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Are you a recruiter or hiring manager looking for candidate pre-employment assessment tests and tools? Visit our Assess Candidates website for the perfect hiring solution.
What is the SHL Occupational Personality Questionnaire test? What does this SHL personality test measure? How to ace the SHL OPQ test? Find out in our complete guide below.
The text below provides a full guide for the SHL OPQ test, which several employers use in their recruitment, assessment, and selection processes.
Our website provides a practice personality test used in top employer recruitment processes around the world that can be used to prepare for abstract reasoning psychometric tests.
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Not sure if you should practice to prepare for your SHL personality test? According to research conducted by Psychology Today (2022), over 80% of Fortune 500 companies use personality assessments in hiring.
A study found that candidates who do not practice tend to fail at the first hurdle of psychometric tests (54%-84%). This study looked at the Top 100 global employers (Bradley et al., 2019).
Continue reading to get answers to the following critical SHL OPQ questions:
So, without further ado, let’s get started!
The SHL OPQ stands for the SHL Occupational Personality Questionnaire. It is a widely used psychometric test designed to assess your work-related personality and your behavioural styles in a professional context.
This SHL personality test helps employers get insights into your personality traits and workplace behaviours for a specific job role. It ultimately helps employers determine your compatibility with the role and company.
Uncover the key facts about personality assessments like the Occupational Personality Questionnaire with this quick video below:
Read on for key facts about the SHL OPQ personality test!
Discover more about the various SHL psychometric tests used by several top employers globally with our in-depth SHL guide here.
Let’s go ahead and find out why the SHL OPQ personality test has become so important amongst employers.
The SHL occupational personality questionnaires help recruiters by enhancing hiring decisions, talent management, and team dynamics for a variety of job roles across most industries, promoting productivity and employee satisfaction.
Some industries where the SHL OPQ has helped improve recruiting and human resource management include:
These various industries use different types of the SHL OPQ test. Read on to find out more about the types of the SHL OPQ assessment in the following section!
The SHL occupational personality questionnaire has different types, but the most common version is the SHL OPQ32 test. The SHL OPQ32 has subtypes, which are now considered the main types of the SHL OPQ test.
The SHL personality assessment test that you may encounter can be any one of the following SHL OPQ32 test types:
SHL OPQ Glossary
Let’s cover what each type of the SHL Occupational Personality Questionnaire fully entails one by one, firstly starting with the SHL OPQ32n.
The SHL OPQ32i, also known as the ipsative version of the OPQ, is a forced-choice questionnaire which requires you to choose a statement that is most like you and another that is least like you out of four options. It contains 104 questions.
Below is an example question you can get in your SHL OPQ32i.
Which of the statements most likely and least likely describes you:
Now, let’s move on to the recent version of the SHL OPQ32, the SHL OPQ32r.
The SHL OPQ32r, also called OPQ32r+ or OPQ32-IM, is an interactive forced-choice questionnaire where you answer between 104-172 questions within 25-30 minutes. The SHL OPQ32r test is a newer and refined version of the SHL OPQ32i.
Good to Know: A forced-choice questionnaire is a type of personality test where you are required to choose between multiple statements, even if more than one seems accurate or none seem ideal.
The SHL OPQ32r requires you to choose a statement that is most like you out of three options. The first selected option disappears, and then you’re required to select the option that is least like you from the remaining two.
Below is an example question of the SHL OPQ32r:
Which statement describes you the most?
Another version of the SHL OPQ test is the SHL OPQ32n.
The SHL OPQ32n, also known as the normative version of the OPQ, requires you to rate 416 statements on a 1-5 Likert scale based on the extent to which you disagree or agree with each statement within 35-40 minutes.
Good to Know: The Likert scale is a common rating scale used in questionnaires. It allows you to select how much you agree or disagree with a statement.
Our Work Personality Questionnaire (WPQ) uses the normative format and is similar to the SHL OPQ32n test. Below is a sneak peek of our WPQ:
Our normative format personality test is a good practice tool you can use to prepare for the SHL personality tests, and it helps you learn more about yourself and workplace preferences!
Go ahead and start your preparation for the SHL OPQ assessment test with us!
So, what do the various versions of the SHL personality psychometric tests measure? Let’s find out.
The SHL personality assessment (OPQ) primarily evaluates you under three dimensions, which cover 32 distinct personality scales and the SHL Great Eight competencies. The table below shows what the SHL OPQ32 measures under each dimension.
Let’s find out how each SHL OPQ32 dimension works to assess your overall work style and personality.
The SHL dimensions are three major categories that serve as an umbrella for the 32 traits the SHL OPQ test measures. Find out below what these SHL dimensions involve.
