Recruiters use every tool at their disposal to find the right employees. In some cases, resumes and cover letters are not enough. Some companies are now using personality tests to assess candidates. This type of test helps determine if a candidate's personality is a good fit for the culture of the organization. Here is what you can expect if you are asked to take a personality test during the job search process.
Some companies conduct personality testing early in the hiring process. It's not unusual to take a personality test before you are asked to participate in a telephone interview or meet with the hiring manager. Administering the test early on helps recruiters weed out applicants who don't have the right personality for the job. If you apply for a team-oriented position, for example, the recruiter isn't likely to interview you if your personality test reveals that you prefer to work independently. These tests not only help employers narrow the candidate pool, but they also help applicants avoid accepting jobs that are not a good fit for their personalities.
Many employers use the same tests to assess personality. The Caliper Profile measures the motivation and characteristics of each candidate using more than 25 personality traits. This personality test is helpful for predicting an applicant's future performance. The DISC method evaluates four aspects of an applicant's behavior: dominance, influence, steadiness and conscientiousness. The Sixteen-Personality Factor Questionnaire asks applicants to respond to dozens of situations, giving recruiters insight into the personality of each applicant.
If a potential employer asks you to take a personality test, expect a mix of true-or-false and multiple-choice questions. The true-or-false questions usually consist of a statement that describes your work preferences or attitudes. After you read the question, you have to decide whether the statement applies to you. "I prefer to work independently" is the type of statement you might see on personality tests. Instead of true-or-false statements, some tests give you a statement and then ask you to select how often that statement applies to you. If the statement is "When I watch movies, I tend to pick comedies instead of dramas," you might have to indicate if the statement applies to you often, some of the time, occasionally or never.
It's important not to spend all of your time worrying about or preparing for personality tests. You still need to practice your interviewing skills and line up references in case you receive a job offer. This type of testing is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to hiring, so don't spend all of your energy trying to memorize questions.
Personality testing is not a new concept, but it is more valuable than ever to recruiters and hiring managers. If a recruiter asks you to take this type of test, spend time thinking about your goals, attitudes, values and past achievements. You can't game personality tests, but you can reduce anxiety by preparing for it ahead of time.
Photo courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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