How do you get ready for analytical skills assessments?
Analytical skills are the ability to collect, process, and interpret data to solve problems, make decisions, and communicate effectively. They are essential for many roles, especially in fields like science, engineering, business, and finance. If you are applying for a job that requires analytical skills, you may have to take an assessment to demonstrate your abilities and potential. How do you get ready for such a challenge? Here are some tips to help you prepare and ace your analytical skills assessment.
The first step is to understand why you are taking the assessment and what it will measure. Analytical skills assessments can have different purposes, such as screening candidates, evaluating current employees, or providing feedback and training. They can also vary in format, such as multiple-choice, short-answer, essay, or case study. Some assessments may focus on specific skills, such as numerical reasoning, logical thinking, or data analysis, while others may test a combination of skills. You should research the purpose and format of the assessment you will take and familiarize yourself with the instructions, scoring, and time limit.
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You must go into listening mode. Talk to your customer and explore their question rather than what they’ve asked you for. You may end up there but by taking that step backwards you will be able to get to the real issue they are grappling with. In many situations I’ve found the project had gone in a completely different direction to what we expected before those conversations.
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Defining Clear Objective & Planning Lets begin with the basics 1. Feasibility 2. Understanding Market Dynamic 3. Is there a clear demand of the product/service I'm trying to bring to this market 4. Customer Persona 5. USP I'm from healthcare industry, so quoting an example of opening, say a 50 bedded super specialized hospital. Depending upon the market analysis and customer persona, I can zero in from the available options of Service delivery, they can be uniquely personalized to each patient like they do for Uncompromized Customer Pull strategy of Hospitality industry. A Maternity Center is the ideal situation to work towards Customer delight.
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It could be a written exam, a case study, a data analysis task, or a combination of different types of questions. Knowing the structure of the assessment will help you tailor your preparation accordingly.
The next step is to review the concepts and skills that are relevant to the assessment and the role you are applying for. For example, if you are taking a numerical reasoning test, you should refresh your knowledge of basic math, statistics, and graphs. If you are taking a logical thinking test, you should practice identifying patterns, sequences, and relationships. If you are taking a data analysis test, you should review how to use tools like Excel, SQL, or Python. You can find online resources, books, or courses to help you review and improve your analytical skills.
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All relevant concepts should be broken down to clear short term goals and objectives. For example Increasing total no. of patient visits in my clinic. 1. Check process capacity 2. Identify deviations in form of TAT's 3. Highlight bottlenecks 4. How to remove those bottlenecks 5. What are the tools required 6. Can a manually driven system be automated 7. Innovative thinking It could be as basic a thought as automation of manual appointment system changed to token system for doctor visit. Integration of MIS with appointment system is the key which might not be existing
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You should also consider R as it's a powerful programming language and software environment commonly used for data analysis, statistics, and data visualization. If the role or assessment involves data analysis or working with statistical data, having proficiency in R can be a significant advantage.
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This may include statistical methods, data visualization, hypothesis testing, regression analysis, and other relevant topics depending on the nature of the assessment.
The best way to get ready for an analytical skills assessment is to practice with sample questions and tests that are similar to the ones you will face. This will help you familiarize yourself with the types of questions, the level of difficulty, and the time pressure. It will also help you identify your strengths and weaknesses and improve your accuracy and speed. You can find sample questions and tests online, or ask your employer or recruiter for some examples. You should practice regularly and review your answers and mistakes.
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'What Ifs' and contingency plans are also necessary. Outliers can provide useful insights. The findings though uncommon, do not mean that they are impossible occurrences.
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Seek out sample analytical skills questions or past assessment papers if available. Work through these questions to get a sense of the types of problems you might encounter and to improve your problem-solving abilities.
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Seek out sample analytical skills questions or past assessment papers if available. Work through these questions to get a sense of the types of problems you might encounter and to improve your problem-solving abilities.
The final step is to plan your strategy and mindset for the day of the assessment. You should plan how to manage your time, how to approach each question, and how to check your work. You should also prepare yourself mentally and emotionally for the challenge. You should be confident in your abilities, but also realistic about your expectations. You should be calm, focused, and positive, but also flexible and adaptable to different situations. You should also take care of your physical health and well-being, such as getting enough sleep, eating well, and staying hydrated.
Analytical skills assessments can be daunting, but with proper preparation and practice, you can show your potential and impress your employer. Follow these tips and you will be ready to ace your analytical skills assessment.
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Data speaks for itself once properly analysed. This is a key indicator to showcase where the change should be made if needed... how should it be done is again our critical thinking and innovation.
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Regardless of AI and Chatgpt, analytical skills and need for astute analysts are here to stay. It takes years of experience, judgement and analytical skills to identify hidden risks in corporate finance transactions, costing and due diligence of complex programs and projects. Always, good to exercise a dose of healthy skepticism, look for benchmarks and build your own analytical models. Ram Mathilakath [email protected]
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Read books and articles that take a really hard look at data. This will train your mind to look beyond the obvious, distinguish correlation and causality, and watch out for cognitive biases. Examples are: - Freakonomics - Predictably Irrational - Thinking, fast and slow
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Remember that improving analytical skills takes time and effort, so start your preparation early and consistently work on enhancing your abilities. With dedication and practice, you can significantly improve your performance in analytical skills assessments. Good luck!
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In my experience, you should consider practicing with real Data Scenarios: If the role involves working with data analysis, consider using real or realistic datasets in the assessment. This approach will allow you to demonstrate your ability to work with authentic data and draw meaningful insights.
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Seek Feedback: If possible, get feedback on your practice assessments from mentors, instructors, or colleagues. Constructive feedback can help you identify areas of improvement. Stay Calm and Focused: On the day of the assessment, stay calm and focused. Read the questions carefully, and allocate your time wisely among different tasks.
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