What Is a Job Performance Test?

A job performance test is a form or part of an employee evaluation. These tests may be more prevalent in manufacturing firms or those businesses where employees must complete specific work as part of their duties. For example, an electronics repairman may undergo a job performance test to ensure he or she can properly repair items for a company. Companies may require these tests at specific intervals. Semiannual or annual evaluations may include the test, although companies can issue them as needed.

Employee evaluations and any job performance test associated with them must follow specific rules. Local and federal governments often place specific rules or restrictions on employee evaluations. The reason for these restrictions is to prevent discrimination or other improper actions by the company. For example, creating undue stress during evaluations or using a different performance test for different employees is often illegal. A written policy is often a must for conducting these tests.

Companies typically design and implement specific employee evaluations for each employee classification. The test will go through a series of common tasks and may require employees to complete them in a specific order or time limit. This job performance test presents a company with the opportunity to assess each employee’s abilities. Employees will often be aware of the performance test so they can understand the requirements. Alterations to the test may be necessary in order to accurately assess new abilities employees need to work on.

Confrontational activity should be avoided in a performance test. Owners or managers will often set aside time to conduct the test. The purpose is to ensure each employee can properly serve a company’s customers. Another goal of the test should be to improve upon an employee’s skills. For example, companies may use job performance tests more frequently when new items or issues arise requiring companies to improve upon each employee’s abilities.

Another use of employee evaluations is the ability for a company to learn about business operations from its employees. Employees may discover new scenarios or issues that a company does not or is not currently addressing with consumers. During the job performance test, a company may learn different actions the company can take in order to improve operations and create more value for stakeholders. In short, the evaluation or test is a two-way street. While employees demonstrate their ability to complete the company’s tasks, companies can learn about issues on the front lines of their operations.