Our response to you is long overdue.

Colin, JvR did not immediately respond to your comments because of the complexity of the situation at that time. JvR as a member of the executive of ATP SA, disagreed with the way in which the court case had come about and clearly voiced our concerns within ATP. We felt so strongly about this issue that we resigned from the executive of ATP before our posting on this site. We believed at that time – and we still do, that ATP SA could have a very important and constructive role to play within our SA context. At this time, we are still a member of ATP SA but are no longer on the executive and have no decision making power and little or no insight as to the decisions made by the executive.

We understand Anneline’s experience of Psychometrists finding it very difficult to secure appropriate employment. At JvR we currently employ 13 full time Psychometrists. We also offer between two and four paid internship positions annually, depending on economic conditions. We wonder however, how we could further support the South African Psychometrists to be able to secure the positions that they are qualified for. We would really appreciate your views and feedback in this regard!

Susan’s experience is absolutely unacceptable! JvR is trying to secure a meeting with the HPCSA at the moment and we will definitely take your letter with us and make the HPCSA aware of these kinds of dilemmas. Susan, you should also seriously consider laying a complaint with the Association of Personnel Service Organisations (APSO) (e-mail: agnes@apso.co.za ), the HPCSA (Mr E Chanza tel: 012 338 9339 and e-mail: emmanuelc@hpcsa.co.za) as well as the distributors of the PPA (PPI?) and the DISC. The Wonderlick is a very well known international assessment and we believe they may be distributing into South Africa without realizing the possible misuse of their test(s). They will be absolutely shocked to hear of this incident. We know the people at Wonderlick and we are sending them a letter of serious concern about this issue. The handwriting sample as part of a selection process we will not comment on!

JvR is absolutely committed to maintaining the integrity of our discipline (Psychology) and do everything possible to ensure national and international best practice in everything we do.

Thank you for taking the time to voice your concerns and we are eagerly awaiting your feedback.

Kind regards/ Vriendelike groete
Dr. Jopie de Beer
Managing Director: Jopie van Rooyen and Partners

I must tell you that I was most disheartened when I applied for a post as a recruitment consultant with Cozens in Tygervalley. I arrived there, knowing that I would do psychometric tests. Lo and behold, there reception room, with a lounge suite on one side, does not have a loooong bench with a row of office chairs, and a couple of computers. I realised the poor souls sitting there were doing tests. The buzzer went off on the reception desk, and the receptionist got up, and went to fetch a test that a test taker was doing. I wanted to walk out there and then and tell them I was going to report the goings-on in the office of Cozens recruitment agency.

I decided to humour them and actually see what tests I would do, go through the process and see what happens. I began my test which was a mixture of verbal and numerical reasoning, to have buzzers going off, the guy next to me stank like an ashtry and kept sniffing, the telephones were ringing, consultants coming to talk to testees and talking to each other. I completed the tests, two of which I did not know what the heck they were – Cozens heading, and a stupid test as far as I am concerned. I was told I was doing the following: PPI, Wonderlink, Diskus and a handwriting test. In my handwriting test, I stated how dissatisfied and dismayed I was with the testing procedure and questioned the qualifications of the administrator.

I was told that when I had completed my tests, should I ‘pass the grade’ on these, I would go through for an interview. That was on the Monday. Thursday I get a call to ask me to come in for an interview the next day. I had things to do and so I stalled them. Late yesterday, a week later, they phone me to ask when they can meet with me. I told them I had another job thank you.

I cannot express my concern for the poor souls trying to concentrate amidst all that noise. I think some psychometric companies will do whatever it takes for sales, bugger the ethics, which is why I support Psychtech whole-heartedly in opposition to the administration of testing under these conditions. How can someone nervous of an interview, trying to concentrate with stinky people, telephones ringing, people talking loudly etc concentrate???? It is rediculous to say the least, and I am not afraid to state which company is guilty as I myself did the test, exprienced it for myself, and for that reason,will never step into another recruitment agency as a job candidate.

Every code of ethics was violated as far as I am concerned, and I feel sad for people who genuinely wasted 2 hours of their time on paperwork that is essentially meaningless in the true psychometric essense. I am disgusted at recruitment agencies that practice this type of testing, and will be highly disappointed of JVR, the HPCSA and others if they condone this type of behaviour. I suggest that the HPCSA start sending out pseudo job hunters to these recruitment agencies and experience the horror for themselves. Should you wish to send my letter to anyone of any authority who will actually listen, you are more than welcome.

Regards
Susan Smith
PMT0078921