Most employers are using pre-employment screening as a way to avoid hiring employees who are not suitable for the job. The tests that employers are using for job hiring include skill tests, aptitude tests, psychological tests, personality tests, medical tests, and drug tests.

The kinds of tests that employers are allowed to conduct as part of the job screening process are governed by State and Federal laws. Employers need to check with State agencies and the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act before adding the tests as part of the job screening process.

In all pre employment screening, employers need to take care to avoid discriminating against applicants with disabilities. Pre employment screening tests should be designed in such a way that they do not enhance the disability of an applicant.

To ensure this, employers should ensure that pre employment screening tests do not emphasize physical or mental disabilities. Employers are expected to accommodate within reasonable limits persons with disabilities. In addition applicant screening tests should also be designed according to the job position.

Some employers ate use written tests for job screening purposes. The purpose of these tests is to eliminate candidates who do not have the skill or the required aptitude for the job.

Some employers also create screening tests to gain insight into applicant's general abilities, personality, and/or psyche. However, employers need to be careful when designing personality tests. The questions should be carefully worded to avoid any potential lawsuits.

Employers who decide to use tests for applicant screening should ensure that the tests are screened scientifically for validity and content. Employers need to make sure that the tests correlate to necessary job skills.

A lot of employers are beginning to conduct medical tests and drug tests as part of the job screening process. However, these tests need to be used with caution. Employers should check on the regulations in their state before requesting these tests as part of the applicant screening process.

The laws on drug testing vary widely from state to state. Some states allow them only for jobs involving public safety; some states allow them only for drivers; some states allow them for any occupation; some states don't allow them at all. Before requiring an applicant to take a drug test, employers need to learn the rules.