Being cognizant means having knowledge about a particular skill or subject. A cognizant interview process is used to gauge the cognitive abilities and knowledge levels a candidate has in comparison to job requirements. The process usually involves three steps and can be very intensive, depending on the employer's skill requirements. The steps include an aptitude test, a technical interview and a human resources interview. To successfully complete a cognizant interview process, first make sure you are qualified for the positions that interest you.
Fitness for Job Duty
Aptitude tests are used to assess the suitability of a job seeker to a job. Many jobs require general intelligence and abilities such as judgment, reasoning skills, problem solving skills, the ability to learn and strategic thinking abilities. Aptitude tests are designed to assess these type of skills with general questions covering numerical, verbal and logic aptitudes. Aptitude tests are timed and scoring is based on the premise that each question has only one correct answer.
Technical Savvy
Whatever job you interview for, technical questions will be part of the process. Prospective employers want to know that you can handle the technical responsibilities the job requires. Typical technical questions center around practical and procedural skills sets. For instance, if a job involves heavy skills in information technology systems, a technical question the interviewer may ask you is to describe how you would resolve a specific IT issue pertinent to company operations.
All About You
The human resources portion of the cognizant interview process focuses more on the professional goals of a candidate. Questions are asked to find out why a candidate wants to work for the company, why they would be a good fit and why they should be hired over others. Sample questions to expect include “Tell me about your greatest strengths and weaknesses,” and “Tell me about a major accomplishment achieved in your last job.” Be prepared to tout your achievements and discuss how you can be a company asset.
How to Succeed
The best way to succeed in a cognizant or any interview process is to be prepared. As a job seeker, you must be honest about your skills, knowledge and experience. Then you should search and apply for jobs where your qualifications match the job requirements. To polish your interview skills, know as much information about the company offering the job and rehearse answers to common interview questions. To bolster aptitude readiness, use available resources to take advantage of practice aptitude tests.
References
- Entrance Exam: Cognizant Placement Preparation Tips and Placement Process
- Institute of Psychometric Coaching: How to prepare for your Aptitude tests
- Institute of Psychometric Coaching: The comprehensive Psychometric testing guide - aptitude and personality testing
- First Round Captital: The Anatomy of the Perfect Technical Interview from a Former Amazon VP
- The Mayo Clinic: Preparing for an Interview
Writer Bio
Deb Dupree has been an active writer throughout her career in the corporate world and in public service since 1982. She has written numerous corporate and educational documents including project reports, procedures and employee training programs. She has a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from the University of Tennessee.