Employment personality testing

[Tinkmom75]

Employment personality testing has been the most stressful for me. I am an introvert by nature and feel if I answer honestly this makes me look very bad. I've done a lot and actively work to be more outgoing and do very well in my line of work.

My next question is: how is this even legal? The second test I just took, I was sure they were screening for mental illness. I am not diagnosed, but there were a lot of questions that seemed to be looking for depressed or bipolar people or people with anxiety. Are results cut and dry on these? How can you evaluate a person based on two choices?

Question: I have never lied. agree or disagree.
I say anyone who disagrees is a lier right then and there. Especially those who celebrate holidays with Santa, Easter Bunny etc. Not that I have a problem with that because I do too.

Question: I have never broken the law. agree or disagree.
I have had a speeding ticket so I would have to say I disagree.

Then all the questions like: I am more like the turtle than the rabbit.
really?

Question: I sometimes want to do things but lack the motivation

Question: Sometimes I am so mad I want to scream

Question: The earth revolves around the sun.

I would love input from HR professionals.

Thanks

 

[RockAndRollBallerina]

I'm curious to know the answer to this as well. This to me is just plain discrimination against potential employees. How is this supposed to be Equal Opportunity Employment?

 

[Andtototoo]

Oh, it's all such crapola. Years ago when I was majoring in psych, one of my classes was on personality testing. By the end of the class, we'd all taken many tests and compared the results. We concluded that astrology was a better predictor of personality patterns than any personality test. Seriously. We also, to quote Dr. Phil, realized that the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior.

Many years later (in 2006), I am asked to take the Myers Briggs test for a job at a professional journalists' organization. It was a requirement of the application process and I was told how I answered would determine if I was hired or not. I asked them, "So which type of result do you want? Because I can answer the test any way you want." The HR person didn't believe me and gave me four tests and I answered so that each test came out with a different result. They ended up offering me the job and I turned it down because I decided any company that truly based its hiring on personality tests was so stupid they'd drive me crazy in short order and then I'd need a different sort of psych eval.

If you're really interested in trying to predict future behavior, look at the track record and don't waste time on stupid testing that proves nothing.

 

[Disney Doll]

If this was at a place where I was seeking employment, I'd probably take them off my list of places to work.

If it was happening at my place of employment, I'd probably be seeking other employment.

If the questions do no allow for elaboration, then they seem to me to be blatantly discriminatory.

For example: I have never lied. Agree or disagree.
Everyone has lied. But there is a big difference between "Oh someone's at the door and I have to go" and lying to your spouse about an affair or lying to the IRS about your income.

 

[Acklander]

I guess it depends on the job. If it was in sales, I could see why they might want an extrovert. If your the bookkeeper honesty would be a big factor. If you want to be a cop, looking for mental illness would be important. I once read that the best surgeons are sociopaths. I know one person who is always looking for people with a touch of ADHD because they performed better in the field he is in.
If you're trying to find a good fit, I guess you do what you got to do.
Personally, I rely on what I see, but I'm pretty good at reading people - but if I'm off, no harm done because I'm not in a critical field.

 

[scrapquitler]

Oh, it's all such crapola. Years ago when I was majoring in psych, one of my classes was on personality testing. By the end of the class, we'd all taken many tests and compared the results. We concluded that astrology was a better predictor of personality patterns than any personality test. Seriously. We also, to quote Dr. Phil, realized that the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior.

Many years later (in 2006), I am asked to take the Myers Briggs test for a job at a professional journalists' organization. It was a requirement of the application process and I was told how I answered would determine if I was hired or not. I asked them, "So which type of result do you want? Because I can answer the test any way you want." The HR person didn't believe me and gave me four tests and I answered so that each test came out with a different result. They ended up offering me the job and I turned it down because I decided any company that truly based its hiring on personality tests was so stupid they'd drive me crazy in short order and then I'd need a different sort of psych eval.

If you're really interested in trying to predict future behavior, look at the track record and don't waste time on stupid testing that proves nothing.

You are right, it's a bunch of crap. I think they are trying to weed out complete psychopaths, but most people know enough that they could manipulate the answers to make themselves look 'better'.

As to the person who said they won't work anywhere that requires this sort of test, everywhere I have ever applied for a job since I graduated from college (in the 80s) has required this sort of stupid test. This includes every kind of job from a bank, to a convenience store, a grocery store, a health care provider, etc. So it's pretty hard to avoid them.

 

[Tinkmom75]

I have taken two different tests lately for two potential employers. I am feeling the same. Take them off my list. Just wanted to know people's thoughts. Either for or against. I listed some questions from each test. These test consist of around 175 questions. The questions are listed in different ways throughout and supposedly designed to know if you are trying to "cheat or beat" the test. I hate them. Especially when they use the words always or never. Very definite words there.

At least the first test let me have "no oppinion", but that can be interpreted too. Probably as indesicive.

