I failed the interview personality test/survey!

Nurses General Nursing

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I applied to a prestigious hospital as a CNA/PCT/Student nurse, and I made it to the 2nd round, which was a computerized personality test with the choices Strongly Agree, Moderately Agree, Slightly Agree, Slightly Disagree, Moderately Disagree, Strongly Disagree. It didn't occur to me until after I had completed it that I should have answered what they wanted. I just received an email stating that I would not be suited for their workplace.

I think that the place that I messed up was the questions along the vein of, "When following safety precautions, all accidents can be avoided?" "I attribute lack of injury to luck," and "Healthcare workers are stressed and overworked because of administrators." I worked LTC and can absolutely state that even with the best safety precautions, injuries are still unavoidable sometimes.

I'm not too fazed about this rejection, as I saw that they're all about customer service. In fact, during the personality test, they never once said patient, it was always about the customer. Hmmm...

Yes, I strongly agree that rude people are always right and should be treated with respect.

Yes, I strongly agree that even when extremely busy, I can still take the time to explain something to somebody of get something for them.

Yes, I strongly agree that any accidents are at the fault of the careless person because s/he did not follow safety procedures.

(Yes, these were actual questions. I answered correctly on these b/c they were thinly disguised).

For pete's sake, there was a gift shop in the lobby that sold Rolex watches! I'm currently waiting tables, and the customer service I do now is less obsequious than the job expectations at this hospital!

The moral of this story: When they say that there is no right or wrong answer with these personality tests, it's bullcrap. Answer the way they want you to in order to get your foot in the door.

Specializes in ICU, telemetry, LTAC.

The "no child left behind" crap has got my daughter's teachers trying to make goals she can reach, instead of working on things she needs to do regardless of how difficult they are for her. (special ed- their IEP's actually dwarf my careplans from nursing school.) They have to do that to show progress, regardless of disability. So, they're still trying to teach literacy and math, but the goals make it look like they're concentrating on washing her face and brushing her teeth, and being able to order meals at taco bell. I wish I was kidding! I'm so glad I'm not a teacher!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, ER and ICU!!!.

My Favorite one is "Are you a risk taker".

Lets see, I ride a motorcycle, speed on occasion (everyone does at one point or another, bo flaming!), have jumped outta airplanes, love to skydive, love to bungee jump, addicted to roller coaster rides, have a tattoo of my kids name on my arm, own a gun (and know how to use it in the country on a target),

:nono: :nono: No, I am not a risk taker.:smackingf

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Specializes in Neuro ICU.

Yeah, I wouldn't worry about the tests. My mom had to take one last year for a position she was applying for. They told her she passed it so well and was so normal and well adapted that they thought she was abnormal and sent her to a psychiatrist for evaluation before they would hire her! Get that! LOL what corporate hogwash!

Mrsalby

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standardized personality tests should NEVER replace the good judgement of the interviewer.... I'ts all pretty lame.

This is exactly what happened at one hospital here - one directly affiliated with the nursing school. They were rejecting applicants based on this test (it was a 1st screen tool! FIRST!) and the nursing director, etc wasn't even aware. Some really great people (high marks in school, wonderful clinical references, etc) never even made it to the interview. One of them has now gone up to a very prestigious hospital a little north. The nursing instructors and then nursing management got wind of it - and shut it down! The instructors were peeved because what they thought about the student meant nothing!

The thing is, this was a new test - and they didn't test it on any existing employees to see if it really did predict people that fit into their 'culture'. :banghead:

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Heaven's I feel SO much better after reading this thread! I'm in a p/t LVN program, I have owned my own small business (x2) for 20 years and wanted a less demanding, time consuming job while in school. (I've worked as a CHHA, Gerontology Caregiver for the last 10 years.) So in I go to Long's Drug Store for their p/t cashier position. The manager is very interested and feels he can put me on the schedule without interferring with class and study time. "You just have to take this test, and we'll be all set".

The personality test didn't even make sense to me. If you want to know something just ASK it directly, I'll be happy to answer. One questions I remember was "You are almost always on time" I thought, "how can I almost always be on time, either I'm on time, or I'm late. And I'm always on time or early to a job" So I answered Disagree Strongly. After talking with my adult sons, who told me I should have agreed with them, I knew I wasn't going to pass this "test". And sure enough, I didn't get the p/t job. A loss of a good employee to Longs!

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March 2003--Interview #1 (only one) Personality Q: If a someone were to verbally attack you: you would

1. Try to calm the person down by talking in a calm manner.

2. Yell louder than the person.

3. Defend yourself verbally and report it to supervisor.

4. Stay quiet and do nothing.

March 2006--FIRED: Reason: Argument instigated by co-worker. (I chose #3 then and now)

I don't like personality tests.....

There's no correct answer to that question. It depends on whether you're verbally attacked in a hallway where visitors are, the parking lot or Wal-Mart since the question doesn't state where the attack would take place.

If it happened at work, #1,3, or 4 would be appropriate. Personally, I'd do what you did and defend myself and report it to the supervisor. Isn't that what they are there for???

Whenever I come across a personality test I pretend I'm Mother Theresa (no joke). I answer all the questions as Mary Sunshine and I'm willing to be railroaded by my employer.

I haven't ever flunked a personality test but sure wish I did with my current job. Yep, they expect me to be Mary Sunshine and be a doormat.

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Yeah, I wouldn't worry about the tests. My mom had to take one last year for a position she was applying for. They told her she passed it so well and was so normal and well adapted that they thought she was abnormal and sent her to a psychiatrist for evaluation before they would hire her! Get that! LOL what corporate hogwash!

Mrsalby

So now being normal and well adapted is abnormal? What society do we live in? Last I checked normal and well adapted people were excellent workers, helpful, nice, on time, etc. I'd be telling the employer they were abnormal for saying a normal person was abnormal.

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Specializes in Emergency.

I haven't taken a personality test in many years; and, I was so surprised that you could actually fail one!!!

Also, to Nerdtonurse: Every year I wonder what "catch phrases" management will come up with. It's terrible that someone sits in an office making BIG bucks making up these "words and phrases". They really need to be down in the trenches seeing how we live!:uhoh3:

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Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

I wish I had started a list of the buzz words I've come across in all my career. Paradigm, codependancy, consumer driven, service line, transformation, drive/driven, and even "health care" itself.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Infusion, peds, informatics.
i haven't taken a personality test in many years; and, i was so surprised that you could actually fail one!!!

i don't think the op was talking about a myers-briggs type personality test, but more of a "how-honest-are-you" type of test.

i took one for my first nursing job. it asks many similar questions to see how consistent you are. two questions i remember are "have you ever stolen anything from work?" and "have you ever taken office supplies home from work?" if you answer yes to one but not the other, either you are fibbing, or you don't consider taking office supplies home to be stealing. it is a test of your values. if you try too hard to beat it, you will end of coming off as a fibber (who hasn't taken home a pen?) my dad does hiring for a non-healthcare company, and he gives this test. he loves it. i think it weeds out potentially good employees. we just arn't going to agree on this one, but thats ok. i don't have to work for him. :wink2:

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PeachPie,

the only one I ever passed "with flying colors" (as one interviewer said) was the one that an oil company used to discover candidates suitable for training as dynamite handlers.

:rotfl:
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This is very worrisome for the future. I hate to think that after having all this schooling, great grades, great employment history, great references, spotless credit, driving record, never in trouble with the law, otherwise a shinning star, etc, it all boils down to some confusing test that will get you eliminated instantly.

I wonder what the nursing schools/instructors say about this.

Is there anyone who has passed such a test and can give any advice?

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