    It's an effective way of separating those that have what it takes to succeed from those that fall short - and because the tests are expertly designed, you can rest assured that you're looking at the most relevant criteria.

    You may find our government and public sector tests useful when hiring for roles in any of the following:

More Industry Tests

Picked Sample Report

View a sample report

Results for the Government & Public Sector Test along with other assessments the candidate takes will be compiled to produce a candidate report. The report is automatically generated and available both online and as a downloadable pdf so they can be shared with other team members and employees alike.

Download sample report

Which specific tests should you use?

For a well-rounded candidate profile, an effective test battery would include:

  • Personality
  • Verbal reasoning
  • Numerical reasoning
  • Job knowledge test

Personality

A personality test looks at an applicant's character traits, working and social preferences and core values.

These tests are a good way to establish how well an individual would fit into a certain team, whether their values match those of the organisation, and if they have the social skills needed to fulfil their duties.

Verbal reasoning

Verbal reasoning tests are a measure of an individual's ability to process written information and draw logical conclusions from it.

Questions require the test taker to analyse passages of text before answering multiple-choice questions around assumptions, inferences and the strength of arguments. Those that do well are likely to prove strong communicators and effective learners.

Numerical reasoning

Similar to verbal reasoning, a numerical reasoning test asks candidates to draw logical conclusions, but this time from the information presented as data in tables, charts and graphs.

They require keen attention to detail, accuracy, speed and a basic level of mathematical ability.

Job knowledge test

This is where you can delve into job-specific strengths, with tests designed for individual roles.

Whatever position you're hiring for, you'll find an assessment to suit in our test library.

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    All our Government & Public Sector tests are written by accredited psychologists and fully validated.

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    We offer Government & Public Sector tests for all levels so you can assess all roles within your organisation.

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    Simple, easy-to-use candidate comparison reports mean you don’t need to be a psychologist to interpret them.

“We used Picked as part of our Finance Graduate Scheme recruitment and it was just what we needed – really simple to send candidates the link to complete and clear to see how the all compared. And great value for money!”
Christina, HR Director, Cancer Research, UK
Christina, HR Director, Cancer Research, UK
“Personality profiling allowed us to perform lookalike modelling of our most successful employees and use this as a blueprint for new hires.”
Nick, HR Operations, Airbus, Spain
Nick, HR Operations, Airbus, Spain

FAQs

What is the typical recruitment process in the government and public sector?

A well constructed and comprehensive recruitment process for government and public sector roles includes an initial application, pre-employment aptitude tests, interviews and an assessment day, the combination of which allows for a thorough evaluation of candidate suitability.

What skills does a candidate in government and public sector typically need?

As the range of jobs within government and the public sector is so diverse, it's impossible to give a definitive list, but universal skills include effective communication, teamwork, interpersonal skills, problem-solving, resilience and sound professional judgment.

What is the cost for Picked's government and public sector test?

We believe in simple, transparent pricing. We operate monthly and annual subscriptions so you can pick the perfect plan for you. Don't worry if you're not sure: you can always upgrade or downgrade later, or speak to us to discuss the option of a custom made plan to fit your needs. This is all you ever pay – no set-up or hidden fees.

Can I get a free trial?

Yes, sign up (no credit card required) and we'll give you a 7-day trial completely free. You'll get unlimited access to create as many jobs and test as many candidates as you like. You can cancel any time and you won't be charged anything.

“Focusing on data reduced the subjective decision making from our hiring process and allowed us to reduce bias and make better hiring decisions.”
Izzie, Head of HR, iZettle, Sweden
Izzie, Head of HR, iZettle, Sweden

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