We all know how the job search process goes. Job seekers spend hours and even days to craft a winning resume. They do lots of research and apply to dozens of vacancies just to get more interviews and boost their chances of being hired. Then they spend more time getting ready for the interview to make a good impression.
Most of us have been through that multiple times. No wonder why there are so many guides and tips on how to write a perfect resume or how to ace the interview on the web. People talk about this a lot. But we don’t talk that much about what happens after the interview…
So, you’ve created a flawless resume, beaten the competition, and nailed the interview, that’s awesome! At this point, you are literally just about to sign the contract and get employed. When, all of a sudden, a hiring manager asks you to complete one more test. Without an exaggeration, this can feel pretty frustrating.
According to the stats, about 13% of employers and recruiters in the US use some kind of a personality assessment. Although this number is not extremely small, it is still only 13%, so, chances are that many of you have never faced a personality test before. But, we are here to tell you that personality tests are nothing to be afraid of. On the contrary, they can even help you land a job!
What Is an Employment Personality Test?
No matter how unsettling it may sound, this is just one more tool hiring managers use to decide if a particular applicant is a good fit for a job and for the company in general.
To find a perfect match for a job, a recruiter is looking not only at the applicants’ skills but also at their personalities. That’s exactly what personality tests are meant for. They require you to answer a series of multiple-choice questions that are designed to assess your character traits and help employers learn more about who you are.
These assessments can be rather long. There are multiple types of tests that you can face. But, in general, they all serve the same purpose and come in a more-or-less similar format. Now, it is pretty clear why employers use personality tests. But, how helpful are these assessments for potential employees? Let’s find this out!
Complement Your Resume
You may be able to write a job-winning resume yourself or you may find a trustworthy resume writing service such as skillhub.com where you can get an option “build a resume for me” and it will be exactly what you need for a reasonable price. It doesn’t matter which path you choose, the result will be the same. Yes, you will have a polished document that displays your work experience, the biggest accomplishments in your career, key skills, etc. But, does it reveal who you are? Not at all!
But employers are looking to hire humans, not robots. And that’s why such assessments can help you show your best sides and land a job!
Show That You Understand and Share the Company’s Culture
The corporate culture is extremely important these days. And, what’s even more important is that all employees share it.
Companies are looking to employ same-minded people, who have the same values and fit in the overall culture. They use personality assessment to define which candidates can be a perfect match, and you can use this to your benefit as well.
All you need is to do some preliminary research on the company you want to join. Figure out what their biggest values are and what culture they share. Based on this information, you will be able to spotlight those traits that make you a perfect fit. For example, if a company is rather laid-back, you will need to show that you are easy-going.
Prove You Are a Great Employee
One more reason why companies may use such assessments is to define whether a particular candidate is a good fit not only for a company in general but also for a particular team and type of work.
Basically, the assessment should reveal whether you have all the character traits necessary to handle the job. This trick is widely used when a candidate lacks professional experience.
Let’s say you are applying for a sales role with no (or little) experience. If the test shows that you have all it takes to be a great salesperson, you can get a job even without experience.
Unbiased Hiring Process
Recruiting firms often use employment personality tests to ensure that their agents remain unbiased during the hiring process. How can you benefit from this? Basically, this gives you some extra chances to prove yourself as you won’t be judged solely by your professional qualities.
Final Words
Finally, there is one more way how personality tests can help you get your dream job – they can help reveal what is right for you.
For many of us, it takes years to realize that we are in the wrong place either in terms of a company or profession in general. This can have a negative impact on your entire life. So, the sooner you find a job that is right for your personality and natural abilities, the sooner you will start enjoying what you do for a living. It will help retain a good work-life balance, remain satisfied, and avoid burnout. And such assessments can really help.
But, it is also important to understand that such tests are not 100% accurate. So, the best tip we can give you is to consider the results, but always listen to your inner voice. If the assessment shows that you are heading in the wrong direction and somewhere deep inside you feel that it’s true, consider a career change!