Situational Judgement

What is a Situational Judgement Test?

A Situational Judgement Test (SJT) is a type of psychological test used mainly in job applications. It presents realistic, hypothetical scenarios relevant to a specific job, and asks you to choose the most appropriate response or rank responses in order of effectiveness. The goal is to assess your problem-solving, decision-making, and interpersonal skills. SJTs help employers understand how you might handle real work situations, reflecting your suitability for the job. They are particularly useful in fields where practical judgment and soft skills are crucial.

What questions can I expect?

In most cases, Situational Judgement Tests are designed to determine behavior, assessing how you act in certain workplace situations. They can also assess how well you prioritize or follow instructions.
While Situational Judgement Tests are similar, their layouts vary. Here are the three most common types:

More/Less:
In this kind of test, you are given one scenario and several proposed responses. You are to rank each response according to their effectiveness, such as “More effective” or “Less effective,” among other possible rankings.

Multiple-choice:
In this type of test, you are given one scenario and two to six possible responses. You have to choose the single best response in the given situation.

Rating:
You are given one scenario and several proposed responses. You must rate these responses on a scale from highly desirable to highly undesirable. A desirable response is one that you believe to be a positive action in the given situation.

Where are Situational Judgement Tests Used?

Situational Judgement Tests (SJTs) are widely used by employers in various fields during their hiring processes. They are particularly common in professions like administration, management, firefighting, customer service, nursing, call centers, and law enforcement. These tests help employers assess how potential employees might handle real-life scenarios in the workplace. By evaluating responses to hypothetical situations, SJTs provide insight into a candidate’s decision-making, prioritization, and problem-solving skills. This approach helps organizations in selecting individuals whose behavior aligns with their specific job requirements and company culture.