wildcat

Bluesboyj. I'm not sure if you are directing your comments toward me or the topic in general. Either way it's fine by me. However, I do want to make sure my position is known. Personality test are not and should not be the only assesment done to determine who is and who is not hired. Personality tests are good at providing validation for hiring an employee and distingusing what a potential employee will most likely be like. For example, if you were hiring an ICU RN and you had two canidates you had a good feeling about and you need something help you decide which one to hire. A personality test might indicate which canidate is best inclined for the job. Again, personality tests are just one piece of a total evaluation which organizations should use in order to hire the best possible employee.

Molly, your questions are very valid. The purpose of asking the questions whether they are opinion or third person references, etc. is to assertain the subjects personality type and tendencies. For example, seven different qustions on a test might asses the subjects attention to details or integrity, etc. The ultimate purpose of the personality profile that results from the test is then matched against traits, characteristics, values, etc. which an employer desires in a particular employment position. With the topic at hand ICU's, the hospital is looking for RN's who are attentive to detail, sensitive to slight changes in a patients condition, highly organized and the list goes on. The point is that a personality test asseses a set of desired characteristics and the hospital then compaires them against what they desire in a RN. In short, when personality tests are designed and given correctly they help to get the best RN's in the best position for the particular RN. On to your question of validity and accuracy. I would say the vast majority (98% or better) of personality assesment tests that are produced by reputible firms or universities are accurate measures of what they are designed to measure. Unfortunatly, some times these tests are given incorrectly and may skew the results. I would have to say that in few (3%) cases that a test is given so improperly that it would give inaccurate results. Now on a personal note. I am offically stating my position of personality testing. These test can serve as a useful aide to an interviewer. As with any other aspect of life you should not put all your eggs in one basket. Interviewing is the same way to me. An interviewer should use a personality test to help themself make an educated decision on hiring an RN. A personality test should not be the sole tool used in assesing a potential RN's sutibility as no one test (except drug tests) should hire or not hire an RN. That is my story and I'm sticking to it.

IT IS VERY LEGAL. On the "survey" you took I'm sure your signature was required and that your signature verified that you took the "survey" of your own free will.

Personality tests are as common as reference checks. While I was an undergrad working on my BSN I took a course in Behavioral Research(as part of my BA in Psychology). First off you did not "fail" the test. The test merely assesed your personality type. The test you took was probably a water down version of the Myers-Briggs test. Don't get down on yourself if they did not hire you. They could have just used your results as an excuse not to hire you. But who knows. As for the legality of the test, it is legal. You had the choice to refuse the "survey" at the time it was administered. To answer your question about the repetiveness of the "survey," questions are asked multiple times for validation. If you are inconsistent the test results will reflect it and in fact asseses another trait. If you would like to know your personality type there are many online tests, for example http://www.outofservice.com/you / or http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Hollow/9561/index.html Your personality type can change over time and day to day for arguments sake. But, you can take a test off one of thes e sites to find out what type of person you are. I can even help you interprit your results if you email them to me.