A weird interview exercise; and how interviews have changed: for the Worse!

[BlinkyPinky]

Well, the interviews continue (I'm actually getting good at them, I THINK)

The latest one had me doing the requisite PERSONALITY TEST (hate), and then something i have NOT encountered in nursing interview before:

A TIMED TYPING TEST. I'm not talking about just a small sampling to show you can use the keyboard; I am talking about the exact typing tests I remember from learning to type in the 8th grade. A sample entry (with lots and lots of proper names, geography places etc), that has to be typed accurately and is TIMED> They had a TIMER on the left side of the screen.

This was presented to me in the test about general office software and email software that was after the personality "Test". There was one, and then the second=-to-last question, there was a SECOND , timed test.

What gives? I was not interviewing for Admin. Asst. or other office job.

( I didnt make time on the second test for sure, and I can't remember if I did on test 1)

And in these interviews, they want you to fill out all sorts of disclosures and agree to this and that and give them your SS# for several things, and take these tests , BEFORE you EVER speak to a manager or before you, the potential employee, even decide for yourSELF whether you WANT that job ! IE: before any salary info, benefit info, shift info, etc. Sometimes, I've even had to submit a urine , before I've ever set foot in to a hiring manager's office.

Why?

Hey I attended many interviews in my day (before my last job which was my longest-term job). That was when you: filled out an app (no internet), got a call "Can you come in for an interview?", attended interview WITH the manager or decision-maker, then went home and waited for a call, or not. Perhaps a reject letter would arrive, in the U.S. mail. At some point in the interview you usually would be told the salary. There was no "ask HR about that", or "Oh--you need to ask your hiring manager about that..."

NO PERSONALITY "tests", either!

[audreysmagic, RN]

I hate the personality tests...usually the best personality test is the interview/orientation period, as far as I'm concerned. I have a sense in orientation when someone's just not going to work out with us, despite good interviews. And orientation really is a "test drive" for BOTH employer and employee. I snorted a bit at the comment about IQ tests (agreeing that it might be taking things a touch too far)...but I've considered a reading comprehension test a few times. And not as a screen-out tool either, but...people are amazingly good at seeing what they WANT to see in memos and I'd like proof that they HAVE good reading comprehension skills sometimes. (I kid...but, dang, there are times I wonder how the most straightforward directions get misconstrued.)

[Sour Lemon]

Having learned to type on the IBM Selectric myself, I think I'm still a better typist (or "keyboardist" or whatever) than a lot of kids who grew up with computers.

I was probably in one of the very last high school typewriter classes. My mother grew up with no computers and can out type me by a long shot, but she's always worked secretarial jobs. I'm thinking more of individuals who moved on to paper charting and haven't seen a keyboard in a while? I do see nurses "pecking" at the keyboard, occasionally. They're usually older than me. Always, in fact.

[JKL33]

So why would They want to exclude all introverts??

I don't know if it's strictly introvert vs. extrovert and I've never been personality tested for a job. But I can make a few guesses about what they're looking for. I'm pretty sure (as mentioned elsewhere in the thread) it's easy enough to play their silly game and tell them what they want to hear via the testing. When given a chance to use your own words, make sure to tell them how you're hoping to be a Safety Champion and also love to work on EBP projects in your spare time. That oughta seal the deal.

Now if it were up to me, I'd weed people out by watching them take a manual b/p, write a paragraph, and do a simple algebra problem.

[Ddestiny, BSN, RN]

The last time I had a personality test as part of an interview process was when I was interviewing to be a CMA at a LTC Facility. After I got established in the job my employer gave me the "peek behind the curtain" and described that what they do at that particular facility is they use them to try to get good personality fits in each wing/house of the NH. I think the bosses were given leeway in deciding exactly what that meant but for my boss, she wanted people that had strengths different from her own. This particular place actually later gave us our personality results and I had a little class about what it meant, how to build upon it, etc.

