Most companies and employers don’t appreciate that HR management has a huge responsibility to appoint the best person for any opening. To ensure they have hired the best candidates, HR must-have tools and tests to assess their potential candidates.

One such tool is the pre-employment medicals; these tests are designed to assess both the physical and mental capacity of the candidates.

Here’s all you need to know about pre-employment medicals. 

What Do Pre-Employment Medical Assessments Involve?

Pre-employment medicals are highly recommended tests performed under medical personnel’s keen supervision. The health worker is on-site to ensure all test requirements are met without bias.

These tests may vary depending on the company, job position, and the industry conducting the interviews. However, the following tests are typically a part of the pre-employment medicals. 

Pre-Employment Medicals

Medical Record

Whether you have maintained a medical record or not, you will be thoroughly interviewed regarding your medical history. This may include questions regarding your past injuries, allergies, past and present medical conditions, disabilities, any medications you may take regularly, vaccinations, and habits that may affect your health. 

The health worker will ask for a full disclosure of medical history, and the candidate must be honest and straightforward with all their answers. Since these tests safeguard the company and the new hire, honesty is a high priority.

Medical Examination

Apart from a verbal medical history, a series of tests are also conducted; these may include cardiovascular examination, respiratory difficulties, and auditory and vision tests. Apart from these extensive tests, BMI and BP are also measured. 

Common Tests That Are Generally Included in Pre-Employment Medicals:

The following tests can help the company identify health risks and underlying medical conditions.

• Spirometry Test: It’s a standard lung test that helps determine the candidate’s lung health and strength. This test helps identify asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

• Audiometry Test: It’s a standard hearing test that identifies hearing loss on different levels. 

• Vision Test: This test determines the visual acuity of the candidate.

• Urinalysis: It’s the most common urinary test that helps identify conditions like diabetes

• Drug and Alcohol Test: This test confirms the presence of alcohol and drugs in the system. This test identifies drug and alcohol abuse. The test is done through a urine cup, saliva swab, or breath test. 

Preparing For The Pre-Employment Medicals

If you have scheduled an interview that includes a pre-employment medical, here’s how to prepare yourself for success. 

• Be on time, rested, and active
• Have your driver’s license as well as your passport handy
• If you wear prescribed glasses, bring them along, but don’t wear contact lenses
• Being your asthma medication 
• Avoid smoking or consuming alcohol 12 hours before your interview. This also includes caffeine.

Apart from medical assessment, you may also have to go through a functional assessment. A practical evaluation may include grip potency, positional tolerances, lifting and carrying strength, and cardiovascular fitness. These exams are also conducted by an accredited exercise physiologist, occupational therapist, or physiotherapist.

If you must attend a pre-employment medical exam for your next job, ensure you are prepared. Read everything on pre-employment medicals and ensure you have it down to the T. 

What Do You Mean By Pre-Employment Screening?  

The pre-employment screening is only another name for “background check.” It is a way for your employer to verify the information that you have given and do a background check on you to see whether you are a fit for the company. 

When it comes to pre-employment screening, there are a few basic parameters, following which they are conducted. 

• Criminal History Screenings

It is to check whether you have a record either in a local, state, national, or federal database. This criminal history can sometimes be available if you submit your fingerprint. 

• Social Security Number (SSN) Tracing

Tracing the social security number, you can easily detect and verify the name, date of birth, and even the address. This way, the employer can easily find the area you are located in and also search for any other additional records. 

• Public Records Screening 

By accessing your public records, your employer can access your driving history, motor vehicle records, bankruptcy records, and credit history as such. Also, you can access medical history and civil records. 

• Controlled Substance Screenings

Conducting your controlled substance screening that is done by the health care providers in order to ensure that your employment complies with the company’s policy on illicit substances.

• Verifications And Credentials Screenings

Through a thorough verification and credentials screening, the access can detect the accuracy of all your educational qualifications and degrees that you have received. Along with professional certifications, licenses, previous employment, military service records, and professional references. 

• Pre-Employment Assessments

This is tested to ensure your potential employer judges whether you have the ability to relate to the role. 

• Lie Detectors Or Polygraph Tests

Although not all employers conduct a lie detector or polygraph test, if your employer is conducting a lie detector test, then it is to provide security services to distribute or manufacture controlled substances.

How To Prepare For A Pre-Employment Screening? 

There are a total of 5 main steps that you can take to prepare for any of the pre-employment screenings and to show your potential to your future employer. 

• Be honest
• Run a background check on yourself
• Notify your references 
• Report inaccurate information 
• Review your social media

Types Of Pre-Employment Assessments

There are some employers who are known to distribute pre-employment tests. The main objective of these standardized tests is to gather as much information from you as they can. A few of these pre-employment assessment types may include.

• Personality Tests

This test is to identify your personality traits. To assess how well you are going to fit into the work culture of the employer’s company and how better you are going to perform in certain roles. 

• Aptitude Tests 

With a good aptitude test, the employer assesses your cognitive skills and ability and observes whether you are the right fit for the company. 

• Skills Tests

This test is designed for both your soft and hard skills. These skills range from your skills for effective communication to problem-solving. 

• Job Knowledge Tests

 This skill is specially formulated to check your technical as well as theoretical expertise in the field you are applying. These tests may include attention to detail, ability to learn, and critical thinking. 

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