Online skills tests platform Smarterer describe themselves as a “simple, fun, and authentic way” for people “to show what they know”. Allowing users to take tests and assessments on a variety of subjects and skill areas, Smarterer score correct answers and rank the users. These scores can then be shared on their profiles and on social networks and other websites. It is an extremely useful tool for branding yourself throughout the internet, but it has to be done well or you will just be another profile on the website. Here is how to truly make the most of a brilliant personal branding opportunity.
Signing up and getting started
When signing up, users are given three options, to sign in using their Facebook account, LinkedIn account or Twitter account. For all three, the user needs to give Smarterer permission to post onto their account (ie onto the News Feed on Facebook and LinkedIn, and tweet via Twitter), for when users gain a great score in a test and want to share it with their friends. There is also the option to create an account with e-mail address and password, but if you want to link all your accounts together, using one of the other three options is easiest (it pulls all existing information from your account anyway, such as Name and Location, and saves the time spent filling it in manually).
Once signed up, you will have an ‘incomplete profile’, and Smarterer will give you options to increase your percentage of completion (I added my location, company name and website to reach 85%). This is an extremely important task to do – make sure that your profile is 100% complete. Input any necessary details, such as websites and location to make the most of using Smarterer the correct way, and so any recruiters who may stumble across your profile have all the necessary details about you right in front of them. It also gives your personal brand a more complete look, something which can work well with the test scores.
Tests – the basics
Smarterer revoles around tests. There are tests for every subject – Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, social media, Foursquare – but you shouldn’t be completing every single test. It’s crucial to pick and choose the top 5 or 10 which you feel you could do really well in – your ‘specialities’ as such. Imagine it as similar to a ‘Skills & Expertise’ section on LinkedIn or a CV.
Each test holds a number of questions, each with a difficulty rating – VE (Very Easy) / E (Easy) / M (Moderate) / H (Hard) / VH (Very Hard). Each rating holds a score, and when a user correctly answers a question that score is added to their total for that test. An incorrect answer will take away those points from the total, however users can save their score by leaving the test at any point.
Once you’ve reached a certain score, you are upgraded to a new level of expertise. It doesn’t take many questions to be upgraded – on the Facebook test, it took me 2 correct answer to reach the ‘Familiar’ level, 3 to reach ‘Proficient’ and it wasn’t long before I was ‘Expert’. I am now a ‘Master’ of Facebook, and Smarterer describes this as “You’re top tier! Only 2.5% of Smarterer users earn the Master level, and you’re one of them.” Be careful though – too many incorrect answers and you can be downgraded a level!
Pick your tests wisely
It is crucial to pick and choose your tests wisely. Don’t complete every test to the ‘Expert’ and ‘Master’ levels because others will think you’re showing off or had help with the answers. Pick tests that will correlate with past jobs or future job opportunities you may want – don’t complete all the social network tests to Master level if you’re looking for a high position office job.
Smarterer have a very useful tool where users can select which test results are viewable on their profiles. When deciding which results to make public, ensure there are a range of tests and skills shown on your profile. Don’t show every single result, but have a few basic skills in the ‘Proficient’ section, and one or two in the ‘Familiar’ section. You will want a recruiter to look at your profile and see a wide range of skills at different levels – no-one will be perfect at everything, and some people will have a good enough level in the necessary skill sets. Additionally, make sure there is one or two speciality skills that other may not have or may not be good in. For example, if you’re a great recruiter, reach ‘Expert’ level in the ‘Recruitment’ test and put that on your profile!
There is a final option of promoting your scores – on your blog or website using the Smarterer box or on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. The possibilites are endless – these tests are recognised as a fair way of showing your skills – why not use the results?
Conclusions
- Smarterer is still in the beta process – but it is a brilliant resource for personal branding!
- Make sure your profile is complete – even write a bio to gain it 100% completion. Add any necessary location information or websites which may help recruiters find you.
- Pick your tests wisely – don’t complete all the tests which show you spend too much time on Facebook or Twitter and nothing else.
- Have a range of tests and skill levels – have a few test scores at lower levels, and a few at ‘Expert’ – you don’t want to be showing off, but you want to use your variety well.
- Share your profile, put your skills on your CV, and invite friends via Facebook and Twitter.
I really enjoyed testing out Smarterer and think it is a fantastic idea and website. Have you given it a go? What’s your best score and in which subject?