I don't know if this is the same at other places.

At my first nursing job I was on a leadership committee and each member took a different personality test and we used it to learn about our interaction styles with each other. I think it helped create some empathy for why some people didn't understand certain others and why there was potential for friction between certain personalities.

[DowntheRiver]

I'm extremely introverted, but also very assertive and direct.

This would also describe me to a T, so maybe that is what they are looking for as well?

[DowntheRiver]

When given a chance to use your own words, make sure to tell them how you're hoping to be a Safety Champion and also love to work on EBP projects in your spare time.

This, and also say that you love to join Committees.

Now if it were up to me, I'd weed people out by watching them take a manual b/p, write a paragraph, and do a simple algebra problem.

Oh my gee, yes!

[Alex Egan, LPN, EMT-B]

I don't know that I place a lot of value on personality tests for employers. I did find mine very valuable fore personal reflection. I didn't put much stock in them until I took a good one and it was spooky how well it called me out. Did it change my life...no. Did it give me prospective yea a bit.

[BlinkyPinky]

Now the " Typing Test Organization" is leaving me voicemail saying she's "Following up" and sounding very friendly etc. I can tell she/they are wondering why I did not do the drug test /ie: pursue anything. (I was supposed to have that done within 24 hours and I bailed not because anything in my system, but because of the silliness of the stuff I had to do there -in my 2 hours' of wasted time).

I am tempted to call her back and tell her outright, politely of course, my opinion of the entire thing. I can't for tomorrow b/c I have an orientation all day in another city (for an agency job) ; but perhaps Thursday..not sure whether I'll do it.

In reality, I mostly have changed my mind because of poor employee reviews they have, and the fact that I'd have to work the CSU and not be able to rotate among other units at their Psych facility. I have been warned away from the CSU by current employees there. But the secondary reason WOULD be the other day and the typing test , personality silliness, etc.

[Sour Lemon]

Now the " Typing Test Organization" is leaving me voicemail saying she's "Following up" and sounding very friendly etc. I can tell she/they are wondering why I did not do the drug test /ie: pursue anything. (I was supposed to have that done within 24 hours and I bailed not because anything in my system, but because of the silliness of the stuff I had to do there -in my 2 hours' of wasted time).

I am tempted to call her back and tell her outright, politely of course, my opinion of the entire thing. I can't for tomorrow b/c I have an orientation all day in another city (for an agency job) ; but perhaps Thursday..not sure whether I'll do it.

In reality, I mostly have changed my mind because of poor employee reviews they have, and the fact that I'd have to work the CSU and not be able to rotate among other units at their Psych facility. I have been warned away from the CSU by current employees there. But the secondary reason WOULD be the other day and the typing test , personality silliness, etc.

It would feel great to call, but don't do it. You might decide that it's not such a bad deal someday and want to go back. Silence can say a lot, too.

[Kyrshamarks, BSN, RN]

The timed typing test actually makes sense. They are not testing your typing ability, but rather your attention to fine details i.e. names, geographical locations, dates. They also are testing how well you work under pressure. The timer that you can see on the side if the screen is meant to distract you from the task at hand and to out pressure on you to complete quickly the task and accurately. Things a nurse needs to be able to do.

[Rainbow_RN, BSN, RN]

I think personality tests are fake. I did the Myers Briggs Inventory one year apart. On the first one, I was an introvert and on the second one, I was an extrovert. I can't believe some people use that as grounds to hire/not hire someone. I guess since everyone is switching to EHR, they wouldn't want to hire someone who types very slow. But in the EHR environment at my (soon-to-be) workplace, there is barely any typing involved. Mostly clicky boxes and drop down menus and such. Anyway, I am incredulous!

[Nurse Beth, MSN]

Definitely some clinical knowledge tests are helpful for identifying learning gaps. But I wonder how valid some of the personality assessments are. One thing for sure- testing companies are making a lot of money selling these assessments to hospitals.