As job seekers worldwide can attest, getting a job is challenging if you do not know how to use a computer. A National Skills Coalition study shows that 92% of jobs require computer skills, and computer proficiency is now required for jobs where you would least expect it.
As a result, organizations have implemented assessment solutions and use basic computer skills assessment tests to fill technical and non-technical jobs.
What Are Basic Computer Skills Assessment Tests?
The term “basic computer skills assessment test” covers a lot of ground. It can refer to an assessment that recruiters use to verify applicants know how to use MS Office applications such as Word®, Excel®, and PowerPoint® or test the typing speed and accuracy of data entry operators.
Companies also use basic computer skills tests for employment to evaluate applicants’ knowledge of popular programming languages such as Java and C# and candidates’ expertise in specialty areas such as cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI).
Using Basic Computer Skills Tests for Employment in Non-Technical Jobs
HR teams love basic computer skills assessment testing solutions that allow them to customize assessments to match their jobs.
For example, if you are recruiting for an administrative assistant position that requires strong computer skills and extensive contact with customers and internal stakeholders, you could build a basic computer skills test for employment using questions from the eSkill MS Office, Phone and Email Etiquette, and Customer Service Representative assessments and include eSkill’s Multitasking and Digital Literacy simulations. You can also include questions from assessments specific to your industry, such as Medical Terminology, Financial Accounting, and Legal Terminology.
How To Use Basic Computer Skills Tests in Technical Recruiting
HR professionals who recruit candidates for technical positions can also choose from various basic computer skills tests for employment or build their own assessments using questions from multiple tests. For instance, if you are recruiting software developers, and candidates must have strong Java coding ability and understand Agile best practices, you can create a basic computer skills assessment test by selecting questions from the eSkill Java Developer, Java UI Developer, and Agile Management assessments and include relevant questions from the eSkill Quality Assurance assessment.
Applicants’ basic computer skills assessment test results tell you if they have the knowledge required to do a job. However, they do not provide proof that they can apply it. So, many hiring teams include simulations in basic computer skills tests for employment to observe candidates’ performance. In this scenario, a simulation could ask candidates to write Java code for a specific type of application or find and correct bugs in some sample code.
Basic Computer Skills Assessment Tests for Specialty IT Fields
When companies upgrade technology or deploy new systems, they need employees to manage and support them. These abilities become their in-demand skills, and finding candidates who have them is often challenging.
Skill areas that are currently in high demand include cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), business intelligence/data science, and networking/DevOps. This is how companies use basic computer skills assessment tests to evaluate candidates for jobs in each area—
Cybersecurity job vacancies worldwide have increased 350% during the past 10 years. There were 3.5 million job openings in 2023, and industry experts say demand will continue to outstrip supply through 2025. If you are recruiting cybersecurity experts, use the eSkill Information System Security Engineer, Application Security, and Application Security Engineer assessments and add questions from the Public Key Infrastructure and PKI Administrator assessments.
Only one in 10 applicants has artificial intelligence (AI) expertise. So, competition is intense when hiring top candidates before competitors snap them. If you are recruiting cybersecurity experts, use the eSkill Basic Artificial Intelligence Knowledge assessment and include questions from the Machine Learning and Data Analytics skills tests.
Demand for business intelligence and data science professionals will exceed $322.9 billion by 2026 because organizations need ways to manage and monetize massive amounts of data. If you are recruiting candidates with data science or business intelligence expertise, use the eSkill Data Science and Machine Learning Engineer assessments and include questions from the Data Analytics and Quantitative Analysis skills tests.
During the past decade, demand for networking and DevOps engineers increased 40-45% because many organizations embarked on digital transformation initiatives. To recruit the best networking and DevOps candidates, use the eSkill Network Engineer, Routing Fundamentals, and TCP/IP assessments and include questions from the General IT Infrastructure and Networking Essentials assessments.
Get Started with Basic Computer Skills Tests for Employment
Organizations in every industry use basic computer skills tests for employment to identify top applicants for technical and non-technical positions.
Are you ready to learn how basic computer skills assessment tests can help you up your technical and non-technical recruiting game? Contact eSkill to request a demo.