Pre-Employment Tests For General and Operations Managers
Top Skills and Abilities:
- Oral Expression
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Oral Comprehension
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
Top 3 Tasks:
- Oversee activities directly related to making products or providing services.
- Direct and coordinate activities of businesses or departments concerned with the production, pricing, sales, or distribution of products.
- Review financial statements, sales and activity reports, and other performance data to measure productivity and goal achievement and to determine areas needing cost reduction and program improvement.
Overview
While CEOs establish the overall vision of a company, general and operations managers make sure that the vision comes to fruition. They are among the most powerful and highly-paid executives in a company, coordinating with other top associates to move the organization forward. Their administrative tasks include overseeing day-to-day operations, allocating company resources, and devising policies--in short, they are responsible for all of the necessary decisions that are too general to be limited to a specific department. Specific responsibilities are dependent on the company's needs. Most general managers possess at least a bachelor's degree, with many carrying MBAs or other advanced credentials.
Requirements
The nature of the job requires operations managers to be well-versed both in the fine details of the company's work and the overarching corporate vision. Most importantly, they need to have the decision-making acumen necessary to carry out the company's goals. Business expertise and leadership experience are vital requirements for managers. If hiring managers are seeking candidates from outside of the company, it is crucial to ensure that the applicant's personality is the right fit for the company’s culture. If the hiring process is internal, hiring managers should establish that the applicant can thrive under the pressures of the job and has the skill set to succeed in the position.
Assessments for General and Operations Managers
Aptitude tests can be utilized to assist the hiring process, evaluating an individual's ability to think critically, solve problems, as well as absorb and apply new information — imperative skills for this position. The Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test (CCAT) has been shown to be an effective predictor of performance for such positions, and employers often pair it with a personality test such as the Employee Personality Profile (EPP). The EPP is a general personality inventory that measures twelve personality traits that provide valuable insights into a person's work styles and how they are likely to interact with co-workers, management, and customers.
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Source: U.S. Department of Labor