Online assessments have become very popular within the academic world in recent years, providing convenience to students while also saving time for both parties involved in the process. There are many different types of these online assessments, with each having its own set of pros and cons. This blog post will discuss the common types of rejection emails that you might receive after writing an online assessment for a particular company.
Rejection Without Expressed Reasons
Some companies will simply reject your application without expressing any reasons behind their decision. This could potentially leave you guessing as to why you were not accepted, or it may even mean that you did not meet the minimum criteria for the position. In any case, you do not need to worry about these types of companies because it is fairly common for their automated rejection emails to simply state that your application was not accepted for the current opening.
If, however, you are applying for a position at a company that values transparency, it would be beneficial to receive a rejection letter detailing the reasons for the decision. Sometimes it can be difficult to discern whether or not a company values your abilities based on the hiring practices of that company, so it is critical that you examine their letters carefully. Not only will this make you a more suitable candidate for jobs at that company, but it will also allow you to continue pursuing your studies in a field that you are passionate about.
Multiple Choice Questions
Multiple choice questions are all the rage when it comes to online assessment forms, and for good reason. Not only do they save you the time and effort of writing out lengthy essays, but they also allow for more flexibility when it comes to the hiring process. If a company values your time, they may choose to ignore your application and simply choose another candidate.
The downside to multiple choice questions is that they can be very difficult to score, especially if you do not possess perfect grammar and spelling skills. Many times, you will need to enlist the help of someone to score your paper for you, which, although does not take too much time, can still be considered a rather tedious and time-consuming process. Furthermore, there is the issue of bias; the assessor is typically not going to give you an unbiased view of the company’s hiring process.
The good thing about multiple choice questions is that they are incredibly flexible; you can use them for any type of job application, not just for academic positions. If a company values your creativity, they may choose to overlook your imperfect grammar skills and allow you to shine in your writing instead.
Short-Answer Questions
Short-answer questions are, in many ways, similar to multiple choice questions. However, instead of choosing between several pre-written answers, you are given a short space in which to provide your own response. While this may not seem like a difficult task, you must ensure that your answer is concise and to the point, or you may risk being eliminated from further consideration in the hiring process. Not only does a short-answer question save the company the time and effort that would have been required to produce a longer, more detailed answer, but it also allows them to choose another candidate if you fail to impress them.
The downside to short-answer questions is fairly self-evident; you are only given a small space in which to provide a response, so it is difficult to do so while maintaining complete coherence. You must ensure that your answer makes complete sense in the context of the question, and that your English is of a sufficient quality for a professional setting.
Long Essay Questions
Long essay questions are, in many ways, the opposite of short-answer questions. With a long essay question, you are given sufficient space that allows you to elaborate on your response in great depth. Not only does this provide the company with more information about you, but it also allows you to shine as a writer. If a company values quality, original content and is looking for an applicant who can produce exceptional material, they may choose to overlook your lack of punctuation and spelling mistakes.
The downside to long essay questions is, of course, that you are not given a limited space in which to provide your response. If you are not able to express yourself in full within the allotted timeframe, you risk being eliminated from further consideration in the hiring process. Not only does this waste your own time, but it can also cause you to rush your response, which often leads to sloppy writing and poor communication skills.
Applicant Tracking System (ATS)
Applicant tracking systems (ATS) are commonly used when it comes to academic jobs because they make the process of applying for multiple positions much easier. When you register for an ATS, you are given a unique login and password that allow you to search for available positions that suit your qualifications. You can apply for exactly as many positions as you want without having to go through tedious application processes, and you can also create a profile that is specific to a certain company or institution. The most popular ATS’s are D-ExA-MATIC and Varsity Tutor.
The downside to ATS’s is that they are designed to make your life simpler, which can, in turn, make you less prepared for the job search process. ATS’s make the process of applying for jobs much easier by taking the stress out of the process. However, as with any other convenience tool, you must be careful not to overextend yourself and put yourself in potential harm’s way. For example, if you apply for a job at a company that you know is unethical or unscrupulous, it would be a bad idea to use an ATS for that particular application.
As you can see, there are many different types of rejection emails that you might receive after writing an online assessment. Be sure to keep this in mind as you move through the application process, and try your best to limit the amount of stress that you go through while also maintaining a positive attitude.