Applicant "Personality" Test

Nurses New Nurse

Published

Specializes in Med-Surg.

I just finished filling out a job application that had a "Skills Assessment" at the end. There were 79 questions. It said it timed how long it took you to answer a question. Once you chose an answer, you couldn't change it and if you did it would still score the first answer. I thought it was going to be a "Skills Assessment." Well, it turned out to be a personality test.

I'm kind of freaked out. I feel like I'm not bossy enough to be a nurse. Are you supposed to be bossy? One question was, "It's easy to get others to do things the way I want them done." I said, "False. " I can get other people to do what I want, but it's not "easy." So, am I a big loser, or what?

And, why did it say "Skills Assessment?"

Ok. So, I've only filled out a million applications already. I've gotten one interview and apparently I didn't blow them away with it. They turned me down. I was upset, but I'll get over it. Apparently, I need to practice my interviewing skills. I've already been polishing up my answers. I know what mistakes I made. On this "Skills Assessment" it asked those types of questions, too. Like, "I've never made a mistake." "False." "My work is always error free." "False."

It also had "When working with others I'm usually..." A) Telling them what to do. B) Helping them complete a task. And I forget what C and D were, but I picked helping them complete a task. I'm not a supervisor. I'm not anybody's boss. So, I wonder if this personality test is going to make me look like a dishrag?

God, I hate this stuff. Why can't I just get a job and do my job and get good at my job and get a better job and help other people get good at their jobs?

Anyway, I'm not attached to this job like I was the other one and I don't know why I'm so freaked out about this stupid assessment. Maybe, it makes me wonder if I even have the personality to be a nurse.

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Dont feel bad......Ive had the same "personality tests" on every application Ive submitted. I am happy to say that I went on an interview yesterday, and got the job! Just a tip---they use those "personality tests" to see what questions they need to ask you during the interview. Good luck with your Job Search. I have been truly BLESSED:redpinkhe

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Specializes in Hospice, Skilled, LTC, Home Health.

UGH! I'm so sorry that you have to go through that! I've been through those before...and believe me, I feel your pain. My mom is actually the hiring manager for her HR department (Though she's not a nurse) and she's always willing to give me advice on the interview process--she's NEVER been wrong!! The first thing she always tells me is to look nice. NO JEANS or tennis shoes!!!!!!!!! I know you probably know this, and i'm not trying to insult your intelligence (believe me) but no matter what the other people look like, my mother says she will NOT hire someone wearing jeans. She says its a sign that the person either doesnt care, doesn't take themselves, or their potential job seriously.

The other thing is, she says if the question is "mostly" true, mark it true. They're using the "personality test" as I guide to good interview questions. Try to remember your answers so when they ask them you can explain yourself smoothly and decisively. though you may not be anyone's supervisor, they want to hire someone who is confident, firm in their ethics, and knows how to handle themselves, so being confident is VERY important! Like if they ask you "Have you ever made a mistake?" and you check "yes" be sure to explain what you've learned from it. EVERY MISTAKE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GROW!!

Sorry for the cliches...and I don't know how this turned into a "how-to" manual for interviews, as i'm sure you know what you're doing. I wish you luck, and hope that i was helpful!! :)

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
Dont feel bad......Ive had the same "personality tests" on every application Ive submitted. I am happy to say that I went on an interview yesterday, and got the job! Just a tip---they use those "personality tests" to see what questions they need to ask you during the interview. Good luck with your job search. I have been truly BLESSED:redpinkhe

CONGRATULATIONS!!! :balloons: You are blessed! Good luck in your new position!

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Specializes in Professional Development Specialist.

I had to take one of those too. "Do you enjoy cleaning up after parties?" I'm sitting there wondering wth that has to do with anything! Are they saying working there is like cleaning up after a party? Are they trying to find out if I'm at parties a lot? I'm glad to know they use it for the interview because I've been feeling bad that I can't get any interviews with that hospital.

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thanks:) miss_chybil

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
I had to take one of those too. "Do you enjoy cleaning up after parties?" I'm sitting there wondering wth that has to do with anything! Are they saying working there is like cleaning up after a party? Are they trying to find out if I'm at parties a lot? I'm glad to know they use it for the interview because I've been feeling bad that I can't get any interviews with that hospital.

You see, if I saw that question, I'd think, "Are they trying to see if I'm an honest person? Nobody likes to clean up after a party, do they?" and I would put "No." But, then I'd say what if they think that means I'm lazy? Who makes up this stuff, anyway? It's like palm-reading, or something.

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Many hospitals are using these "assessments" as screening tools prior to selecting candidates for interviews, not necessarily using them to develop a guide for an interview. Hospitals that I have applied to have told me, you either pass or fail them. Obviously if you fail it, you will no longer be pursued as a candidate for that position. Just try and approach it like the NCLEX, "What are they looking for here?" Honesty? Integrity? Independence? Character? It's all hidden in this questions, but I will admit... some are a little off the wall.

:twocents:

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I can't be anything other than honest on a test like that. One, they ask you the same question more than once to see if you answer it the same way every time. Two, it's too hard to figure out what they're looking for because the questions are so off the wall. So, if they want an honest, hard-working person, that's what they'll get out of me. If they want someone who can figure out how to answer their stupid questions right, I guess I won't get hired.

I think it's BS that some companies have taken the task of finding the right candidates and given it over to other companies who make up stupid tests for big bucks. Just my 2 pennies...

Oh, and BTW - I guess I didn't answer the questions right because I went back to the site today to add some reference letters and I've disappeared. They don't even have my email address on file anymore. My whole profile is gone. I checked my email to make sure I was at the right place. I even clicked the link they sent me to take the test and it says, "This link is no longer valid." Holy crud! I feel like I've been erased by the FBI, or something.

I guess saying when you're working as a team, your usually helping them complete a task is a sin, I don't know. Why would they disappear me? I've never seen anything like it. I guess I don't want to work for them anyway. I thought maybe I didn't enter my email address right, or something, but I had to because they sent me three emails!

Has anybody ever had this happen to them before?

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Specializes in Professional Development Specialist.
You see, if I saw that question, I'd think, "Are they trying to see if I'm an honest person? Nobody likes to clean up after a party, do they?" and I would put "No." But, then I'd say what if they think that means I'm lazy? Who makes up this stuff, anyway? It's like palm-reading, or something.

By the second time they asked, that's what I was thinking. Do they want honest? Does anyone like to clean up, I clean my own house because I have to, but I sure don't enjoy it? Do they want a team player? So if I was there for the fun, wouldn't a team player help with clean up. I can keep going. :lol2: Do they mean if I help make a mess, will I help clean it up? Do they mean if I came late after work and didn't really have a good time, will I be a martyr and still clean up? Will I be late for work the next day because I was too worried what my friends would think so I cleaned up their drunken mayhem?

I wish you the best of luck. Don't overanalzye this crazy thing.

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