What a technical test is in hiring
Brief definition of a technical test: it measures concrete knowledge and skills of a role, not general reasoning or personality. Kokoro glossary.
A technical test measures the concrete knowledge and skills a role demands: a tool, a language, a piece of software, a regulation. Unlike a cognitive test—which measures general reasoning—the technical one verifies what the person already knows or knows how to do in a specific domain.
Quick definition
- What it measures: specific knowledge or skill for the job (languages, software, regulations, trades).
- What it doesn’t measure: general reasoning, personality or fit with the team.
- When it’s used: when the role demands a verifiable area of expertise.
How it’s used in hiring
A technical test confirms a concrete level, but on its own it says little about how the person works. It works best combined with a cognitive measure and the role’s behavioral competencies, each contributing a layer: how intelligence, competencies and technical skill combine. In specialized profiles, that combination is clear in how to combine tests for an IT technician.
The difference with the reasoning layer lies in what a cognitive test is.
See the technical and language tests in the catalog and how they combine.
Explorar la bibliotecaIn summary
A technical test verifies the concrete knowledge and skills of a role, not general reasoning or personality. It’s a layer that combines with others depending on what the role needs and never replaces the interview. At Kokoro it’s an input for the team’s judgment: browse the library or see how Kokoro supports the decision.