High School

### 8.2 Action Required: (Knowledge Application)

Cognitive ability refers to capabilities related to acquiring and applying knowledge in problem-solving. Types of cognitive ability include verbal, quantitative, reasoning, spatial, and perceptual. Research indicates that genes and the environment play equal roles in how we acquire these abilities. Consider the facets of cognitive ability and cognitive employment testing in your future career: how important will they be?

#### Case Analysis (Sorry, You’re Too Smart)

Have you ever been turned down for a job because you were "overqualified"?

Although this may sound like a compliment, it can be disappointing when you are job hunting. Consider applicants who are turned down for jobs because they are "too smart." This could be determined by pre-employment testing or the interviewer may assume applicants’ cognitive ability based on education level, GPA, or certifications. You don’t often hear someone say that an applicant is "too emotionally intelligent" or "too physically coordinated." So why does it matter if you are overqualified in cognitive ability?

Employers may argue that cognitively overqualified employees will not perform well in their jobs. The lack of challenge they feel in the job tasks could make them bored and unmotivated and then lead to low performance. In fact, research shows that cognitively overqualified employees perform just as well as other employees, but not necessarily better. If the employees are in leadership positions and are cognitively overqualified, they perform better than other leaders. So if someone tries to tell you that you won’t perform well if you are cognitively overqualified, that’s not a fact.

Employers may also argue that employees who are cognitively overqualified for their jobs will have higher job dissatisfaction. Specifically, they may be dissatisfied with the wages, challenges, and potential for career advancement. In short, these employees see the gap between their current and potential situations and that makes them unhappy at work.

We all don’t have intelligence tests when we are employed, so what about when you perceive you are overqualified in your cognitive skills, but don’t have actual test scores to support your assumption? Employees who perceive they are cognitively overqualified tend to actually be correct. They also tend to have higher levels of openness to experience personality trait from the Big Five model.

### 8.3 Test Your Knowledge: (Questions)

1. An interviewer who assumes you have a certain average cognitive ability level because she knows your level of education would be correct according to what test?

2. According to the case, what might a company do to raise job satisfaction and retain employees who are cognitively overqualified?

Answer :

It is essential for companies to recognize and leverage the cognitive abilities of their employees to promote job satisfaction and retain talent. One test that is commonly used to measure cognitive ability is an intelligence test, such as the IQ test.

1. An interviewer who assumes you have a certain average cognitive ability level because she knows your level of education would be correct according to what test?

In this case, the interviewer is assuming the applicant's cognitive ability based on their level of education. This assumption implies that there is a correlation between education level and cognitive ability. However, it is important to note that this assumption may not always be accurate as cognitive ability is influenced by various factors such as genetics and environment.

One test that is commonly used to measure cognitive ability is an intelligence test, such as the IQ test. These tests assess different cognitive abilities, including verbal, quantitative, reasoning, spatial, and perceptual skills. They provide a standardized measure of an individual's cognitive abilities, independent of their educational background.

2. According to the case, what might a company do to raise job satisfaction and retain employees who are cognitively overqualified?

To raise job satisfaction and retain employees who are cognitively overqualified, a company can take several steps:

a. Provide challenging and meaningful tasks: Assigning intellectually stimulating tasks that utilize and engage the employees' cognitive abilities can help prevent boredom and dissatisfaction.

b. Offer professional development opportunities: Providing opportunities for continuous learning and growth can help keep cognitively overqualified employees motivated and satisfied. This can include training programs, workshops, or access to further education.

c. Provide recognition and rewards: Acknowledging the employees' skills and contributions, and providing appropriate rewards and incentives, can enhance job satisfaction and retention.

d. Offer career advancement opportunities: Creating clear pathways for career progression and growth can motivate employees to stay with the company and utilize their cognitive abilities to their fullest potential.

e. Foster a positive work environment: Cultivating a supportive and inclusive work culture that values employees' abilities and provides opportunities for collaboration and innovation can contribute to higher job satisfaction and retention.

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