Arg! Pre-employment personality tests

[Elinor]

These tests are so nerve-wracking. Two major health systems in my area (and possibly more) are using the same personality test to screen applicants, so being able to pass is pretty high stakes. I don't know whether I'm passing or not. The answers are always:

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

So for instance, the question will say something like:

"I prefer to stay busy." Or, "I work best with people from the same background as me."

I've been answering "agree/disagree" to almost everything, and only occasionally using "strongly agree/disagree." Mainly just because that "felt" right to me... less extreme, more conservative and temperate. So my answers to the above would be agree and disagree.

Am I doing it wrong?? Are my answers too wishy-washy? I had previous read that they don't like extreme answers, but I wonder. For people who do well on these, how did you answer? Strongly agree or just agree?

[Dogen]

These types of questions use what's called a Likert scale, and it's very common for people to avoid either extreme ("very happy," "strongly disagree," etc). There are a lot of reasons, but typically because most people simply don't feel strongly about a lot of things, and even when they do they often don't want to appear extreme on a test.

In any event, what you're supposed to do is answer honestly. The point is to learn about who you are, and I presume that you're a nice person. If you try to look good, and if the test is a version of the MMPI, it includes items to detect that. So, just be honest. It'll work out better. :)

[Elinor]

Hi Dogen, thanks for your advice. It's reassuring to hear that the strongest answers aren't necessarily the best. I think "answer honestly" might not work out well for everyone, but I guess that's kind of the point of the tests.