SOVA Assessments

Why we use it

For certain roles at Whittard, we invite candidates to complete a SOVA Questionnaire as part of their application. Think of it as psychometric testing (but don't let that word put you off - we promise it's more interesting than it sounds).

This clever little assessment looks at your motivation, leadership style and numerical reasoning. It's designed to give us deeper insight into your natural strengths and the key traits that make you, well, you.

The wonderful thing? It often showcases strengths you didn't even know you had. Consider it a mirror that reflects back your hidden talents - a brilliant learning tool that offers fresh insight into who you are and how you work best.

Complete transparency We believe in no secrets here. You'll receive a copy of your report before your final interview, so you can see exactly what we see. Plus, we'll offer you a chat with our HR team - either after your interview or during your probationary period - to walk through the findings together.

Because understanding yourself better? That's always worth celebrating.

How it's scored

Motivation The SOVA Motivation Questionnaire measures 20 specific motivational factors - think Achievement, Learning, Affiliation and more. You'll both rate and rank statements in sets of four questions (clever, right?). Your responses create a picture of what truly drives you, then we compare this against others who've taken the assessment. The result? A clear 5-point scale that brings your motivational profile to life.

Leadership competencies This is where it gets wonderfully sophisticated. Using your Personality Questionnaire responses, we map relevant traits onto leadership scales like 'Building Strong Networks' or 'Strategic Insight'.

For example, 'Building Strong Networks' draws from your natural empathy, connecting style and supporting tendencies. Think of personality traits as ingredients - our psychologists blend them into broader, more meaningful behaviours. The result is a leadership profile that's both nuanced and genuinely useful.

Numerical and Verbal Reasoning Simple but effective: we combine the accuracy of your answers with how swiftly you process the information. This gives us insight into your ability to handle numerical and verbal data under pressure.

The beauty? Every score is relative, showing how you naturally approach challenges compared to others.

How to complete yours

You'll receive a link after chatting with our HRBP - think of it as your golden ticket to the next stage. Set aside 60-90 minutes (we know, it's quite the commitment, but worth every minute).

Our recommendations:

• Complete in one sitting. Like a perfect brew, it's best not interrupted
• Find your quiet corner - somewhere you can think clearly without distractions
• Remember: the numerical and verbal reasoning sections are timed, so no wandering off for a biscuit mid-question

Practice makes perfect We've included some practice questions - think of them as your warm-up. We'd recommend having a go first. Like testing water temperature before brewing, it helps you get ready for the real thing.

Be authentically you We know every day brings its own flavours - some smooth, some robust. But here's the thing: answer as honestly as possible. Think about how you'd approach situations 90% of the time. That's the real you we want to meet.

No need to worry - just be genuine. After all, the best blends happen when everything comes together naturally.