Already in 1996, Bernt Nilsen launched the Datakortet together with Hydro, the Data Association and several others – as a certification system to be able to prove his software skills. In 2000, he expanded the concept by launching Norsk Test, which worked much more widely. But as so many others have experienced: it is difficult to retain employees in Oslo.
The solution was to move to Kirkenes in 2003. Here there was access to a stable and loyal workforce. And wonderful nature.
Today, the company is testing 10,000 employees in the financial sector alone. They go through a program with several tests around ethics, banking, savings and credit assessment.
But financiers are not the only ones to document their knowledge online. Tanning salon employees, public buyers, football referees and many others are tested here. The company is currently preparing tests for the cleaners. Together, they represent around 50,000 tests per year.
– We check that people know their subject, to put it simply, says Nilsen. – You don’t ask if people know how to use a work tool, you check if they can.
Norsk Test has about 400 supervised test centers where people come to take the test. But now you can also avoid leaving the house. The solution is remote monitoring from Kirkenes. Company video monitors the candidate’s screen, webcam, and cell phone because it’s important to be able to certify that there was no cheating.
It was a solution that worked perfectly during the pandemic, and continues to do so. A Norwegian university will test 700 students under video surveillance this year.
– The use of such a system is dissuasive, underlines Nilsen. – And if they try, we’ll take them.
