Personality tests made plain

As a way of selecting the best applicants from a wide field, a number of companies resort to using personality questionnaires nowadays. Sometimes they can be a minefield to navigate but luckily help is at hand, as assessment and development consultancy Cubiks has put together a helpful Q&A, based on comments from its candidates.

The most commonly asked question is whether the questionnaire is actually a test in disguise and the short answer to that is, “no, it isn’t”. Personality quizzes are simply a way of getting you to self-report on your character, so Cubiks advises you to find a quiet spot with no distractions and answer the questions as honestly as you can.

Candidates also worry about getting the test “wrong” in some way, but there are no incorrect answers. Your responses might indicate that you have a preference for certain ways of working, but ultimately this is something that will be discussed at a later interview stage to see if you are a good fit for that particular role.

Another misconception job seekers often have is that the questionnaire will delve into their private life. Although the majority of tests on the market focus on behaviour and motivation at work, some may also touch on information of a more sensitive nature, so if this concerns you in any way you should speak to the potential employer beforehand.

Applicants should also bear in mind that while such questionnaires are tools that provide information to HR professionals and therefore can have a significant impact on a company’s hiring policy, no test can exactly predict any employee’s performance in the workplace.

For further information on the services that Cubiks provides visit cubiks.com