FAQ Categories

Employment History Surveys (Biodata)

What is an Employment History Survey (Biodata) assessment?
When are these assessments appropriate to use?
How long do these assessments take?
What do the results look like and how do I interpret them?
What versions are available?
How much customization is possible?
How do I access these assessments?

What is an Employment History Survey (Biodata) assessment?

These tests use the old adage "Past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior" to determine if an employee is likely to have behavioral problems. Do they change jobs too often? Are they late for work often? Did they complete their education? These are the types of questions asked. Scores are derived from analysis of groups of answers against previous data to determine an overall "risk" level for the employee based on their past behavior.

When are these assessments appropriate to use?

Employment History Surveys or Biodata instruments are typically used for pre-screening for volume hiring situations. They are also used as part of a selection assessment battery designed to evaluate multiple dimensions of a candidate.

How long do these assessments take?

Typically, an Employment History Assessment is less than 20 questions and takes about 5 minutes to complete. The assessment is delivered online.

What do the results look like and how do I interpret them?

Candidates are placed into one of three categories, based on their responses. The catagories are: Pursue (Green), Investigate (Yellow), Use Caution (Red). This final category is reported online and via email reporting. Additionally, a full PDF report is available online. This report includes descriptive information as well as suggested interview questions designed to uncover issues and potential behavior problems before making a hiring decision. Download a sample PDF report.

What versions are available?

The standard Brainbench Employment History Survey instruments are available in an hourly and a professional version in both English and Spanish.

How much customization is possible?

It is straightforward to customize the algorithms for analyzing groups of answers following a Job Analysis for a specific job. This procedure can have a significant impact on the accuracy and value of the assessment. Contact us to learn more.

How do I access these assessments?

All of the standard Employment History Surveys are available inside your Corporate Account. Please read the Brainbench Assessment System FAQ for additional details on how to set up and access your Corporate Account.