The Info Pool

How Accurate is a Personality Profile Test?

March 3rd, 2007

Everyone has taken a personality test at some point in their life. People love them as novelties. Whether it is the Myers Briggs personality profile test or some free personality test meant to indicate what character on a popular TV show you most resemble, they are everywhere. People love to think about what categories they might fit into and to compare with their friends. Not only does it show whether or not you are accepted, but it can also show what is unique about you.

Nevertheless, personality profile tests are used for a more important purpose quite often. More and more, industry likes to use a personality profile test to determine whether or not you are a fit for the job. This sounds alarming to someone who has never had one, but it is absolutely true. I know because I have been subject to them before.

The first time I had to take a personality profile test, I was so resentful that I decided that I would not answer correctly. Something as absurd as a personality profile test cannot be a true measure of who I am, and so it probably would not understand that I was lying. I gave the personality profile test the answers that I thought it wanted. I didn’t really like working in teams, I was resentful of my bosses, and I did not believe in the mission of the company. I didn’t want this personality profile test to find this out, so I pretended to be a real team player.

The creepy thing is, I think that the personality profiles cost me the job. I did outstanding in the interview, did very well on all of the skills assessment tests that I was given, and in general made a great impression. Nevertheless, I did not get the job. I think that the personality profile testing was designed to catch you in a lie.

I was sort of put in a Catch-22 situation. Whether or not I tried to fake out the personality profile test, I was bound to lose. If it found out my true personality, they probably would not want to hire me because I did not fit in with the company. If I tried to cover it up, however, it would catch me lying. It really seemed unfair to me. Wasn’t there a time when I could get a job based on possessing the necessary skills? What business is it of there is whether or not I like to work in teams!

Entry Filed under: General, Personality Profile, Job Interviews