DSW Assessment Tests, Hiring Process & Interviews Online Preparation – 2024

What Is DSW?

DSW is an American company that was founded in 1991, and its headquarters are in Columbus, Ohio. The company sells shoes and fashion accessories at more than 500 locations in the United States and Canada and employs more than 16,000 people across its corporate and retail locations.

The company has a few fundamental values that are at the core of the company:

• Passion
• Accountability
• Collaboration
• Humility

Recruiters are interested in candidates who embody these values and are people oriented.

DSW is also passionate about giving back to the community. They partner with various organizations that discourage bullying, foster empowerment, and support health and wellness. The company stands behind causes that are creating positive change for the world.

Working for DSW

DSW is interested in investing in great people and fostering a workplace culture that enables its employees to learn, develop, and achieve their goals. In addition to creating an inclusive and diverse work environment, DSW provides their employees with numerous benefits to promote health and wellbeing, including:

• Robust healthcare plans that include medical, prescription, vision, dental, and telemedicine
• Parental support includes fertility benefits, a maternity management app with coaching, adoption assistance, and paid parental leave
• Paid leaves of absence, unpaid leave, as well as short- and long-term disability
• Life, accident, hospital, and critical illness insurance
• Competitive 401k retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• 30% discount on merchandise in-store as well as a network of deals for other brands
• Paid time off
• Paid holidays

DSW Online Application

To start the DSW online application, you must first create a profile on their careers site. Be sure to note your password as you will need it throughout your recruitment process.

After creating your profile, you can search for and apply for jobs. Please note that you can apply for multiple positions simultaneously; however, you must submit a separate application for each position.

The online application will ask for information such as:

• Educational history
• Personal details and contact information
• Work experience
• Criminal conviction declaration

You will also need to upload a resume with your application. This document should be up-to-date and tailored to the specific role to which you are applying.

The application process can take several weeks, but the online system allows you to track the progress of your application at any time.

DSW’s Psychometric Tests

Numerical Reasoning Test

After the application process, DSW requires many candidates to complete several online assessments to assess their technical skills and cognitive abilities.

The first test most applicants encounter is the numerical reasoning test. The numerical reasoning test will focus on your ability to comprehend and answer questions about numerical data. The exam will present information in a table, graph, chart, or word problem, and applicants will need to select the correct answer from an answer set.

You will not need advanced mathematics skills to do well on this test; however, you will need an understanding of basic mathematical functions. It would also be best to pay close attention to the answer choices, as some may be decoy choices that look correct but are not.

Logical Reasoning Test

The logical reasoning test is a psychometric exam that assesses your ability to think critically and come to logical conclusions. The questions on this test are usually diagrammatic and require abstract thinking and inductive reasoning.

This non-verbal test will present the applicant with a series of figures. You will need to identify the pattern and select which figure should come next in the series.

The test is not inherently difficult, but there can be a learning curve due to the unique question types. It is good to practice for these tests ahead of time, so you know what to expect.

Situational Judgement Test

The situational judgment test (SJT) is another psychometric exam candidates will likely take. The SJT assesses your behavior and your values. The test will present you with a simulated workplace scenario, and you will need to rate how you would respond to each situation.

There are no right or wrong answers for this test; however, the hiring team uses this test to ensure that you are a good fit for the team. Be sure to research the company and its values and keep those in mind when responding to the various situations. This test will help you show DSW that you would fit in nicely with its culture.

Mechanical Reasoning Test

If you are applying for a technical position, you may also need to take a mechanical reasoning test.

The mechanical reasoning test consists of images that depict various mechanical scenarios. You will then need to answer questions about the scenario to show your mechanical and physical principles knowledge.

You will have a time limit while completing this test which translates to about 30 seconds per question.

Personality Test

Candidates will also need to take a personality test. These exams will assess your personality and character traits to ensure that you are a good culture fit for DSW. There are several personality tests, but the most common is a questionnaire.

Like the SJT, there are no right or wrong answers for this exam. However, you will want to do your research on DSW to understand what kind of employee they are looking for and keep that information in mind while giving your responses.

DSW’s Interviews

In addition to the online assessments, candidates will also complete a series of interviews.

The specific interviews you complete will depend on the role to which you are applying. Some candidates will need to conduct multiple interviews if they are using for a highly-skilled role or if there are numerous candidates in the running for the same position.

During the interview, the hiring manager will likely follow up on the details you provided in your application and on your resume. They will also ask questions related to the duties of the position. For example, if you are applying for an in-store job, the hiring manager may ask questions about your customer service skills.

It would be best if you also were prepared to answer behavior-based questions. These questions will help the assessor understand your personality, values, and how you would react to different workplace situations. They want to ensure that you are a good culture fit in addition to the technical skills you bring to the table.

How to Prepare for DSW’s Assessments?

DSW is looking for job seekers who are passionate about what they do, who thrive in collaborative environments, and who can perform the duties required.

The best way to show the DSW hiring team that you are the best candidate for the role is to do well on the assessments and the interviews during the hiring process.

It is vital to prepare for the various assessments because you must do well on these tests to graduate to the next stage of the recruitment process. There are great online resources that can help you prepare for the different reasoning and personality tests that you may encounter.

Though the questions on these tests are not difficult, they are unique, and it can take some time to get used to the question styles. It is a great idea to take online practice tests ahead of your actual exam to understand better what types of questions you will need to answer.

You will also want to prepare for the DSW interview. Look up interview tips online, research the company, and prepare some responses to standard interview questions.

Taking the time to prepare for the hiring process fully will increase your chances of doing well.