Can Job Candidates Game Personality Tests?
While ordering a textbook online last week for my Master’s program, Amazon recommended a second book, “Ace the Corporate Personality Test”. Wow, a book for job candidates to learn how to “pass” personality tests. The fact that a book has been published to help candidates fake out personality tests should come as no surprise. All you need to do is search the Internet for interview questions or drug test and more results show up for candidates to find the best answers or methods to “beat” the system for drug use. Of course, while you can fail a drug test, there is no such thing as passing a personality test for a job. Work-related personality “tests” are really just neutral, yet objective, assessments that identify specific personality traits that can impact job performance. They were not designed to be used exclusively on a “hire” or “do not hire” basis. What’s important to know that when used properly personality tests should contribute to about one-third of a candidate’s total score.
