Caterpillar Selection Process Information Guide Caterpillar is the world s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines and industrial gas turbines. We are a technology leader in construction, transportation, mining, forestry, energy, logistics, electronics, financing and electric power generation. But, as you are about to discover, Caterpillar is more than big, yellow machines. Caterpillar is people thousands of us working as a team to help ensure our customers success. By taking part in the Caterpillar Selection Process, this is an opportunity for you to become part of a dynamic team, a team that produces quality products and services. This guide explains the basic process we use to help determine if applicants will be successful as employees of Caterpillar. You ll learn about our employment process and receive information on how to take tests and prepare for interviews. We will provide you with sample test questions. Our goal is to provide the information you ll need to understand and do your best in this process. Caterpillar s Selection Process Caterpillar s selection process is designed to assess the skills and talents you have compared to the jobs available. The chances for mutual success are much greater if we can obtain an accurate picture of your skills, abilities, and work preferences compared to the jobs we have available. During the selection process you will have the opportunity to learn more about Caterpillar and tell us about your unique background. Prior to beginning the selection process, you have the right, under federal and/or state law, to self-identify as an individual with a disability. If you choose to self-identify, you must submit the appropriate documentation from a certified professional to Caterpillar to determine if an accommodation is needed and can be made. If you choose not to self-identify at this time, this does not preclude you from exercising this right at a later date, but prior to the completion of the process. You should bring your social security number and a photo ID with you to begin the selection process. The selection process consists of four phases: 1. Completion of an application and forms. During this phase of the process, we will answer any questions you may have regarding employment at Caterpillar. Release of information on former employment and background information forms are completed at this time. 2. Tests. These tests will help us assess your job-related abilities and skills. 3. Invitation for an interview. Upon successful completion of the tests, you may be eligible for comprehensive interviews that assess your achievements and qualifications. During this phase, your work reference may be contacted to verify information regarding past employment. 4. Job offer. Based on the results of the interview, you may be extended a job offer. Following any job offer, you will be required to provide medical information and may have to undergo a physical examination to determine your proper job placement. Note - You will also be required to successfully pass a drug screening and background check during the selection process. 1
Information About the Process To perform your best on any test, you should develop a positive and confident attitude about the testing session. To do this, you should try to: Get plenty of rest the night before the test battery. Try to relax before the test starts. Look at each test as a separate set of questions. Remind yourself that you are not expected to answer every question correctly. Test Questions are developed to include easy and difficult questions to identify different skill levels. Allow up to 3.5 hours to complete the tests. Bring any aids you need to see or hear the test (eyeglasses, hearing aids, etc.) to the testing session. Be Familiar with the Instructions for the Test Carefully review all the test instructions. Read the instructions thoroughly while the test administrator reads them aloud. Each test section will include practice questions to help ensure you understand the instructions. Be sure you understand the instructions. If you do not understand any part of the instructions, ASK QUESTIONS BEFORE THE TEST BEGINS. Read the Test Questions Carefully It is extremely important that you read each question carefully and completely. Answer only the question that is being asked. Make sure you read every word in the test question and in the response options. Work Quickly, but Accurately It is important to try to answer as many items correctly on each test section as you can. Although each section of the test will be timed, you should not rush through any test section just to finish. Accuracy should not be sacrificed for speed. Know the Time Limit of Each Test It will be important to pace yourself on each test. Determine the average amount of time you have to answer each question. For example, if a test is scheduled to last 40 minutes and you have 20 questions to complete, you will have about two minutes to answer each question. Skip a Question if You re Not Sure of the Answer Some test questions will be more difficult than others. If you come to a question that you cannot answer in the time required to keep your pace, skip it. If there is time remaining after you get to the end of the test, go back and work on the question(s) you skipped. Narrow Down the Correct Answer If you are unsure of the answer to a question, eliminate the choices you know are wrong. Then try to select the best answer from the choices remaining. Know How to Correctly Mark Your Answers If you are testing at a location that uses computers for testing, the tests are like paper/pencil tests, only you will choose your answers by clicking a mouse in a radio button* vs. filling in a circle on an answer sheet. *Radio buttons are used when a selection needs to be made or a question needs to be answered. As you click on a radio button, the dot moves to whichever button you clicked last. Only one selection can be made. Take a look at the example below: 2
Example Are you a resident of Illinois? Yes No If you are testing at a facility that does not use computers for testing, you will be taking the test using a test booklet and answer sheet. Fill in your answers darkly and completely, and be sure all erasures are complete and that no stray marks are on the answer sheet. Mark the answer sheet as you are instructed. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE COMPUTER TESTS AND PAPER/PENCIL TESTS ARE IDENTICAL IN CONTENT. Review Your Work You should review your work if you have time remaining at the end of a test. Do not change your answers unless you are confident your first answer is wrong. Often when answers are changed, correct answers are changed to wrong answers. Remember, your first response is usually correct. Do not look for patterns in the answer choices you selected. The tests were not developed to have an equal number of A, B, C, D, or E answers. Conduct at the Test Session When you arrive at the session, you will be provided with pencils and scratch paper. The use of test aids such as calculators, notepapers, or other aids may not be used other than those provided to you. Phones and pagers must be turned off in the testing room. No talking, eating, drinking or smoking is permitted in the testing room. Please do not give assistance to or get assistance from any other applicants in the room when taking the tests. Such action may be cause for the test administrator to dismiss you from the testing session. 3
