[Ansley Wyman]

Why do some (or many) companies require applicants to take personality tests? Is the result of that test basis for hiring or not?

[Altered Moment]

I hate that. I applied for a plumbing job and apparently they hired some "expert" outside firm for the firing process. IQ test, personality test, not a single thing about plumbing. I didn't realize the IQ test was timed so only answered half the questions. I am sure that knocked me out. On my resume I had 25 years of very good experience and references. I think they do rely on them. "Have you ever stole from an employer?" How do you answer that. Probably most people have stole a little something. I did as a teenager.

Why not base it on my skills, expertise, experience, and references and not some stupid test.

[Slamjammer]

The personality/preference tests are intended to evaluate a prospective employee's suitability for a particular position. They are not a measure of "competency" at any particular task. The IQ test is not intended to measure "knowledge", but rather to gauge the applicants ability to reason and learn.

It's probably safe to say that an employment decision is not based on any single test, but rather on the complete picture painted by all these tests as well as the interview, references and background checks.

[dedicated]

I agree with Slamjammer. Hence, may I ask you this: if you own the company, how would you narrow down applicants to be interviewed without some sorts of written test on personality, knowledge, capability and etc.? Who is the ideal employee you expect?

[nonightowl]

Originally Posted by zinco14532323

I hate that. I applied for a plumbing job and apparently they hired some "expert" outside firm for the firing process. IQ test, personality test, not a single thing about plumbing. I didn't realize the IQ test was timed so only answered half the questions. I am sure that knocked me out. On my resume I had 25 years of very good experience and references. I think they do rely on them. "Have you ever stole from an employer?" How do you answer that. Probably most people have stole a little something. I did as a teenager.

Why not base it on my skills, expertise, experience, and references and not some stupid test.

I agree.....I remember the "old" days when there was no such thing. It was about your experience/skills, and whether they think you will fit in with everyone else. The face-to-face interview might include 1 or 2 hypothetical situations, but they WERE JOB RELATED.

I wonder who came up with these tests to evaluate people. A friend of mine said he did some research on these tests. Some are designed with certain ASSUMPTIONS. For a question like, "Have you ever been in a physical fight with a co-worker?", they would assume a lot of people would lie about this. SO, if you say no, even if it's TRUE, you might look like a liar!

Sounds like the same kind of test that places like Home Depot, Target, and CVS give. Questions like, "How many tickets do you think the average driver gets in 10 years?" and "What percentage of people do you think cheat on their tax return?" WTF???? Why would they care what people think about these things??? More than 50 questions like this, and you can't skip any.

Also, there's never an option like, "None of the above." You have to pick an option. I don't know if they can tell what kind of employee someone will be based on their answers to these ridiculous questions that have NOTHING to do with whether you can do the job.

Besides, if they think some people lie on some questions, what's the point in doing it at all? "Assuming" things is never good. And there's always going to be people that lie a lot, whether on that test or not.

And someone may get all the "right" answers on these stupid tests, but turn out to be a crappy employee!! If they are trying to find out how positive someone is, like "What's your favorite season?" and "What's your favorite color?" with questions like THAT......it's not foolproof anyway. Nothing is, really.

$#%^&*@*!? employers. Spending money on hiring these firms to create these stupid tests to weed out people, when they could spend the money in better ways.....

I spent over an hour answering those kinds of questions from Target, and I got a "kiss off" e-mail from them yesterday. All that time I spent.....Like I said in the old days, there was no such test. Any test was skill related, like how well you know Excel or Word. Or how fast you can type.

They should also take into account some people don't do well on tests anyway, ANY kind of test. It's too much duress. It's like in school when they made you take multiple choice tests. If you happen to get all the right answers, you look like you know the stuff. But maybe you just GUESSED right.

They seem to require these tests for the most MENIAL, LOW PAYING JOBS EVER.

[kapis]

Also I have noticed that the 'personality tests' are almost standard when applying for any job nowadays. I was thinking it is because the employers are focusing more on the concept of team and teamwork rather than just simply an individual talent.

The great news is that - if you'd like - you can do an IQ test on yourself. There are four distinctly measurable areas. You can then train each of these areas if necessary. A great and easy-read of the topic is 'Emotional Intelligence 2.0' by Travis Bradberry. This book also includes a basic self-evaluation.

