Applications and Interviews


This section covers Applications, CVs, Interviews, Assessment Centres and Psychometric Tests. Much of the material held in the Careers Service at 388 Glossop Road is available to take away or may be borrowed for up to one week. We also have a number of DVDs which can be borrowed or viewed in the Careers Service.

You should also refer to the Making Applications section on our website which contains advice and information to help you apply for work or postgraduate study.

What's On Diary - the Careers Service offers centrally delivered talks and workshops on Applications, Interviews and Psychometric tests. A full programme is available via the What's On Diary.


Applications, CVs and Covering Letters

CV and Application Checking Service - available at the Careers Service. To book an appointment call 2220910.

There are currently no resources in this section.

Interviews and Assessment Centres

Careers Advice - Careers Advisers are available for 2 types of appointment, depending on student's needs. Brief appointments can be booked for brief questions concerning interviews. Longer appointments may be used to discuss interview preparation in more depth and could include role play or practising answers to questions.
Contact the Careers Service on 2220910 to book a short appointment. You may then be referred for a longer appointment if required.

Departmental Talks - some Departments work with Careers Advisers to offer sessions on interview preparation. Check within your department for details.

There are currently no resources in this section.

Psychometric Tests

Profiling for Success - the Careers Service provides University of Sheffield students and graduates with free access to this online assessment package, comprising three practice aptitude tests (abstract, numerical and verbal reasoning), and two personality type indicators.