SAMPLE TEST QUESTIONS Tests are administered to determine your specific job-related abilities and skills. The following questions are examples of questions you will be required to answer on the tests. Numerical This is a test of your ability to solve practical arithmetic problems. The test presents tables, followed by several questions about the information shown in the table. The tables are like the one below, but are more detailed. A sample chart with an example question is shown below: Product Shipment Record Work Quality Record E Employee Employee No. No. of Errors Davis 364 28 Smith 379 42 McCoy 660 31 Example 1: How many total errors did the three employees make? A) 111 B) 101 C) 91 D) 90 E) None of the above Answer: Example 1: You should have selected option B. The correct answer is obtained by adding the number of errors for all three employees (28+42+31=101). Mechanical Comprehension (not required for Distribution or Office non-technical test battery) This is a test of your ability to solve problems that involve mechanical principles and problems. The test contains questions that show you an illustration of a practical problem and asks you to determine the correct answer. Use your experience and judgment to choose the answer you think is best. Read the two example questions and select the correct response. Example 1: Which of the two objects shown at the right would be easier to tip over if both are made of the same material? (If no difference, mark C). A B 4
Example 2: If both balls placed in the container of water are the same shape and size, which is heavier? (If no difference, mark C). B A For Example 1, you should have selected option B. The tall, thin object would be easier to tip over because it does not have as wide of base and its center of gravity is higher. For Example 2, answer A is correct. The heavier ball would sink; the lighter ball would be more likely to float as shown. Reading This test measures your ability to read and apply policies and procedures. The test contains passages, followed by several questions. All the information you need to answer the questions will be provided in the passage. Do not draw on information you have learned in other jobs or through past experience. Base your answers strictly on the passages that make up the test. Here is a sample passage with an example question. Example Passage and Question When monitoring the assembly machine, it is important to react to the indicator lights shown on the front panel. When the status light changes, you must take the following actions depending on the color of the light. If the light is Then the required action is Green Yellow Red None Check oil and water levels and add as needed Shut off machine and contact supervisor The status light may, on occasion, turn off. If this happens, you should press the reset button and wait 30 seconds for the machine to run a self-test. If resetting the machine fails to fix the problem, then shut off the machine and contact your supervisor. Example 1 If the status light is green, what action is required? A) N None B) Check water C) Shut off machine D) Press the reset button E) Need more information 5
Answer: For Example 1, you should have selected option A. The first rule states that if the status light is green, no action is required. Information Matching Part 1 This is a test for you to quickly and accurately decide if pairs of two pieces of information are the same or different. Your job is to compare the two part numbers and decide if they are the Same (S) or Different (D). Here the three examples. The correct answers to the examples have been marked for you. 1. 82W5555LN44 82W5555LN44 2. Model: DLPWX46 Model: DPLWX46 3. Make: 63FGD Model: 63FGD S=Same D=Different The answer to Example 1 is S because the pairs are the same. The answer to Examples 2 and 3 is D because the pairs are different. PARTS 2 and 3 Parts 2 and 3 test your ability to quickly locate and check information taken from tables or charts. You are asked to determine if information taken from the table is recorded correctly or incorrectly. Use the information in the Production Data table to determine if the information below is correct. You will mark your answers by filling in the circle below Correct or Incorrect. PRODUCTION DATA Item No. Produced No. of Defects Cycle Time N317 3 3 13 G511 77 7 6 P617 30 4 17 Example 1: Item P617 Correct Incorrect No. Produced 30 Example 2: Item P617 Correct Incorrect No. of Defects 30 Answers: The answer to Example 1 is Correct. You should have looked at the table to find that 30 items were produced for Item P617. The information is correct. 6
The answer to Example 2 is Incorrect. You should have looked at the Number of Defects and found that 30 is not listed for Item P617. The information is incorrect. Candidate Profile In this test, you will be asked two types of questions. One type of question will ask whether you strongly agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree with a given statement. Another type of question will require you to choose the one best answer from a list of options. Please choose the answer that best represents your opinions and feelings about the questions asked. Your task will be to answer each question in a way that best describes your own experiences, judgments, and opinions. Example A Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree AA BB CC D Instructions: Please indicate your level of agreement with each of the following statements. 1. I am very prompt. 2. I will go out of my way to help others with their work. Example B 1. Which of these best describes your feelings about people at work? A B C D I get a lot of enjoyment from people at work. I usually enjoy people at work. I sometimes enjoy people, sometimes not. I do not enjoy people very much. If you will be testing at a location that administers the tests on a computer, and you have limited computer skills, you may want to visit one of the following establishments for assistance prior to testing: Library State Department of Employment Services Community College 7