December 05th, 2016

Personality Tests. What Do They Mean…if anything?

These so-called ‘tests,’ or 'assessments' have been around for years. Many companies utilize them today, along with some possible people ‘certified’ on deciphering the results. Meyers-Briggs, DISC®, 360, and probably a couple of others are the most popular. 25+ available!
 
Those that swear by the results say they can assess your personality and behavioral traits and instincts that your mother may not know. Like so many other things such as political persuasion, or ideologies regarding anything, if you believe, then you believe. These folks are convinced they know how you will react to just about anything from a 30 to 60-minute test!
​I DO NOT!

​Yet as you go through the job application process you will likely encounter one, or more, of these tests and whomever is analyzing the results truly believes they are looking in to your soul to ascertain your behavior in certain situations and your personality, e.g., aggressive, passive, et al.

Allow me to paint a situation

​You had a tough night, awoke the next morning to the kids screaming, the spouse yelled at you for a minute, or so. You’re driving to the prospective employer’s office in the pouring rain, heavy traffic, and arrive one minute before your scheduled appointment. They present you with sheets of questions (the personality profiles), you check off each answer and leave. Someone will assess the results, but never share them with you.
 
Second scenario – you awake brightly and refreshed and have a nice, long shower. The spouse and kids give you a good morning kiss and wish you well as you take your surprisingly easy drive to the prospective employer’s office. “Coffee?” You take the test and leave.
 
I suggest that two, different results will surface. One could get you an interview, and the other will get you the email “…we have found a more qualified candidate, but we will keep your resume on file for six months.”

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Some years ago, we had our Top 20% in Sales take the DISC® profile.

​The graphs were pretty much the same except for one. Based upon the overwhelming majority, this one person should not only keep ‘sales’ out of her life, but shouldn’t even live with a sales’ professional. She was, consistently, the Number One Rep in the country, year after year! So much for THAT assessment! Could she have been 'fooling' with it? Possible.
 
Net / net, if a company, and those within, truly believe in the ‘results’ of these personality and behavioral tests, they will have you complete them and there is no getting around it. They are true believers in the results. Let me provide one piece of advice…eh, maybe a couple.
 
Relax! Now, assume that you already have that position. Yes! You can see yourself conducting whatever it is that you would do; communicating with others within the company; dressing a certain way; doing a great job! Now…take the test!
 
Doing otherwise (thinking of yourself, your family, your finances, your current/last job, your current/last boss) will provide different results than if you took the test as if you already had that new position. In the end, the ‘results’ from taking the test with THIS attitude will probably provide the person assessing a truer reflection of who you are IN THAT NEW POSITION and isn’t that what really matters?!
 
Good luck and Happy Holidays!