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Setting a Cognitive Target

Learn how to set a Cognitive Target in PI Hire, and assess a candidate's cognitive ability relative to the cognitive needs of the job.

Updated over a week ago

Once you've set a Behavioral Target for a role, you'll have the opportunity to set a Cognitive Target. Doing so allows you to collect cognitive data about a candidate and yield a key, additional data point in your hiring evaluations.

Important: Cognitive data is just one data point. It should not be weighed more or less heavily than other criteria considered during the hiring process.

What is the Cognitive Target?

The Cognitive Target gauges someone’s ability to handle the essential demands of a role. Different jobs require different skills, just as they require different behaviors. By setting a Cognitive Target, you will be able to send out the PI Cognitive Assessment to candidates.

Once the results come in, you will see the candidate’s results alongside the Cognitive Target. If the results meet the target for the role, it indicates the candidate should be able to perform the necessary requirements.

When should I set a Cognitive Target?

You can use the Cognitive Target for roles that require:

  • Learning new skills

  • Adjusting to new scenarios in the workplace

  • Processing information at a quicker pace

Don’t use the Cognitive Assessment for:

  • Roles that don’t have potential for advancement

  • Positions with minimal complexity

  • Instances in which a candidate’s disability compromises their access to or completion of the assessment in the allotted time

How to set a Cognitive Target

For a new job:

  1. Log in to PI Hire.

  2. You'll land on the Job Target tab for that job.

  3. Click "Create target" under the Cognitive Target header on the left-hand side.

  4. Review the provided educational information.

  5. Continue by clicking "Start" at the bottom of the screen.

  6. You'll be presented with a list of 16 skills. Select the minimum level of each skill required to perform the job effectively.

  7. Confirm your choices by clicking "Save and Continue."

  8. Your Cognitive Target will be created based on your selections.

  9. (Optional) Adjust the Cognitive Target to make additional changes.

  10. Click "Let's Continue" to proceed with your hiring evaluation.

For an existing job:

  1. Log in to PI Hire.

  2. Select the relevant job from the Hiring Center.

  3. You'll land on the Job Target tab for that job.

  4. Click "Create target" under the Cognitive Target header on the left-hand side.

  5. Review the provided educational information.

  6. Continue by clicking "Start" at the bottom of the screen.

  7. You'll be presented with a list of 16 skills. Select the minimum level of each skill required to perform the job effectively.

  8. Confirm your choices by clicking "Save and Continue."

  9. Your Cognitive Target will be created based on your selections.

  10. (Optional) Adjust the Cognitive Target to make additional changes.

  11. Click "Let's Continue" to proceed with your hiring evaluation.

FAQs

What is the PI Cognitive Assessment?

The PI Cognitive Assessment is a 50-question, 12-minute timed evaluation covering areas like simple math, basic logic, and language comprehension. The number of questions your candidate answers correctly in the given time frame will determine their cognitive score.

View sample Cognitive Assessment questions.

Is it possible to adjust the Cognitive Target?

Admins have the ability to adjust the Cognitive Target if they choose.

I can’t find a candidate's downloadable Cognitive Report. Is that available?

Where can I find a breakdown of a candidate's Cognitive Score?

In addition to the Cognitive Score, you can also view three cognitive “subscores”: Verbal, Numeric, and Abstract Reasoning.

You can find these subscores in two places:

  1. On the Cognitive Target Fit page, directly underneath the candidate's cognitive score. (Look for the expandable section titled "Cognitive Subscores.")

  2. On the full version of a candidate's downloadable Cognitive Report.

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