Aptitude tests in the time of coronavirus — inspiring students to invest in their future
Unprecedented. A word that until 2020 probably wasn’t uttered by most on a daily basis, but now feels like a certain contender for the word of the year. Because truly, we’re living through unprecedented times; the world has shrunk to the size of our four walls and we’re now unsure of what the next hour, let alone day, holds. So at a time like this students would be forgiven for focusing on the day ahead and putting thoughts of the future on hold. But for
many young adults the fast-approaching and totally overwhelming world of job hunting, assessment days, interviews, and selection processes is now under threat. The already highly competitive job market has been thrown into disarray as the economy suffers a significant slump and businesses are forced to reassess how they’re going to operate and stay afloat in a post-Covid-19 world. So with all, that to contend with, keeping students motivated and driven to invest in their careers is an uphill challenge — but nonetheless, it’s a
challenge educators need to join together to take on. Because when life resumes a semblance of normality, it’s the young minds of the future we’re going to need more than ever before.
Unlocking drive
Finding a sense of purpose when life has changed beyond all recognition is not easy. But for those students who were set to graduate in 2020, it’s possibly even harder. So as educators, we need to be there to help them unlock their drive and find their reason to carry on working, studying, and preparing. When it comes to finding motivation, the best place to start is always
by doing something you enjoy. For many students that may mean taking time to finesse the skills that make their CV stand out — for example through art, writing, music, or blogging. So why not encourage your students to take time to be creative and indulge in their hobbies?
From there, it’s a gentle progression into more future-focused thoughts. Whether that’s drawing up a list of dream companies, practicing aptitude tests, perfecting their CV or making new contacts on networking platforms like LinkedIn. Because using this time to lay the foundations for the future is an incredibly valuable way to encourage students to think
about what could await them on the other side of lockdown.
Equipment and resources
It may seem like an abstract concept at the moment, but looking to the future is one of the driving factors of the higher education process — and we need to ensure it’s not obliterated by the current public health crisis. As many students lose out on travel, work, and educational opportunities, bolstering soft skills, investing in online learning, and volunteering will take on more significance. So for every student that’s lost an opportunity to teach abroad or partake
in extracurricular activities, encouragement should be made to help them adapt and overcome.
For those students that will have to take aptitude tests as part of the recruitment process, reminding them of the importance of practice and preparation is crucial, especially now they are likely to have more time on their hands. Aptitude tests are a cornerstone of the recruitment process for a range of firms from KPMG and Google to Deloitte and J.P. Morgan.
And for many employers, a good aptitude test is the difference between handing one graduate a job and another a rejection email. There are plenty of online resources that have been built to prepare students for these tests. Practice Aptitude Tests not only have thousands of different aptitude tests, but the site also provides thoughtful advice, blogs that answer common questions and expert tips from those who have been there before.
Interviews go hand in hand with aptitude tests, which is why many schools and universities run workshops designed to help students with their interview techniques. If these have now been cancelled, that doesn’t mean they should be forgotten. Good interview skills are vital and can inform an employer’s judgment of an individual within seconds. So bolstering each student’s CV and grades with important skills such as confidence, enthusiasm, the ability to listen and robust preparation are really important. There are a wealth of online resources from articles to webinars that can help, so it might be worth considering which ones would best suit your students’ needs. Particular attention should also be paid to how to navigate the slightly awkward world of online interviews, increasingly necessary now that we rely more heavily on digital aids to carry on as normal. Indeed has put together a really helpful
summary of video-specific interview tips; encouraging candidates to prepare with as much diligence as they would for a face-to-face interview while considering all of the extra practicalities and nuances of making a good first impression on camera.
Let them know you’re there
Sharing useful tips and ideas, letting your students know you’re on the other end of an email or phone call, and encouraging them to carry on despite all of the uncertainty are some of the most powerful things educators can do at this time. And it really could help ensure years worth of hard work and study don’t go to waste. It’s easy to assume your students know all of this, but a friendly email reiterating your availability to assist with their studies can go a
long way to encouraging an open dialogue. And it doesn’t just have to be an email or phone relationship. Sharing useful resources from yourself, other educators, and students could be a really valuable way to ensure students have a range of ideas to work with when it comes to looking to the future.
Unprecedented times these may be, and while we make every effort to adapt to our new normal and navigate the constant barrage of change thrown our way, we need to encourage and inspire our students to do the same. Because they are the future — and we can’t let the turmoil of the present get in the way of that.
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