How to Take a Personality Test

You found the job, logged onto the website and filled out the application. Now the computer sends you to another page asking you to please answer a series of questions. It is a computer generated personality profile, and it can make a big difference in whether you land the job. You feel a little anxiety despite the fact that you are sitting in your boxer shorts, at your desk inside the comfort of your own home. So where does the anxiety come from? Like most things in life, we have tendency to fear the things we don’t really understand. Even if you’ve taken a similar test on other job seeking websites, you still feel a sense of being set up (Is this question a trick? How should I answer?). Here is some information to help you understand the test, and perhaps relieve you of the anxiety when a potential employer asks you to take one on of their personality profile tests.

What is it? A computer generated personality profile is a series of questions which are to be answered using five statements. These answers in turn correspond to five separate personality types (Known in psychology as The Big Five). The Big Five was originally derived in the 1970’s by two independent research teams who discovered (and most personality psychologist agree) that much of what we call human personality can be boiled down to five traits. What are the Big Five?

1. Neurotic, which is characterized by anxiety

2. Extroversion, someone who is outgoing (think life of the party)

3. Openness, characterized as intelligence and creativity

4. Agreeableness, someone always making concessions to avoid conflict

5. Conscientiousness, reliable and dutiful

These five personality types correspond to the five answers given, and depending upon the nature of the questions will give some indication into which of these five personalities an applicant falls. What are the five answers?

1. Strongly disagree

2. Disagree

3. Neither agree or disagree

4. Agree

5. Strongly agree

Again, the questions will pertain to the nature of the company so there is not necessarily a direct correlation between a given answer and a given personality type (although I doubt that many companies are hiring qualified neurotics).

How does it work? The test is based on basic statistics. Each statement and personality type is given quantitative values which are then placed as points on the graph. The graph (Known as a scatter plot graph) is then given a line of regression (A line that is drawn through the scattered points as straight as possible). This line can fit in three different ways: A line angling upward, a line going down, or a line that is horizontal. As with the mathematician looking at numeral statistics, the company is looking for a line that is the best fit. There will be a range based on the angle to which the line will fall and the personality type will be determined. Depending upon which traits in a potential employee the company is looking for, this range will either qualify the applicant to go on to the next stage, or have their application set aside.

What does it mean for you? The most important thing that you need to understand is that personality profile tests were not originally designed for companies to do interviews. Most profile tests are for research purposes only. But companies understand just as researchers do that intuitions are based on correlated information. If your prospective employer is asking you take this type of test it means that the corporation has hired someone to put together a series of questions to meet their specific needs. These questions will expand beyond what you think to what you will do and how you will feel. Remember the company is looking for someone with certain combination of traits. Ask yourself; based on the product of the company and the nature of the job, which trait are they looking for? You never know. They may just be looking for the qualified neurotic.

Helpful Tip. This is not the multiple choice test you got from your high school English teacher. There is no right or wrong answer and no answer pattern to memorize. The most useful tip you get taking a personality profile test is this: While there is nothing wrong with having strong convictions (and there will be questions that you will want to answer as 1. Strongly disagree, and 5. Strongly agree) stick to the middle (Numbers 2, 3, and 4). Ask yourself what it is that the company is looking for and not necessarily how that question makes you feel. Remember they’re not doing research, they are looking for a profile that will easily assimilate into the company, and just like Goldilocks and her chair, you want a profile that fits just right.