One question reminded me of disboards.

Question: I have never jumped in line to get ahead...
Not that I want this to be a topic of discussion.

More questions:
Sometimes I am so happy I want to shout.

When I am unhappy with situations I talk about it with others.

I sleep peacfully at night.

Sometimes I don't want to get out of bed in the morning.

Then there was a whole section on the last place of employment on answering how I thought the majority of others would answer.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

My friend's DH just got hired as a security guard at a hospital. They told him he had the job, then they had him take home two different personality tests to fill out. One had a bunch of questions about flowers. "Do you like flowers? Have you ever worked in a flower shop? Have you ever wanted to work in a flower shop? When you see flowers, do you stop to look at them? Do you smell them?" He was wondering if liking flowers makes you a good security guard, or a bad one? He's been working at the job for two weeks, so he assumes he answered correctly!

 

[Tinkmom75]

The types of jobs I am applying for are not, Dr., security, cop type jobs, but you would have interaction with customers more in a service role. I am confident enough in what I currently do to do a good job. I am also very knowlegable in this industy. Enough where I have enough confidence to advise people and work with strangers etc. So, somewhat extrovert in this field, but my typical nature is introvert. I am aware of this and knowingly takiing steps to better myself. This is why I do not care for the tests. Do you answer as is in your nature or how you have performed and functioned in the last several years.

 

[Disney Doll]

You are right, it's a bunch of crap. I think they are trying to weed out complete psychopaths, but most people know enough that they could manipulate the answers to make themselves look 'better'.

As to the person who said they won't work anywhere that requires this sort of test, everywhere I have ever applied for a job since I graduated from college (in the 80s) has required this sort of stupid test. This includes every kind of job from a bank, to a convenience store, a grocery store, a health care provider, etc. So it's pretty hard to avoid them.

I've worked in a few places in my lifetime (graduated in the 80s too!) too...retail food, hospital, homecare, insurance, IT....never had anyone require a personality test.

 

[Stitchfans]

Can't tell you how much I hate those stupid time wasting tests. The last one I filled out a few months ago was for Dollar General. That one had loads of questions about how you would handle situations were your co workers were being dishonest. One chose was always to run to the manager.

My first reaction was, man, I'm back in kindergarten running to snitch on another kid. I figured, I do not want to work for a company where you have to play games of spying on your co workers and tattle telling. If the people they hire there is so dishonest or immature, I don't need that.

Weird though, so far all the people working at the one I applied to seem to be pretty nice. As far as honesty? But they sure are nice.

 

[Colleen27]

I think these days any employer can require just about anything of applicants, and for every person who balks there are two that are more than happy to go along.

I hate those personality tests too, and I suspect there's something really wrong with me because I've never gotten a call back from any job that has required one.

 

[kamik86]

This reminds me of a test I took and I did take it honestly before thinking that even though it was a small training for a program I'm in here they would probably send it to my manager. Well to be honest you would be amazed at how scary accruate the results were. Even to be able to tell "This is how you would like to be" and "This is how you act at work" and "This is what happens when your really stressed" and there were seriously only like 50 questions none of which asked how I act when stressed or if I fake things at work.

I don't think you can tell an employer they can't do a personality test. I mean yes it is discrimination but that is the entire point of a job interview to discriminate against the candidates until you pick the best one as long as no ILLEGAL discrimination occurs they are all good.

Then again I work for an employer that got to legally ask if I have ever seen a psychiatrist of any kind and if I did I would have to write down who (government security clearance) the personality test I talked about above after I had the job was nothing compared to the type of things they asked in that (how much debt you have, if you knew anyone from another country, tons of stuff... )

 

[kamik86]

I'm curious what would you prefer employers do to pick employees. These tests are designed more to get at your true personality because most people can fake it for an interview even if they wouldn't for a real job.

Calling your boss doesn't always work because many bosses will either
a) Lie and make you look worse because they don't want to lose you
b) Lie to make you look better to get rid of you without having to figure out cause to fire you and deal with all the paperwork

I think lately employers are getting so many applicants they want easy data entry things like this just to get it down to a manageable level.

 

[cornflake]

Employment personality testing has been the most stressful for me. I am an introvert by nature and feel if I answer honestly this makes me look very bad. I've done a lot and actively work to be more outgoing and do very well in my line of work.

My next question is: how is this even legal? The second test I just took, I was sure they were screening for mental illness. I am not diagnosed, but there were a lot of questions that seemed to be looking for depressed or bipolar people or people with anxiety. Are results cut and dry on these? How can you evaluate a person based on two choices?

Question: I have never lied. agree or disagree.
I say anyone who disagrees is a lier right then and there. Especially those who celebrate holidays with Santa, Easter Bunny etc. Not that I have a problem with that because I do too.

Question: I have never broken the law. agree or disagree.
I have had a speeding ticket so I would have to say I disagree.

