#PersonalityTests #JobRecruiting #HiringProcess
When it comes to the hiring process, many employers use personality tests to get a better understanding of potential employees. These tests often include questions that gauge your personality traits, such as whether you enjoy helping others or if you are a team player. This begs the question – should you answer these questions based on how you think the employer wants you to be? Let’s explore this topic and see if lying on these tests is worth it.
The Dilemma of Personality Tests
As you navigate the job application process, you may come across personality tests that seem to ask the same question in different ways. You may encounter statements like “I love working in groups” or “I am always cheerful and optimistic.” These questions can be tricky to navigate, especially if you don’t naturally align with these traits. It’s understandable to feel conflicted about how to answer these questions honestly, especially when your livelihood is at stake.
The Consequences of Lying
While it may be tempting to tailor your answers to fit the image of the ideal candidate, it’s important to consider the potential consequences of lying on these tests. While you may believe that exaggerating certain traits will improve your chances of getting hired, it’s essential to recognize the ethical implications of being dishonest about your personality. Additionally, if you do land the job based on false representations, you may find yourself in a position that is not well-suited to your true self, leading to job dissatisfaction and potential conflicts with your employer down the line.
Navigating Personality Tests Honestly
So, how should you approach these personality tests in a way that feels authentic while still positioning yourself as a strong candidate? Here are a few strategies to consider:
1. Understand the Purpose: Take a moment to consider why the employer is using these tests. They are likely attempting to identify candidates who will thrive in the company culture and excel in the role. With this in mind, try to answer the questions in a way that reflects your genuine strengths and abilities.
2. Embrace Your Authenticity: While it may be tempting to portray yourself as the “perfect” candidate, it’s important to remember that authenticity can be a valuable asset. Highlight the qualities that make you unique and showcase how they can benefit the company.
3. Focus on Transferable Skills: If there are questions that directly contradict your personality, focus on highlighting your transferable skills instead. For example, if you are introverted but possess strong communication skills, emphasize your ability to communicate effectively in various settings.
Finding the Right Fit
It’s also important to consider whether you truly want to work for a company that places such a heavy emphasis on personality tests. If you find yourself uncomfortable with the idea of molding yourself to fit a specific mold, it may be a sign that the company’s culture is not the best fit for you. Remember that the interview process is a two-way street – as much as the employer is evaluating you, you should also be evaluating them.
In Conclusion
The use of personality tests in the hiring process can present a dilemma for job seekers. While it may be tempting to tailor your responses to align with the employer’s expectations, it’s crucial to consider the long-term implications of being dishonest about your personality. Instead of focusing on what the employer wants to hear, focus on presenting your authentic self and showcasing how your unique qualities can benefit the company. Ultimately, the goal is to find a job and company that values you for who you truly are. So, is it worth it to lie on these types of personality tests? The answer is a resounding no – honesty and authenticity will always be the best policy in the long run.
Yes. Lie.
Lie, but not *too* much, because a lot of these systems will kick you out for a perfect personality score
If they ask if you LOVE working w people. Of course u do. Lie
fake it till you make it
Of course. If you want the job then wouldn’t you try to give the right answers?
When the system is gamified, you can only play the game.
Answer truthfully
Tell them what they want to hear but don’t make it too obvious you’re lying.
Don’t feel bad about it, simply remember that they probably already lied to you in the job description and purposely omitted all the tasks you’ll be expected to do, tasks that others previously quit over, and they don’t have a problem doing that to literally every new employee.
Always provide the correct answer not the truth.
Gotta play the game man.
Them: “How often do you cry on your commute home and contemplate driving off a bridge?”
Me: “never”
Yeah, just gotta lie a little bit. Good luck out there!
Yes
Yes, lie. These tests are often not an accurate measurement so no point in answering truthfully. In my industry I do operation/business support side but still have to take the same tests often designed for the core workers. (eg an accountant for retail chain and being asked personality questions for customer service people)
Answer the way they would want to hear.
I agree with the comments saying perfect answers will disqualify you. The job I have now, I had to take a 250+ question personality test. Some of the questions are asked a second or third time, but in a different way—to catch you in a lie.
Ex: Q13: “Do you pick your nose?” – Yes -No
Q218: “Have you ever picked your nose in public?” -Yes -No
So try not to make it seem like you’re a perfect person. Because no one is and it may be a red flag to them if you try to make yourself out to be perfect.
Yes.
“Lie”, everyone does, and you want the job, aaaaand…
They’re corporate astrology. They don’t work. They’re used wrong. Corporate people believe in them when they’re as accurate as astrology / star signs.
Just do what you gotta do and try not to stress too much.
I did that once, answered in a way that made the results look like I am very extroverted. That backfired. According to this test, I was so outgoing I would have a hard time focusing on my job, Lol. In reality I am ambivert, can be extroverted when I need to or if I want to but essentially I am an introvert.
