Dear Ms. Spiritual Matters,
Today when I interviewed for a job, the personnel director told me she would give me a personality test. I was not prepared for this. She said the test was standard procedure for hiring at this company and would tell if I worked better in groups or alone, was introverted or extroverted, and was understanding of people or judged others. The test took an hour to take.
Afterward, I met with potential coworkers to answer more questions. Following this, the personnel director took me aside and gave me the results of my test. I was not happy. I do not feel the test results represented who I am. I walked out without waiting to talk to the department head.
I know who I am. Someone else has no business judging that with a paper and pencil test. When I got home, I told my wife I did not want to work at any company that thought a test could tell them if I would be a good fit for the job. What is your view on this?
George
Dear George,
Can a test capture who you are? Yes. How you chose to answer questions can determine many of the ways you would behave when you work with a group of people or alone. Companies can spare themselves the hassle of hiring a person who does not fit in with a group by testing ahead of time. It works both ways. A person whose answers showed incompatibility for a job likely would not be happy working at the place either.
A rule of thumb: A person is who he/she says he/she is and who others say he/she is. This means that a person can have an opinion about who he/she is and this view can differ from who others say he/she is. We all want others to think we are the good people we intend to be. But, hey, everyone looks at people through different lenses.
A good way to explore the question, “Who am I?” is to make lists under the following headings. Each statement gives you insight into the person you are.
Who you love tells who you are.
What you value tells who you are.
What you spend your time doing tells who you are.
What you are thankful for tells who you are.
The things you do for others when no one else knows you are doing them tells who you are.
I hope a job that fits with your personality is soon yours.
Sincerely,
Ms. Spiritual Matters
Susan Schoenbeck holds Baccalaureate and Master’s degrees in nursing from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is an experienced educator and teaches nursing students at Walla Walla University — Portland, Oregon campus. She is an oblate of a Benedictine Monastery where she learned centering and contemplative meditation practices. She is author of the book, Zen and the Art of Nursing, Good Grief: Daily Meditations, and Near-Death Experiences: Visits to the Other Side.