personality quiz, anyone?

[pinoyrn]

I recently graduated and started calling hospital nurse recruiters for job openings. One of the nurse recruiters I talked to on the phone told me to call an 800 number to take a little quiz. She informed me that it would only take a few minutes and that it is something that would let them know a little bit about me. I was asked to call back in a couple of days later and discuss possible job opportunities.

It turned out to be a personality quiz which took 20 minutes. I called her back after a couple of days and my call was never returned. A few weeks later I dropped by the hospital and finally met with her. She informed me that the results of the personality quiz deemed me as "not recommended." She didn't elaborate on the parameters of the type of personality that would qualify for one to work in that hospital. I was invited to take it again in six months, which is the time required for me to be eligible to take the quiz again in order to inquire about a job in this hospital.

This is the first time I have experienced this. I didn't know this type of thing existed until it happened to me. Is this something new?

Needless to say, I don't intend on calling back.

I have a job interview in another hospital in two days. I hope it is not a humiliating experience this time.

[LISAJO]

Good luck, with your interview.

[fedupnurse]

Good luck with your interview. Sounds like you will be better off not working at that other place. While I do agree we need quality nurses, I don't feel a personality test can possibly assess who you really are! Sounds like that hospital is missing out on qualified job candidates!

[catlady, BSN, RN]

I wonder if that little "test" is even legal. Not that I'd want to work any place that would even think of administering such a bunch of bull, but someone needs to challenge it.

I'll bet the local media would be interested, too, seeing as most everyone now knows about the nursing shortage. They might look into why a local hospital is putting up artificial barriers to recruiting RNs in the middle of a staffing crisis.

[SmBaxter]

That's so strange! I never heard of such a thing...as a relatively new grad ( two years out), I had hospitals calling me on the phone to come work for them ( I don't even know how they got my number!)... Good luck with your interview...I would not even THINK of trying that place again!

[disher]

I don't really understand, what kind of questions were you asked that screened your personality type? Were they situational questions that addressed behavioural competencies like leadership and commitment? Did they ask you to give details of situations in which you demonstrated these skills? Or did they give you a mulitple choice quiz? If it was a mulitple choice test then that is really strange, but if it was a a pre-interview questionaire where you describe a situation the action you took and the outcome. Then they are just trying to save themselves the time of conducting several interviews. Either way this seems sort a red flag for how they treat they employees.

[pinoyrn]

I went back and visited the hospital's web site and they do say that it is an "automated telephone interview." Furthermore, it says "This is a useful tool to help us learn more about your strengths related to the position in which you have expressed interest. There are no wrong answers - simply respond to each question/statement as it best describes you."

You rate a series of statements from 1-5. 1, if you strongly disagree, 2 if you disagree, 3 if you are neutral, 4 if you agree and 5 if you strongly agree.

From what I remember, one statement says (I'm paraphrasing here), "I enjoy working as part of a team." Or, "I try to avoid confrontation."

At the start, you have to select which position you are interested in. I selected the OR, which is my area of specialty.

When I met with the recruiter, she mentioned that the department managers are looking for specific types of people. I assume that they want nurses with certain strengths. The nurse recruiter also said that the "telephone interview" is not based on skill, which is true.

Even before I made the call, I felt a little apprehensive about it and during the call, there were moments when I thought I needed to qualify my answers with an explanation. But, of course, I could only answer by pressing 1,2,3,4, or 5 on the phone.

During my brief meeting with the recruiter, she didn't indicate if I am better suited with another nursing department. There is just no way to know what my strengths are according to their phone interview and what they are looking for. I was told that I could call back in 6 months and led to the door.

[pinoyrn]

By the way, thank you all for your well wishes. I do hope that my interview tomorrow will be a good one. I get to meet with the recruiter and also with the nurse manager of the OR. It is very exciting!!!

[Y2KRN]

Hello,

This is just insane what will they think of next?? I thought America was a free country and you got to choose your profession and where you work, not the other way around.

I don't understand why you would be offered to take the test again in six months. Is your personality going to change?? Or do they expect you to study for it so, you answer the questions right to do a certain specialty??? Amazing!

Y2KRN

[Peeps Mcarthur]

Yup, a personality test developed by a psychology major is what they were counting on to help them hire quality nurses.

How about Paper, Scissors, Rock, or do they already use that to hire physicians?

I think you should be glad you missed that one!

[OBNURSEHEATHER]

Originally posted by Peeps Mcarthur

How about Paper, Scissors, Rock, or do they already use that to hire physicians?

:chuckle :chuckle

Seriously, you wouldn't want to work for a place like that anyways.

Heather

[KaraLea, LVN]

Remember in kindergarden you would get a comment on your report card similar to "Plays well with others"? Well one of my co-workers says that the reason all of us get along so well and work so well together is that none of us play well with others. LOL