Benchmark Questionnaire

To facilitate an accurate comparison of your candidate to the desirable traits for a specific job, please answer the following questions using the job description and/or job functions as a guide. For each question, please choose the one response which best describes the requirements for that particular trait in the job. If an aptitude or trait is not relevant or important for success in the job, leave that section blank.

Please begin by entering the job title. ___________________ Date ____________

Company Name ________________________________________________

Sixteen questions follow. Please circle the one response for each question which is appropriate for the job.

WHAT MENTAL CAPACITY DOES THE JOB REQUIRE? (Complete only if important to job.)

1. Job involves routine, repetitive and standardized tasks which do not require a great deal of mental capacity to complete.
   
2. Job has specific guidelines and procedures but also requires an individual with good thinking and decision making ability to handle situations not covered by the guidelines.
   
3. Job requires an individual with fast learning speed, the ability to quickly understand new information, mentally process it and make decisions as to how to apply the information.

1. Job requires a limited knowledge of common business vocabulary.
   
2. Job requires some communication using common business vocabulary.
   
3. Job requires an excellent knowledge and understanding of business vocabulary.
   
4. Job requires no knowledge of business vocabulary.

1. Job requires a limited awareness and understanding of current events, issues and competitive trends.
   
2. Job requires the ability to communicate and be knowledgeable of current events, issues and competitive trends.
   
3. Job requires an excellent awareness of current events, issues and competitive trends.
   
4. Job requires no awareness of current events, issues or competitive trends.

1. Job requires a knowledge of general English vocabulary only to the extent necessary to understand instructions and directions.
   
2. Job requires an average knowledge and understanding of general English vocabulary.
   
3. Job requires good comprehensive ability and use of general English vocabulary for communication at the executive or professional level.
   

1. Accuracy in working with facts, figures, symbols and detail is not required by the job.
   
2. Job requires an average ability to accurately and quickly work with figures, symbols and numbers.
   
3. Job requires a strong ability to accurately and quickly work with numbers, symbols and signs.
   

1. Job requires a limited interest in learning about and working with mechanical devices.
   
2. Job requires an average interest in learning about and working with mechanical devices.
   
3. Job requires a strong interest in learning about and working with mechanical devices.
   
4. Job does not require any mechanical aptitude.
   

1. Job requires continuous mobility and activity.
   
2. Job requires considerable activity, yet the ability to remain in a given location for extended periods is necessary.
   
3. Job requires a calm person who must work in a location for considerable periods with little physical activity.
   
4. Level of energy and drive is irrelevant to this job.
   

1. Job provides an unstructured environment requiring a highly flexible individual able to easily adapt to changing circumstances and work without guidelines to follow. Integrity/security issues are not a concern.
   
2. Job provides guidelines and requires an individual who will follow them, but also requires someone with enough flexibility to react when circumstances deviate from the norm.
   
3. Job is highly structured requiring that guidelines be followed exactly. The ability to quickly adapt to new circumstances is not necessary.
   
4. Degree of flexibility is irrelevant to this job.
   

1. Job functions include an erratic schedule in which improvisation and spontaneity are expected. A high degree of organization is not required.
   
2. Job requires that a reasonable amount of time be spent planning and organizing, but the ability to change schedules on short notice is necessary.
   
3. Job requires a high degree of organization.
   
4. Degree of organization is irrelevant to this job.
   

1. Job involves working alone with little interaction with others.
   
2. Job requires someone who is comfortable working alone, but also has the ability to interact well with others.
   
3. Job requires an individual who is highly gregarious.
   
4. Level of personal interaction is irrelevant to this job.
   

1. Job does not require patience or a strong ego.
   
2. Job requires some patience and moderate ego strength.
   
3. Job requires someone with a good self concept and a high level of patience.
   
4. Level of patience and ego strength is irrelevant to this job.
   

1. Job requires someone who prefers to be supervised, given instructions and not expected to assert themselves or give directions to others.
   
2. Job requires the ability to take directions from others, yet also be able to give directions and be results oriented.
   
3. Job requires someone who is very assertive and results oriented.
   
4. Level of assertiveness is irrelevant to this job.
   

1. Job requires someone who enjoys a team environment and will not compete at the expense of the team.
   
2. Job requires an individual who will be a team player, but also desires to excel on a personal basis.
   
3. Job requires an individual who thrives on individual competition in an environment in which team work is not the norm.
   
4. Competition on an individual basis is irrelevant to this job.
   

1. Job does not involve much pressure or stress and requires someone who is sensitive and empathetic.
   
2. Job requires someone who can handle some pressure, stress, criticism or rejection.
   
3. Job requires an individual who can handle a great deal of stress, pressure, criticism, rejection or difficult working conditions.
   
4. Degree of emotional strength is irrelevant to this job.
   

1. Job requires someone who is trusting and accepting, with little desire to question.
   
2. Job requires someone who can analyze information and raise questions to determine appropriate action.
   
3. Job requires someone who is skeptical and suspicious, frequently questioning matters.
   
4. A need to question matters is not required in this job.
   

1. Job requires an individual who desires job security, a steady compensation and benefits plan, and little need for growth opportunities or change.
   
2. Job requires an individual with some need for job security, but one who also wants opportunities to earn recognition, additional compensation etc.
   
3. Job requires an individual who is highly achievement, recognition and incentive oriented who thrives on challenge and new opportunities.
   

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