Library resources
TitleShelfmark
10 career essentials: excel at your career by using your personality type
Provides ten career success strategies based on Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). Career Management Skills text.
1.1
All about psychological tests and assessment centres
Sections on role plays, in-tray exercises, group activities, presentations and other assessment centre techniques, as well as practice intelligence and personality tests.
3.3
Critical thinking for students
Learn to identify and analyse arguments, explore weaknesses and strengths in arguments and assess credibility of evidence. Can be useful for preparing for verbal reasoning psychometric tests.
1.4
Graduate psychometric test workbook
Includes one graduate personality questionnaire which is a bit limited as no real interpretation of the profile is possible, and only one style of questionnaire is provided. Section 2 - verbal reasoning tests requiring analysis of passages of information. Section 3 - numerical based tests, comprising two with individual maths questions and one using tables and graphs. Provides answers and explanations plus help interpreting your scores.
3.4
How to master personality questionnaires
Information on what personality is, how it is measured, and some of the types of personality questionnaires used, with examples. Also help with analysing your own personality and changing your behaviour.
3.4
How to pass advanced aptitude tests: assess your potential and analyse your career options with graduate and managerial level psychometric tests. 2nd ed.
Tests and explanations for visual logic, numerical insight, verbal concepts, extrapolation, technical and analytical; as well as personality and career analysis tests.
3.4
How to pass advanced numeracy tests: improve your scores in numerical reasoning and data interpretation psychometric tests (rev.ed.)
Includes lots of example questions in quantitative reasoning, data interpretation, and using business–related data, plus four mock tests with answers and explanations.
3.4
How to pass diagrammatic reasoning tests: essential practice for abstract, input-type and spatial reasoning tests
Practice for abstract, diagrammatic, and spatial reasoning tests, with answers
3.4
How to pass graduate psychometric tests
Includes glossaries of Maths and English grammar terms. Provides mainly Maths and English practice questions and practice tests. Maths: different types of individual sums, sequence questions, and data based questions using tables and graphs. English: Mainly checking knowledge of English grammar, eg identify the grammatical error, or the grammatically correct sentence, punctuation errors, etc Includes verbal reasoning based on understanding passages of text. Also, speed and accuracy tests and domino sequences.
3.4
How to pass numeracy tests: intermediate level (3rd ed.)
Tips and practical advice to improve numerical skills and increase confidence.
3.4
How to pass numerical reasoning tests: a step-by-step guide to learning key numeracy skills; intermediate level (rev. ed.)
Review of the maths basics, with explanations and examples of fractions, percentages, rates, ratios, proportions.
3.4
How to pass professional level psychometric tests (2nd ed.)
Includes tests for IT, finance and management, as well as common verbal and numerical tests.
3.4
How to pass psychometric tests (3rd ed.)
"This book gives you the three things you need to pass a psychometric test - information, confidence and plenty of practice." (including 35 SHL tests).
3.4
How to pass technical selection tests
Looks at tests commonly used in selection for ‘technical’ industries, eg construction and engineering. Covers what tests are, how to prepare for them, and information on different types of technical tests. Also has a glossary of technical terms. Includes practice technical tests in: verbal, numerical, diagrammatic and mechanical reasoning.
3.4
How to pass the Civil Service qualifying tests
Includes practice tests, answers and explanations, and expert tips and insights.
3.4
How to pass the new police selection system
Covers all aspects of the selection process
3.4
How to pass the QTS numeracy skills test: essential maths and statistics practice for the Qualified Teacher Status skills test
Practice exercises for the compulsory numeracy skills tests for trainee teachers.
EDU
How to pass verbal reasoning tests (3rd ed.)
Examples of various types of tests to measure understanding of written English.
3.4
Management level psychometric & assessment tests: everything you need to help you land that senior job
Includes 35 SHL tests, and various tips for passing tests for managerial posts.
3.4
Now you've been shortlisted: your step-by-step guide to being successful at interviews and assessment centres
Covers psychometric tests, interviews and assessment centres, with advice on group, written, and in-tray exercises, presentations and role plays.
3.3
Passing the ICT skills test (3rd ed.)
Covers the subject knowledge needed by trainee teachers to pass the compulsory ICT skills test.
EDU
Passing the literacy skills test (2nd ed.)
Subject knowledge and practice tests for the compulsory QTS literacy skills test.
EDU
Passing the numeracy skills test (4th ed.)
Subject knowledge and practice tests for compulsory QTS numeracy skills test.
EDU
Practice tests for diagrammatic & abstract reasoning (2nd ed.)
Timed practice tests with answers and explanations.
3.4
Practise and pass professional numeracy tests
Tips for achieving your best possible score in numeracy tests, with practice tests.
3.4
Practise and pass professional verbal reasoning tests
Practice tests and extensive advice on peparing for tests.
3.4
Prepare for tests at interview for graduates and managers
Psychometric tests (with answer key): personality, verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning, clerical, non-verbal reasoning, mechanical reasoning
3.4
Psychological testing: the essential guide to using and surviving the most popular recruitment and career development tests (2nd ed.)
Describes 15 of the most frequently used psychological tests covering factors such as personality type and critical thinking skills.
3.4
Psychometric tests (The testing series)
Practice tests in verbal, numerical and spatial reasoning; also work rate, concentration, mechanical comprehension and fault analysis tests.
3.4
Psychometric tests for graduates
Old edition
3.4
Psychometric tests for graduates
The book with the biggest variety of tests including: verbal, numerical, abstract and diagrammatic, spatial, mechanical, accuracy and management tests. Management test examples include: scenarios, brainstorm and ‘fast track’ tests. The book also includes very brief examples of personality questionnaires. The practice tests are from the test publishers SHL Group plc
3.4
Strengths finder 2.0
Explores 34 strengths in the workplace with advice on how to use them most effectively.
1.4
Succeed at psychometric testing
Practice tests for diagrammatic and abstract reasoning
3.4
Succeed at psychometric testing
Provides an explanation of test types including general maths tests, tests using tables and graphs, and ‘quantitative relations’. It includes timed tests, answers and explanations of the answers, plus further suggestions for improvement and preparation.
3.4
The aptitude test workbook: discover your potential and improve your career options with practice psychometric tests (2nd ed.)
Over 400 practice verbal, numerical, perceptual, spatial and practical tests.
3.4
The numeracy test workbook: intermediate level
800 intermediate level practice questions.
3.4
Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal
Critical thinking tests covering inference, recognition of assumptions, deduction, interpretation and evaluation of arguments
3.4
You're hired! Psychometric tests: proven tactics to help you pass
Sample tests at 3 levels, with advice on how to perform at your best and what employers are measuring
3.4

Online resources
Civil Service self assessment
Fast-stream entry for the Civil Service
Graduate Jobs Numeracy Test
Graphs, charts and data interpretation. Questions are based on a pool of 200 questions.
Job Test Prep
Range of priced and free practice tests with tips, including psychometric tests, aptitude tests and UKCAT.
Keirsey temperament sorter
Career planning and personal development tools for students
Medical and Dental Schools - admissions tests   
Medicine and Dentistry - admissions tests
A Careers Service online talk
Profiling for success
This assessment package includes verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning tests and two personality type indicators. Find the access codes in MUSE by clicking on the Careers tab. Once you complete an assessment you will receive an email with helpful feedback and you can arrange to talk it over with a Careers Adviser. Call us on 0114 2220910 to book an appointment.
SHL Direct
Assessments, feedback and practice tests
SHL Fastrack Exercise   

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