I wasn't hired because I failed the personality test???

[loveishope]

I had to take a pre-assessment for a particular facility. I aced the clinical exams, but did not do well on the personality exams. So they declined to have me interview. I can't believe that they would not even consider interviewing me when I did well on the clinical aspect. The recruiter was shocked as well. She said it is very difficult to find an experienced ICU nurse who is willing to relocate and take a significant cut in pay($12 HR less for me). I was shocked too and disappointed in myself because I think I am a good person with a good personality. I'm hardworking, honest, dependable, and a team player and I answered those questions the right way I thought. Of course I chose I do not use drugs, drink, participate in sexual harassment, and am a team player. So how could one fail a personality test? So discouraged. I've been an ICU nurse for over 2 years and I worked hard for my license. I'm insulted that they didn't even want to meet me face to face before they made their decision based on a test. Well, their loss is all I can say because I'm a damn good ICU nurse who is there for her patients and co- workers.

[loveishope]

That's what I'm doing. I'm interviewing in a small rural hospital. They have to face to face interviews. They were very friendly and welcoming. Maybe the other place wants clones as nurses.

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

It's a business, not personal. (feels like it though, huh?).

They can hire who they want...if they're like that , do you want to work there?

[loveishope]

No, I don't want to work for someone like that. I want to work somewhere where people want to know you and appreciate you for the knowledge and skills you have and knowing that I'm going to be good to my patients and give them the best care.

[ErinS, BSN, RN]

Oh God. The next thing we know we will be sending in headshots with our resumes so that they can ensure we fit their expected 'aesthetic values'.

[suanna]

This is the first I have heard of these things- WOW- hospitals are just BEGGING to be unionized. I can see for a PR person, or someone that is going to represent the facillity to the public on a large scale , but bedside caregivers?? When I'm sick enough to be in the hospital- I don't care if Atilla the Hun is my caregiver- as long as I get my meds on time, my call light answered, and no one screws up badly enough to kill me. I don't get admitted to the hospital to make friends, I go there to get acute care I can't get at home. What purpose these tests serve is beyond me.

[nerdtonurse?, BSN, RN]

Can we give the personality tests to the patients, and refuse to admit the ones that are cuckoo for coco puffs? Or how about a criminal background check on anyone who wants to overnight in the hospital with a family member or friend? If they're going to check us for being a threat, they need to look and see who's really dangerous and costing them money -- and it's not US.

To be fair, however, I will say that the people I know that went into nursing in the 70's and before talk about how they had to have personality testing (almost sounds like a psych exam) before they were admitted to their nursing programs.....

[noahsmama]

I've always believed that HR departments are more of a hindrance than a help in hiring good people, and this story is just one of many that proves it.

God forbid that you should have people who actually know something about the job they're hoping to fill making the decisions about who gets interviewed!

I sure hope the use of personality tests in hiring decisions does not become more widespread, and that nobody ever asks me to take one. I wonder what it would say about my personality if I told them to take their test and ***** it?

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

Consider yourself lucky! It would be very hard to take a $12/hr pay cut! Right off the bat you'd be starting with money problems. Keep looking for something better!

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

I've always believed that HR departments are more of a hindrance than a help in hiring good people, and this story is just one of many that proves it.

HR is usually the gatekeeper and to get a job you have to bypass them and actually get in touch with the official hiring manager!

[loveishope]

Well, the issue is, I met someone in West Texas and he won't move so I have to and wherever I work is going to be a cut in pay. All the hospitals pay $20 an hour for ICU.

[MrChicagoRN, RN]

My favorite question was "are you addicted to smiling?"

"Why, yes I am! In fact I often find myself grinning widely at 2am during an emergency ruptured aneurysm evacuation. I'm saving up vacation time so that I can go to that posh rehab place out in SoCal, but on the peanuts you guys pay me that'll be a while!!!"

The questions are definitely odd at times, and some are designed just for establishing a baseline. I think sometimes people trip themselves up by reading too much into it, or trying to second guess the "right answer."

I'm sure some people will answer indeed YES to the smiling question, thinking "that's what they want to hear," when common sense tells us we don't want to be around someone who smiles even when it's out of place.

I've accepted it as an initial screening tool, though it's not clear it actually serves a purpose or not. But to use it to govern shift changes or transfers seems completely pointless. They're already known employees, so objective criteria is already out there.

[dudette10, MSN, RN]

I did two different personality tests when I was searching for a job. Some of those questions were downright ludicrous.

I remember one of them during an HR screening phone interview: "When you go to a party, do you look around to see what can be improved?"

I said, in this tone, "NO WAY! I go to a party to have fun. How rude could you be to go around chaning things or to approach a host with suggestions to improve the party? That was a weird question..."

The HR person tried to hide her giggle. I passed.