Then all the questions like: I am more like the turtle than the rabbit.
really?

Question: I sometimes want to do things but lack the motivation

Question: Sometimes I am so mad I want to scream

Question: The earth revolves around the sun.

I would love input from HR professionals.

Thanks

While I agree a Myers-Briggs based test would be ludicrous, as, well, they were kind of ludicrous, those questions are basically MMPI questions and it's not entirely without validity for what it is. It's got its uses. Though I'd think it's unlikely a random job is paying for the MMPI, it's probably a knockoff.

Yes, anyone who says they've never lied is probably lying - and that's likely the point of that question.

As someone else notes, yes, they're looking to discriminate among candidates, that's what employers do. Yes, it's legal. I think they're silly to use for this sort of thing, as they employment screener ones tend to be either shoddily cobbled together or not understood by the people using them. There are government and law enforcement jobs that use testing well but people get carried away thinking they can interpret stuff and use random things to find the best person for jobs that they don't need this stuff for. But, again as Kamik notes, it may be the result of trying to weed through mountains of applicants that jobs are now getting that they didn't tend to before a few years ago.

If it makes you feel better, that test was probably not at all trying to measure anything like extroversion/introversion.

 

[Andtototoo]

I'm curious what would you prefer employers do to pick employees. These tests are designed more to get at your true personality because most people can fake it for an interview even if they wouldn't for a real job.



I think lately employers are getting so many applicants they want easy data entry things like this just to get it down to a manageable level.

I've managed to hire tons of people in my time without a stupid test. And of all those people, only one turned out to have totally fooled me and everyone else. Moreover, I want to hire intelligent people and intelligent people know how to answer questions on those tests properly anyway, so they prove nothing.

Calling your boss doesn't always work because many bosses will either
a) Lie and make you look worse because they don't want to lose you
b) Lie to make you look better to get rid of you without having to figure out cause to fire you and deal with all the paperwork

I've also never had an applicant put down their current boss as a reference, so that point is irrelevant to my experience.

 

[kamik86]

I've managed to hire tons of people in my time without a stupid test. And of all those people, only one turned out to have totally fooled me and everyone else. Moreover, I want to hire intelligent people and intelligent people know how to answer questions on those tests properly anyway, so they prove nothing.



I've also never had an applicant put down their current boss as a reference, so that point is irrelevant to my experience.

If you only call the people they put on the application as references then that does nothing either. Anyone with even half a brain isn't going to put down someone that would give a bad review. So all that proves is they have at least x people that like them.

 

[Christine]

A friend of mine is applying for the CIA and is having to take a personality test. I think it's called the Hogan test.

 

[Acklander]

A friend of mine is applying for the CIA and is having to take a personality test. I think it's called the Hogan test.

I Can see why the CIA would do It. I can't imagine how many delusional people think they would be perfect for the CIA so it could be a weeding out process. Also, I would assume that the job would have high stress moments, so it would be nice to know that they were training someone who works well under pressure. That makes sense.
But applying for a job as a secretary to the owner of the local garden shop or to pound nails for a contractor. Not so much. You should be able to tell straight off the bat if the person is a complete fruit loop, and if they're just a little off? No biggie, as long as they are able to do the job.

 

[kamik86]

I Can see why the CIA would do It. I can't imagine how many delusional people think they would be perfect for the CIA so it could be a weeding out process. Also, I would assume that the job would have high stress moments, so it would be nice to know that they were training someone who works well under pressure. That makes sense.
But applying for a job as a secretary to the owner of the local garden shop or to pound nails for a contractor. Not so much. You should be able to tell straight off the bat if the person is a complete fruit loop, and if they're just a little off? No biggie, as long as they are able to do the job.

I had a job interview for a co-op job that was more of a personality interview as well. Nothing technical about the interview at all. It was a Q/A position and they asked for our transcript (because anyone with a technical background at all could be taught to do the position they were asking for really, all you needed to qualify was knowledge of operating computers and sufficient attention to detail) However the team was a close knit team that worked together alot. So the interview was more to meet everyone on the team and see if you clicked, then the boss would go back around to everyone after you left (he would come up with excuses to leave you with a few people for a few minutes) to see what they thought. Basically if you managed to be social you were all set. (They wanted to make sure they didn't get the stereotypical computer science student that can't hold a normal conversation)

This job I have now was kind of similar as well. They wanted the personality of someone that would go after what they wanted and be willing to take more responsibility and lead. Technical stuff as long as you were competent enough to get decent grades in school they figured they could teach you the specifics of what you need. I have to say I'm starting to agree with this method because the worst ones at my current position were the ones that feel to be "good" at their jobs they need to do everything on their own. Which end up then messing it all up. The ones that really spend more of their time getting the answers from everyone else and then just makes sure everyone's answers can mesh well and don't contradict each other do much better.