It was just a personality test for the first screening (to get rid of majority of the candidates) and they were not my first choice or not even second choice so it did not matter for me in the end
My company would make an exiting employee do a personality test so they could find someone similar to replace them.
Yep force a disgruntled employee who is forced to work for 4 weeks and train their replacement a way to dictate the traits of their replacement. Nothing could go wrong.
I had to do it online and I looked up what the right answers were
I’ve always struggled with these tests because they way I would handle things never aligned with whatever metric they wanted. So I tried leaning more towards extrovert. Didn’t work. Tried leaning more towards friendly keep your head down type. Didn’t work. Eventually I just stopped applying to jobs that had the test because I didn’t know what they were looking for. My time was better spent applying for jobs where I know my personality would be welcomed as is.
Doesn’t matter how you answer. Those tests are bullshit. You answer the way you think they want you to, they’ll reject you for lying. If you answer honestly, they’ll reject you for being honest. Personally, I would try to avoid employers that use them, these tests are a scam.
Yes. Your boss will lie to you. Have to play their game if you want to stay afloat.
Recently, I was hate applying and one of the places I applied to made me take an assessment. It was 64 questions. I didn’t even read them, I just randomly selected answers. Because fuck them.
I passed.
Obviously, you lie.
They’re so fucking demeaning….I love applying to administrative jobs where my actual strengths (“loyalty”, ability to follow instructions, cooperation, etc) get me fucked out of the next stage.
And then…are you supposed to use *all* the categories if there are under 10, just arrange them in order?
Do they really want “leadership/innovation” in a fucking administartive fucking?
TLDR: Lie, lie, lie
You need to give the “right” answers or you won’t even make it the interview. It’s basically a test on how well you can lie.
Answer truthfully. Because who you are is who you are. You aren’t going to be extroverted when you get the job. If they are going to exclude you because you answered this test “wrong” then you really don’t want to work there.
BTW – I am in HR and I absolutely hate these tests. We don’t use them and I personally wouldn’t complete one if it was required to get the job. They are useless. They don’t predict how someone will do at the job or if they are even qualified.
Don’t lie on the tests, some have metrics for lying. Be your genuine self.
Just my thoughts.
I’ve never had to take a personality test for a job before, I’d avoid those types of jobs, seems weird as heck, what kind of demographic is that? What will they want next, my place and time of birth and full horoscope for the day? Geez
Its not lying if you choose to be optimistic and plan on “improving” yourself. Even if it doesn’t pan out that way 😉
“There is the truth and then there is the right answer. Read the questions twice!”. – my Dad.
I thought we were all telling them what they want to hear this whole time? That’s not lying. That’s self preservation.
Just HR justifying their existence.
I lie all the time and tell them what I think they want to hear. Worked out pretty well for me so far.
Honestly? If you can afford it, decline to take the test and go apply somewhere else. I do.
If you do take the test, yes lie. They are implicitly asking you to. Had one hiring manager explicitly tell me how to pass the test and what kind of answers to give (“just imagine you are the biggest teacher’s pet anyone has ever seen”). And as other posters have said, give “incorrect” answers to 1 or 2% of the questions so you don’t get bounced for a perfect score.
HMs that don’t explicitly ask you to lie know or should have known that their test ensures they will **exclusively** be hiring a) liars, or b) insufferable teachers’ pets. And honestly who wants to work with those anyway, so I will refer you back to my first paragraph.
Did that to work at a hardware store of all places, zero uses aside from bringing it up in meetings to be a smart ass saying “well I don’t get along with mary because mary is yellow and I’m a red”.
Eh, I would answer as the best version of yourself. One risk of lying wildly is that you could end up in a position you don’t like. Employee turnover (employees leaving, having to rehire/train/deal with gap) is expensive so the employer has a financial incentive to make sure you are both qualified and a good fit for the job. But if you’re desperate, do what you have to do.
If you see your co worker steal, tell management.
I remember I failed my first one, then went to YouTube for answers.
Do you want to be homeless and starve in the street? I assume the answer is no, so just lie. If these jobs wanted totally honest answers, they’d hook you up to a lie detector (and even then they might not get the whole truth).
Yeah, lie away. And make it good. Be totally opposite from one question to the next. Any employer that uses those tests are employers you don’t want to work for.
I have no chance of passing because I’m autistic and they are designed to weed me out.
I’ve never gotten an interview from a company that requires those tests.
You need to consider how the results are used.
My company use them. What we are looking at is whether someone’s personality type is typical for the role they’re applying for. You can be a weirdo introvert that hates people, which is fine if you’re an engineer, because fuck me we’re all a little bit that way anyway. But if you’re applying for sales and marketing or corporate communications, maybe not such a good fit. It matters, but it doesn’t sway a recruitment decision any more than any other element; it’s the whole package we look at (skills, experience, qualifications, job history, salary expectations, reputation, etc).
Just do the test and don’t over think it. Recruitment is a two way street. It’s as much the company and staff on trial as the candidate.