Prison Officer Test

When looking to fill a prison officer position, it's important to make sure that the candidate has the skills necessary to do the job. A prison officer skills test can help ensure that the candidate is a good fit for the position.

  • What is a prison officer skills test?

    Prison officers are an essential part of the law enforcement system, and the prison officer skills test is an assessment that is designed to be used early in the recruitment process to ensure that the candidates chosen for the role have the necessary skills, aptitudes, and competencies to be successful in the long term as a prison officer.

    The test has been created to be completed by the candidate at home and in their own time, which makes it easy for the recruitment team to administer it to a large number of applicants.

    The results of the assessment can be used by the recruitment team to choose only the best candidates to take further into the application princess, making it more streamlined, efficient, and cheaper.

Jump to a section on this page:

  1. What is a prison officer skills test?
  2. What are the benefits of using the prison officer skills test for pre-screening?
  3. How our test measures prison officer skills
  4. Prison Officer Test FAQs

Identify the best candidates and hire faster

Our pre-employment tests let you drill down to the best candidates at the click of a button.

  • Find those candidates who will excel in the role.

    Select the assessments that match the skills or behaviours for the position. You can test for software or coding competency, soft skills like teamwork, or personality traits, to be sure those who pass have high potential.

  • Reduce costs and time.

    No more laborious sifting of resumes or cover letters. Pick your ideal assessment mix, invite your applicants to take them, see the results in your dashboard. Get to the interview stage fast.

  • Eliminate bias.

    All your candidates take the assessments on a level playing field. Only their results determine whether they get shortlisted.

  • What are the benefits of using the prison officer skills test for pre-screening?

    Prison officers are responsible for keeping prisoners safe and performing security checks and searches. They need to supervise prisoners and their visitors, prevent disturbances and monitor work assignments.

    While there is no specific education or qualifications that are required for prison officers, candidates will need to pass specific medical and fitness tests and complete the Prison Officer Entry Level Training. For recruiters looking at applicants, finding the candidates who will be able to apply different skills to the role is important - and that is what the prison officer skills test is designed to do.

    The questions in the prison officer skills test are focused on specific skills, including interpersonal skills like leadership, communication, and teamwork. They need to be able to make quick decisions and solve problems, with empathy and cultural awareness. Prison officers have to be accountable with high levels of personal integrity and resilience.

    Every candidate for the role is faced with the same questions on the prison officer skills assessment, and this means that the results of the assessment avoid any sort of conscious or unconscious bias - they all have the same opportunity to demonstrate their abilities, no matter their background. For the recruitment team, the results of the assessment can be used as reliable and quantifiable data to choose the candidates that have the best chance of success in the future.

    Using the prison officer skills test as a simple step in the recruitment process makes filtering through a large candidate pool more straightforward and efficient, saving time and money while reducing the risk of a bad hire.

    Other roles that could use this test include:

More Job Skills Tests

How our test measures prison officer skills

Test questions are designed to assess industry-specific technical skills, soft skills, aptitude and suitable personality dimensions. Our data-driven approach provides results that enable you to determine how suited is a candidate for the role.

Depending on the type of question, the format of the test may vary. Multiple-choice questions are used to measure aptitude, technical skills and soft skills, while agreement on a Likert scale assesses suitable personality dimensions. Skills tests ensure that candidates are being evaluated in a precise and impartial manner, their results demonstrating the true knowledge and potential of each test taker.

The characteristics required to be a prison officer were determined by looking at the skills and abilities listed in the US Department of Labor’s O*NET database, which collects data from professionals in various fields.

O*NET is the largest database of its kind, providing detailed information about occupations and the requirements for each role.

Our team of I/O psychologists and psychometrics worked closely with subject-matter experts to create an extensive question bank that can be used to test multiple candidates. We also conducted rigorous field testing with a representative sample of candidates to ensure that the questions were reliable and valid.

Test scores are averaged together to give an overall score. The average score is compared to other candidates' scores to ensure there is no bias toward certain candidates.

Our prison officer test is constantly updated and optimized to ensure the best experience and results.

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Validated

Predictor of job success

Picked provides evidence-based recommendations for tests to use for over 750 jobs. Our recommendation engine leverages data from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA).

  • Assessments

    A full suite of assessments

    Our platform comes with 12 tests across both foundation and advanced levels so they’re suitable for everyone. Including aptitude, behavioural and personality tests, you’ll have a full range of tests to help you find the candidates you’re seeking.

  • Analytics

    An array of candidate metrics

    For each of your candidates, you’ll be given a comprehensive report. Included will be all the metrics you need to build a detailed picture of each candidate and ensure you’re making the right hiring decisions.

“The platform is so simple to use. I had used competitor providers for over six years and will never go back. Fast, efficient and friendly!”
Greg Chambers, HR Business Partner, Littlefish Ltd
Greg Chambers, HR Business Partner, Littlefish Ltd

Prison Officer Test FAQs

What skills are required to be a prison officer?

Prison officers need to be able to work well under pressure, and demonstrate leadership and teamwork skills. They also need to be able to communicate with empathy and make decisions, as well as show that they have a high level of personal integrity and resilience.

What other tests can I use to hire a prison officer?

Prison officers will need to have a high level of skills in certain areas, such as interpersonal skills, time management and accountability, which recruiters might want to focus on with other tests. Personality tests are also useful to assess culture fit, drives, and preferences.

Can I see what the test is like?

Yes, of course. You can try the test for free by signing up for a free trial.

Are these tests available in my plan?

We have a range of plans available. The difference between the plans is the number of test attempts permitted, not the type of tests. All our plans include our full test suite comprising all tests and all levels.

“An unbeatable service, impressive platform and fantastic value for money.”
Laurence Fishman, Partner, NLPCA
Laurence Fishman, Partner, NLPCA

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