This OPQ dimension evaluates how you interact with others and may include questions that explore personality areas like:
This second OPQ dimension evaluates how you read and interpret data and information. Examples of personality areas that are explored here are:
This OPQ test dimension assesses how you think and feel internally about different situations and may touch upon personality areas like:
Good to Know: Discover more about personality tests and commonly used formats like the Big Five Model with our latest complete personality tests guide.
Now that we are aware of the SHL OPQ32 dimensions and personality scales, let’s learn about the SHL Great Eight competencies.
The SHL Great Eight competencies are a widely used framework that simplifies workplace performance into eight universal behaviours, helping employers align assessments like the OPQ32 with role requirements.
Good to Know: The SHL Great Eight competencies are a condensed and competency-focused version of the 32 OPQ scales.
The SHL Great Eight competencies include the following:
Leading and Deciding
Assessing leadership qualities, decision-making abilities, and the capacity to influence others.
Adapting and Coping
Measuring how well you can adjust to changing circumstances and handle stress.
Supporting and Cooperating
Assesses your ability to support and cooperate with others in a team, with personal values that match the organisation’s
Interacting and Presenting
Evaluating how you confidently interact and persuade others.
Analysing and Interpreting
Assesses your analytical skills, including the ability to adapt to technology quickly, dive deep into the problem, and communicate well in writing.
Creating and Conceptualising
Evaluates your creativity and open-mindedness with the courage to drive organisational change.
Organising and Executing
Assesses your strategic planning and ability to follow instructions, striving for quality service delivery and customer satisfaction.
Enterprising and Performing
Evaluates your financial and business acumen with the ability to achieve personal work objectives and strive for personal growth and career development.
Give reading a break and watch our short video below to discover how personality assessments like the SHL OPQ measure your behavioural traits.
Knowing what the SHL OPQ tests measure, several global employers are using the SHL personality questionnaires to inform their hiring decisions. Find out which employers use the SHL OPQ below.
Many multinational organisations use the SHL OPQ assessments as part of their online assessments stage, typically before their interviews and assessment centre stage. A few top employers that have used SHL include:
Check out even more companies that use SHL OPQ tests with over 100 step-by-step employer guides full of super useful expert tips you can use to ace your next employer recruitment process and get your dream job!
So why do employers frequently use the SHL OPQ online test for hiring? Let’s find out below!
Below are the key reasons why several top employers around the world use the SHL OPQ online tests:
Effective Hiring
OPQ tests help employers identify candidates fit for the specific job role and organisational culture, leading to more successful hiring outcomes.
Comprehensive evaluation
Employers usually use a combination of SHL assessments, like numerical and verbal reasoning tests, with the OPQ test to evaluate candidates for the skills necessary for the job role.
Talent Development
These SHL OPQ online tests provide insights into existing employees to design suitable development programmes to enhance their skills.
Team Building
The SHL OPQ personality tests help organisations to build well-balanced teams by taking into consideration individual personality traits and behaviours.
Leadership Development and Promotion
These SHL personality tests help identify potential leaders and promote promotion and succession planning, and design development programs to enhance their skills.
Conflict Resolution
Understanding employees’ personality traits can assist in managing and resolving conflicts more effectively.
Retention and Engagement
By ensuring a better job-person fit, these tests can lead to increased employee satisfaction, engagement, and retention.
Objective Assessment
SHL OPQ online assessments provide an objective and standardised method for evaluating candidates and employees, reducing biases in decision-making.
Legal Compliance
Using a structured assessment like SHL OPQ helps organisations ensure legal compliance in their hiring and talent management processes.
Check out the short video below to discover more insights into how employers use personality tests such as the OPQ in recruitment.
So, now that we know why employers use the SHL OPQ personality tests, how do they assess personality? Read on to find out more!
Employers will compare your OPQ profile with relevant groups, such as the ‘graduate’ or ‘managerial and professional’ comparison groups, to assess how your rankings are compared to similar individuals in the same group.
Your SHL OPQ personality test report may include the following:
Trait Scores
These include numerical ratings for various personality traits assessed, such as teamwork, leadership, motivation, and interpersonal skills. They’re usually presented on a percentile scale for comparison.
Narrative Descriptions
These provide a more in-depth understanding of your strengths and areas for improvement concerning the assessed traits.
Strengths and Development Areas
These include your strengths and improvement areas with suggestions on how to leverage or develop them.
Job Fit
Some reports provide insights into how well your personality traits align with the requirements of a specific job or role.
Interpretation and feedback
This section aims to help you understand your results, address questions, and guide personal and professional growth and is offered by career or HR professionals.
