Research estimates that nearly 65 percent of employers use some sort of pre-employment skills test which is designed to confirm that applicants have the skills they say they have. These tests can range from simple employment typing tests to a complex mechanical construction.

Not only technical skills are tested, an applicant may be asked to develop a marketing strategy for a new product, to write a report or lift a heavy load to demonstrate physical strength. The most important requirement is that the test genuinely assesses skills necessary for job performance.