Preparing for the Harver Test: Your Ultimate Guide to Success
If you’re reading this article, then you might be preparing for your Harver test!
The Harver test evaluates your capabilities and assigns aptitude, which makes the hiring process easier for many employers.
The Harver can reveal where a candidate’s talents lie from a wide array of skills and styles of reasoning.
You might be wondering: can I even prepare for this kind of test? The answer is yes!
If you don’t prepare adequately before you take the Harver test, then you might find yourself scoring lower than you could – which can then make all the difference when it comes to landing coveted positions!
Read on and I’ll cover:
- What the Harver test is
- The Harver test process and types of questions you may encounter
- Preparation Strategies (Harver Test Tips)
- What to expect on test day
- After the Harver test: Next Steps.
Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
Understanding the Harver Assessment
The Harver test actually refers to a collection of tests from Harver. The tests assist employers in talent acquisition. Some examples of aptitude tests that employers can purchase from Harver include:
- Situational Judgement Test
- Cognitive Ability Testing
- Language Proficiency test
- Multitasking Test
- Typing Test
- Learning Agility Test.
I’ll specifically discuss the Cognitive ability testing that Harver facilitates because this kind of test is shown to be a potent predictor of succeeding in a new position.
I’ll also provide information on some of the other kinds of testing listed.
Harver’s tests are, importantly, enhanced by AI. You may not feel much time pressure during the test, but algorithms do time your performance task by task to make complex insights into your abilities.
Another important piece of information is that you may do well in some areas and not in others; your success all depends on which skills the client (employer) is looking for.
Your preparation should include studying skills that will most likely appear on the test.
For hints, read the employer’s job post. If the ‘ideal candidate’ description includes certain soft skills like ‘critical thinking’, then this can help you to predict the kinds of reasoning questions you’ll be receiving.
The Harver Test Process
Harver tests could appear at any point during your application process to a new job or company.
The test is digital; you have one attempt, so make sure you feel ready to take it!
You should sit down somewhere where you have secure wireless internet and won’t be distracted.
Each question will appear sequentially on the user-friendly interface. Most tests are just 30 minutes long; time management is key in these timed tests.
Types of Questions in Harver Assessment
There is a truly broad array of questions, activities, and puzzles that you may encounter in your Harver assessment. I’ll focus on some question examples from the most popular Harver Tests.
Situational Judgment tests are one of the most popular assessments to help employers choose reasonable, intelligent candidates.
1. Situational Judgment scenario questions
These kinds of questions often involve reading a passage that gives a realistic scenario in which people may have conflicting desires, or some other minor conflict has occurred.
You need to make judgments on the situation, like assessing the appropriateness of a response.
2. Logical Reasoning
Logical reasoning questions measure abstract problem-solving ability. It’s a common kind of question that often involves some degree of consistently applied logic. Here’s an example:
In a small town, there is Barber Shop A and Barber Shop B. While Barber Shop A is clean, Barber Shop B is very untidy. Every barber in Barber Shop A is clean-shaven, and every barber in Barber Shop B has a beard.
You encounter a man in the town with a beard. The question is: Where did he get his haircut?
- A) Barber Shop A
B) Barber Shop B
C) It could be Either Barber Shop A or Barber Shop B
D) It’s indeterminable.
3. Personality Questionnaires
Personality questionnaires are often much less daunting than the other kinds of test questions that you could receive.
These kinds of questions focus on your own tendencies in social, working, and personal environments. You should try to answer honestly while keeping in mind the kind of personality that would be suited to the relevant position.
Preparation Strategies for the Harver Test
Prepare, prepare, prepare! Familiarity with your upcoming test could be the difference between your dream job and disappointment. Here are some practical prep strategies:
1. Take practice assessments. I can’t overemphasise the role of genuine practice tests in nailing your actual assessment!
You can see and purchase practice tests if you head to JobTestPrep’s guide to the Harver assessment.
There are guides for all different types of Harver tests, so make sure you know a bit about what kinds of questions you’ll be getting before checking out.
2. Write your own practice questions from the perspective of the employers.
This goes hand in hand with getting to know the employer!
It’s not too difficult to imagine what questions would crop up, but I’d recommend doing this as a second step after taking some practice assessments so that you know what the questions look like.
3. Some questions aren’t easy to practice for, because they are game-based.
I recommend downloading some logic games onto your mobile phone, like chess, sudoku, and riddles. These will gradually increase your ability to reason on the spot.
What to Expect on Test Day
It’s important to note that Harver tests are highly customizable according to the employer.
Your Harver test may be timed or not; this will be clear before you begin!
Question formats will also vary and aren’t always predictable, which is why it is key to practice a variety of question types.
The user interface is similar to the Harver website, where you can log in to take the test assigned to you. Don’t worry if you aren’t technology savvy; Harver has made the test sleek and user-friendly.
After the Harver Test: Next Steps
You’ll receive feedback on your online application through Harver within two weeks. This varies with the employer.
The next steps of your job application will probably happen directly through the employer, who you should also contact within two weeks after your test if they do not connect you first.
There may be more admin steps to complete before you score the job!
According to the Harver website – “If you don’t have any contact details of the recruiters of the company you applied for, you can always contact the Harver Support Team. They will ensure that your question will reach the right person and department.”
Final Thoughts
This guide has explained that the Harver test is a recruitment assessment that helps employers optimize talent acquisition.
It is powered by AI, highly customizable according to employer needs, often timed, and user-friendly. You can sit your test through the Harver website.
You should go into your test with preparation and confidence! There is nothing holding you back from a stunning Harver score, so long as you take the time to practice for the test and sit it in an appropriately quiet location.
Good luck!
FAQs
Can I retake the Harver test if I don’t perform well?
It depends. If you feel like you need to retake the Harver test, you need to contact Harver which will, in turn, contact the employer to find out if a retake is permissible.
Some employers may want first tries only, while others may be eager to accept improved results.
Sarah is an accomplished educator, researcher and author in the field of testing and assessment. She has worked with various educational institutions and organisations to develop innovative evaluation methods and enhance student learning. Sarah has published numerous articles and books on assessment and learning. Her passion for promoting equity and fairness in the education system fuels her commitment to sharing insights and best practices with educators and policymakers around the world.