[Ansley Wyman]

See for a position that requires a lot of problem solving in mathematics or statistics or something I might can understand...but something that deals more with physically performing a task I think doing that task during the interview should be the test.

Like for the plumbing have a mock toilet that's clogged or something (I'm not well versed in plumbing but I hope you get my point lol) and have the potential employee fix it...my thought is you'll find out more this way than you would reading the results of the test.

Next semester I have to present a paper about it and I'm not particularly looking forward to it. I found some websites that provide great information on it like CPP that companies can use and seeing the responses of employees that have had to take the test that aren't particularly fond of it...this is going to be a long paper.

@kapis does what you mentioned have a free evaluation available online or do you HAVE to purchase the book to do it?

[CosmicRose]

The only times I've ever had to take a personality test, is when I was applying through online applications. I've never had to take a personality test in person when applying, or at interviews. I assumed those personality tests were mostly an online thing.

[bigblackdog]

Originally Posted by dedicated

if you own the company, how would you narrow down applicants to be interviewed without some sorts of written test on personality, knowledge, capability and etc.? Who is the ideal employee you expect?

For crying out loud. If you can't assess someone for a job through normal channels, like a EEOC compliant job app or resume, references, interviews and maybe a JOB-SPECIFIC test, you should not be hiring.

The best criteria after basic competencies in a job, believe it or not, is team-fit. You could hire the Nobel Plumbing Prize Winner and if he pisses everyone off, it's not a good fit. The best thing to do is have everyone that will work with the person interview them. Then hire as a team. That way, no one can complain about the new guy because everyone hired him.

Besides most companied that use intelligence/personality tests are NOT QUALIFIED to interpret the results. The ones that are are usually law enforcement, military and DoD jobs.

[Webgoji]

I love the ones that use your credit rating as a criteria. Because obviously bad things never happen to people that work hard and do the right thing.

[nonightowl]

Originally Posted by Webgoji

I love the ones that use your credit rating as a criteria. Because obviously bad things never happen to people that work hard and do the right thing.

Some states do this, but I read some are claiming to move away from that. Obama is trying to jawbone companies into not using credit ratings as to how responsible someone will be on the job, esp. people who have been unemployed/underemployed.

Of course these people will have trouble with their bills!! Hello? But that doesn't mean they will be crappy employees, anymore than someone with a perfect credit record will be a GREAT one. $%^&*(#$@ employers.

[nonightowl]

Originally Posted by bigblackdog

For crying out loud. If you can't assess someone for a job through normal channels, like a EEOC compliant job app or resume, references, interviews and maybe a JOB-SPECIFIC test, you should not be hiring.

The best criteria after basic competencies in a job, believe it or not, is team-fit. You could hire the Nobel Plumbing Prize Winner and if he pisses everyone off, it's not a good fit. The best thing to do is have everyone that will work with the person interview them. Then hire as a team. That way, no one can complain about the new guy because everyone hired him.

Besides most companied that use intelligence/personality tests are NOT QUALIFIED to interpret the results. The ones that are are usually law enforcement, military and DoD jobs.

I agree! I once worked for a company where they randomly picked one of us to do a third interview with a candidate. It would be 3 or 4 people at the most, and HR gave us a list of questions to ask the person. They were mostly more BS interview questions, but you could pick any question YOU want to ask.

Then, after that interview, the manager would ask each of us (privately) if we thought this person would fit in. I don't know how much our input mattered, but the fact that they did it all says a little something about their thinking.

Alas, if only ALL employers would think this way. It's true that someone can have all the perfect skills/degree/experience, but if she/he is a ***hole, then it's not going to work.

Personality/psychological tests are a waste of time, both for the applicant and company. But somebody thought it was a good idea.....And tests don't reveal the person anyway. You have to meet them and work with them. Why should they care if I think politicians lie?

[kapis]

Originally Posted by Ansley Wyman

@kapis does what you mentioned have a free evaluation available online or do you HAVE to purchase the book to do it?

The book I mentioned comes with the assessment. But yes - you have to purchase that book.

Also, if you google 'emotional intelligence test free' you find some quick assesments including
* Test Your Emotional Intelligence, Free EQ Quiz, EI Test or
* HTML Redirection

Good luck with your paper!!!

[brainhi]

I want to see a personality test that the employer and supervisors took! I've been fed so much bull during the interview - how many times have you accepted the postion and said to yourself - what the heck did I get myself in to?