Landing a job in today’s competitive market often requires having specific skills and qualifications. Many companies are now using LinkedIn skills assessments as a way to vet candidates and validate their knowledge and abilities. If you want to stand out from other applicants, performing well on these assessments is key.
But how should you prepare for a LinkedIn skills assessment? Here are some tips to help you succeed:
Know What Skills Will Be Tested
LinkedIn allows companies to choose from over 140 different skills when creating an assessment. These skills range from project management and data analysis to sales and marketing. The first step is to find out which skills will be tested for the job or internship you’re applying for. Sometimes the job description will list the required assessments. If not, ask the recruiter or hiring manager to provide details on which skills will be evaluated.
Take LinkedIn’s Practice Tests
Once you know what skills will be tested, take advantage of LinkedIn’s practice tests. LinkedIn provides free sample assessments for over 15 different skills. The practice tests give you exposure to the types of questions you’ll encounter on the actual exam. You can take each practice test as many times as you want.
Study Relevant Learning Resources
LinkedIn curates a list of learning resources for each of their skills assessments. These include LinkedIn Learning courses, articles, videos, live streams, and more. Spend time studying the recommended resources to brush up on your knowledge. Focus on the resources that are most relevant to the skills being tested.
Learn the Exam Format and Scoring
It’s important to understand the exam format and scoring methodology when preparing. LinkedIn skills assessments typically contain around 25 multiple choice questions and must be completed within 20-30 minutes. The passing score varies but is usually over 70%. Some exams may have hands-on project components as well. Knowing the format ahead of time allows you to practice timed test conditions.
Practice Answering Multiple Choice Questions
Most LinkedIn skills assessments rely predominantly on multiple choice questions. Practice answering multiple choice questions about the relevant skills to prepare. If possible, use flashcards or practice tests that mimic the functionality of LinkedIn’s exam interface. Understanding how to approach and analyze multiple choice questions will be invaluable.
Team Up with Coworkers
If your coworkers have taken LinkedIn skills assessments before, ask them for advice and insight. They may be able to provide tips on certain question formats or share resources that helped them prepare. Consider forming a study group and quiz each other on key concepts. Teaching and explaining ideas to others is a great way to solidify your own knowledge.
Focus on Your Weaker Areas
Take practice tests and quizzes to identify areas where your knowledge is lacking. Everyone has weaker skills, so it’s important to identify them and spend extra time bringing them up. Ask a mentor or expert to suggest additional resources to strengthen your skills gaps. Aim to elevate your weak areas before exam day.
Summarize and Memorize Key Concepts
LinkedIn skills assessments evaluate your ability to recall and apply knowledge. Spend time summarizing key concepts related to the skills being tested. Create flashcards or a study guide to refer to. Repetition and memorization of important material will help you commit the knowledge to memory.
Get Plenty of Rest Before the Exam
Don’t underestimate the importance of being well rested before the assessment. Fatigue and burnout can negatively impact your ability to recall information. In the days leading up to the exam, make sure to get enough sleep and take breaks between intense study sessions. Eat healthy foods and drink plenty of water as well.
Read All Instructions Carefully
Before starting the actual skills assessment, carefully read all instructions provided. Understand how many questions there are, if there is a time limit, how to navigate between questions, and how scoring works. You don’t want to lose points simply because you didn’t understand the instructions properly.
Manage Your Time Wisely
Most LinkedIn skills assessments are timed, usually between 20-30 minutes. This means you need to work efficiently and maintain your pacing. Don’t get bogged down on any single question. If you’re stuck, flag it and come back later. Managing your time effectively will ensure you get to answer all of the questions.
Carefully Read Each Question
Read each question slowly and carefully before looking at the answer choices. Be sure you understand exactly what the question is asking. If you misread a question, it’s easy to select the wrong answer. Don’t make assumptions and don’t read anything extra into the question.
Watch for Key Words
The way questions are worded can provide hints or clues. Watch for key words like “best”, “most likely”, “least”, etc. Also pay attention to words like “not” and “except” which can completely change the meaning. Read every word carefully and look for these clues.
Use the Process of Elimination
For questions where you’re uncertain between a few options, use the process of elimination. Read through each choice systematically and look for reasons to cross off incorrect answers. This will leave you with fewer options and a greater chance of selecting the right one. Even if you aren’t sure of the exact answer, you can improve your odds.
Trust Your Instincts
In most cases, your first choice is likely the right one. Don’t second guess yourself unnecessarily or change an answer without a strong rationale. Overthinking often leads to errors. unless you have a very compelling reason to change your mind, trust your initial instincts.
Check Answers Before Submission
Take the last few minutes before the time expires to quickly review your answers. Make sure you answered every question and double check any you were unsure about. Catching even a few careless mistakes can help boost your score. This last-minute verification can make a big difference.
Don’t Stress Too Much
It’s natural to feel nervous taking an assessment, but don’t stress yourself out too much. Treat it like any other test you’ve taken in the past. Stay calm, be prepared, and have confidence in yourself. Getting extremely anxious can sabotage your performance. Just take a few deep breaths and do your best.
Conclusion
With the right preparation strategy, you can excel at your LinkedIn skills assessment. Take practice tests, study recommended resources, focus on weaker areas, memorize key facts, and carefully manage your time. Following these tips will help ensure you have the knowledge and confidence to successfully pass your skills assessment. With hard work and dedication, you’ll be ready to showcase your abilities and stand out from the competition.