Check out a sample of our WPQ report below that can give you an idea of how the SHL Occupational Personality Questionnaire (OPQ) report may be presented.
SHL OPQ Test-Style Sample Report
The SHL OPQ report can be interpreted in the same way as our WPQ. You can interpret our WPQ report above as:
Good to Know: As shown in our example above, the SHL OPQ online assessment tests also come with their own set of authenticity measures to see how you view yourself.
Keep reading to know more about these measures!
Every SHL OPQ assessment either has a ‘social desirability scale’ or a ‘consistency scale’ at the end of the results to check if you did the test randomly or have attempted to distort it in some way.
Discover what these two SHL OPQ authenticity scales entail below.
SHL Social Desirability Scale
The SHL social desirability scale is part of OPQ32n and examines whether you responded in a socially desirable way. A highly socially desirable result may appear if you try to portray yourself in a more desirable way to the employer.
SHL Consistency Scale
The SHL consistency scale is part of the OPQ32i and OPQ32r and examines how consistently you have responded to the questions presented in the OPQ. For example, a low result will suggest the responses in the questionnaire lack consistency.
Good to Know: It’s advisable for you to retake the OPQ every 12-18 months to accommodate changes, even though most traits are likely to remain stable over time.
So how do you pass the various versions of the SHL OPQ test? Read on for our top tips to help you prepare for your next SHL OPQ online test.
Below are our top 6 OPQ tips that you can use to prepare for your next SHL OPQ online test.
Practice with Personality Tests
Practice for the SHL OPQ test with other available personality test resources to evaluate your strengths and note areas to improve from the feedback. SHL also provides an OPQ practice test that you can use via their website.
Understand the Role Requirements
Review the job description carefully to understand what the role requires. Think about the traits valued by the employer and likely to be measured with the SHL OPQ online test. It will help you respond more effectively.
Know the OPQ32 Traits and the Great Eight Competencies
Many employers who use the SHL OPQ assessment tests are aware of what it measures, hence why they have chosen it. Employers are still measuring you against the OPQ32 traits and the Great 8 competencies.
Reflect on Your Work Style
Consider how you behave at work and know your natural strengths and preferences before the test. It is very handy to reflect on your past experiences here and recollect what personality you have in work environments.
Be Honest and Consistent
The SHL OPQ tests are designed to detect inconsistencies, should you try to respond for favourable results. It is advised to keep your responses honest and consistent, as faking answers to look good can flag your profile and application.
Don’t Overthink Each Question
During the forced-choice OPQ test versions, pick the statements that truly resonate most and least with you. Overanalysing can create inconsistencies across responses.
Good to Know: After completing the SHL OPQ test, use the feedback provided by the career counsellor or HR professional to gain insights into your strengths and areas for improvement, which can benefit your future job applications.
Watch our short video below for more tips on how to pass the SHL OPQ tests.
And with that, we’ve covered all you will need to know about the SHL Occupational Personality Questionnaire!
Let’s now also uncover answers to even more top questions people ask about SHL OPQ tests!
The SHL OPQ test assessment consists of multiple-choice questions that gauge personality traits like motivation, communication, leadership potential, and problem-solving, giving employers valuable insights into your suitability for a role.
No, the SHL OPQ is a personality assessment and, as such, is not a test of knowledge or skills. Instead, it identifies your behavioural traits and how these may apply in a work-related context.
Review your provided report with your results to see your key strengths and development gaps. Discuss them with a career counsellor or HR professional, and implement their feedback to understand your strengths and areas for improvement in a work context.
As the SHL OPQ tests measure your personality, there is no ‘pass’ or ‘fail’ in the typical sense, as there are no absolute right or wrong answers. Instead, the OPQ is used to measure your job fit with the company.
As the SHL personality tests measure your traits, it’s not about studying but being familiar with the assessment format and how the traits are assessed. We recommend practising with sample questions ahead of the OPQ to feel more comfortable.
As the SHL personality tests measure your traits, it’s not about studying but being familiar with the assessment format and how the traits are assessed. We recommend practicing with sample questions ahead of the OPQ to feel more comfortable.
Do you want to pass your personality tests, first time? Take a work personality test practice with us at GF today, the only aptitude practice test expert providing practice test solutions to over 150 UK universities and their students, and also across Asia and continental Europe. Practice with peace of mind without commitment to a full 100% money-back guarantee if you do not pass your job tests*.
Do you want to pass your personality tests, first time? Take a work personality test practice with us at GF today, the only aptitude practice test expert providing practice test solutions to over 150 UK universities and their students, and also across Asia and continental Europe.
Practice with peace of mind without commitment to a full 100% money-back guarantee if you do not pass your job tests*.
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