Why do some employers do pre-employment testing?

Answer 1

Primarily, the employer is making sure they are getting what they need in the potential employee. They are no different, in this respect, than any other consumer. They will be spending a lot of money (salary, training, licensing, etc.) for this new employee and they want to be as sure as possible that they are getting what they're paying for. Pre-employment testing helps the employer ensure that the applicant is smart enough to perform the required tasks of the job (you wouldn't want Forrest Gump operating a nuclear reactor at a power-plant, right?). They need to be sure the applicant is also physically capable of performing the job (ex. quadraplegics cannot be safe, effective fire-fighters). Can the applicant type, walk up stairs or a ladder, can they speak English fluently, etc? These are some, but certainly not all, of the aspects employers need and want to explore in the hiring process. While pre-employment testing primarily protects the employer, it is just as important for the applicant. It would be a waste for someone to invest effort, time and, possibly, one's own money, to prepare for the duties of a new job, only to discover one is incapable of performing the assigned tasks and, hence, doomed to fail.