Most interviewers will tell you that it’s “just a formality.” But if the written personality test really were just a formality, you’d be offered the job without any strings attached. Then the company would have you take the personality test once you were already on staff. When filling out the personality test, you want to come across as dependable, emotionally stable, agreeable, and industrious. Additionally, there are certain qualities that are considered important to have in different fields. For a sales job, being extroverted is generally considered a vital trait. For a job in the arts, creativity is considered desirable. What happens if you fill out the personality test in a different way than the company expects? See the following Q&A.
104.
At our company, we’re looking for wolves, not sheep. We need leaders, not managers. One telltale sign of a leader is having a headstrong, type A personality. But on your personality test, I noticed that you’re really more of a type B personality.A.
True leadership requires the ability to motivate all different kinds of people: type A personalities, type B personalities, managers, and dreamers. It would be my job to give lazy employees the kick in the pants they need to succeed, and to rein in some of the “wolves” so that they can become more organized and productive. Since type A personalities are generally more headstrong and opinionated than type B personalities, they are really far better off having someone who has the emotional intelligence and psychological distance to deal with their outbursts, as well as their flashes of inspiration.Alt A. I successfully led forty people in my last job, and frankly, they were all different types of people. I have the grace under pressure to motivate, cajole, encourage, and inspire any kind of employee in your organization. Being a leader involves people skills, and this is my true area of expertise.
Don’t let psychobabble unnerve you. Counter all hypothetical theories (type A
personalities are stronger leaders than type B personalities) with something tangible: proof that you’re the man for the job (even if you happen to be a woman).
Recent studies estimate that 34 percent of resumes and 73 percent of job applications contain information that is either false or, at the very least, embellished. Hence, the rise of personality testing at all kinds of different companies, including commercial banks, investment banking firms, insurance corporations, retail, computer, and trucking companies.
There are numerous personality tests that corporations might use. Some tests are industry specific. Others are really aptitude tests. Still others are designed as disaster checks, which attempt to help recruiters weed out potential “problem employees” with drug addictions or serious psychological disorders.
Why leave your score on a personality test to chance? Try to find out if the company conducts personality tests before your interview. Ask your contacts. If you know someone at the company, urge him or her to tell you what qualities the company is looking for in its employees. Then answer the personality test appropriately.
105.
Here’s a test for you. As you will see, there is a blank piece of paper with a line on it. Please fill in the one word that best describes you.A.
Perspective. (I stay calm under pressure.)Alt. A. Flexibility. (I work well with others.)
Alt. A. Leadership. (I motivate people effortlessly.)
Alt. A. Persistence (I prevail in spite of obstacles.)
With this kind of test, don’t be too cute with your answer. Avoid cliched metaphors, such as “captain,” “cheerleader,” or “right-hand man.” Find words that are serious and
business related.
106.
Do you consider yourself a leader? Why or why not?A.
Oh, yes, absolutely. I have all of the leadership qualities. I’m extroverted, but I also happen to be a terrific listener. I consider myself a “big-idea” person, but I can also be hard-nosed and practical when necessary. I was promoted to senior vice president five years ago, and turned a division that was limping along aimlessly into a profitable contender. I helped our team generate $20 million of new business revenues, and even more significantly, retain $80 million of current business.Leaders are made, not born. But I am a leader in waiting. In college, I was on the student council. I had gained the “freshman fifteen” (pounds), and I really felt that all of the fried food in the school cafeteria was partly to blame. So I led the drive to get more nutritionally balanced foods on the menu. This involved collecting petitions from the student body and discussing the situation with several members of the administration. Until I become a leader at your company, I’m determined to learn the ropes from the recognized leaders in your department.
107.
How would you describe your working style?A.
Well, I took the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator personality test, and apparently, I am an “INTJ,” in other words: introverted, intuitive, thinking, and judging. This makes me a “logical visionary.” I know how to plan strategically, but I also keep my eye on the future. I set broad, long-term objectives, and have the stamina to see them through. I accomplish tasks and meet deadlines religiously. According to Myers-Briggs, my skills make me the ideal researcher for you to have on staff.If you are right out of college and are looking for your first job, you may well be asked to describe your personality. When you answer the question, using “objective” Myers- Briggs criteria, it has a certain ring of authority. So download the test from the Internet, figure out your strengths, and sell them as if your future happiness depended on it.