Many employers know that they can only get limited exposure to you in an interview. That is part of the reason your portfolio is so important; it highlights what you have done in the past. These days, many employers also test potential candidates to see what they can do that is specifically relevant to their workplace.

It is becoming increasingly popular for employers to ask that job seeker take part in pre‑employment testing. From an employer’s point of view, it assures them that a candidate has both the basic skills for a job and the skills that they report on their resume.

You can look at testing as an opportunity for you to demonstrate your abilities, as well as your honesty in your resume.

Some safety-sensitive jobs will also require testing during employment (at prescribed or random times) including:

• Drug and alcohol usage
• Defensive/safe driving
• Physical testing
• Values surveys
• Personality testing