Have you finished polishing up that resume for your “dream job?” Great, but keep in mind it’s only part of the equation. Those pesky H.R. departments are throwing a whole new monkey wrench into the interview process with the dreaded personality test. Oh yes. From now on, you don’t just have to look the part you have to act it too! Why? With so many people chasing jobs, it helps employers deduce if someone is a good fit based on qualities you can’t see during an in person interview like morals or work ethic. Luckily we’ve got some great strategies to make sure your “attitude” is in line with what employers are looking for.
Understand What You’re Up Against
First of all, it’s important to understand what exactly a personality test is. Similar to those SAT scantrons we filled out back in the day, they typically include at least 200 multiple choice questions. Personality tests have also been known to use sneaky tactics to see if you’re a “perfect fit.” Imagine seeing a statement that says “I take a different way home every night,” followed by a YES/NO selection. Sounds weird right? But it’s actually used to judge creativity and your willingness to take risks.
Murray Barrick, a Texas A&M University human resources professor, believes the written Q & A is another psychological ploy. “It leads to more honesty when you’re sitting down with a piece of paper,” he said in an interview with Forbes. “If you’re looking someone right in eye you’re not going to say, ‘I give my best 90% of the time.’ ”