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Forum Super Boss demands a personality test. Insult or a good idea?
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Super Boss demands a personality test. Insult or a good idea?

Catwell
Catwell over 13 years ago

image

Yin Yang of our personalities. (via Cat's Creations - body and face paint)

 

Have you taken a personality test for a job?

 

A friend of mine was hired by a company about 8 months ago. Since then, he has become a vital part of the team. He can do so much more than anyone else in the company. He even makes parts for them in his home machine shop after hours.

 

As of last week, it has come to the attention of the higher-ups that he never took a personality test. For some reason, the top manager ("Super Boss") demands all employees to take one. (Side note: the manager also has cameras everywhere, including his own home. He sits and watches the video feeds all day apparently.)

 

My friend is considering an out-right refusal to take the test. Although technical merit is a good way to show usefulness to the company, the Super Boss may still demand the test.

 

Do you think that it is necessary or even ethical to ask an employee to take a personality test? After 8 months of excellent service, would it be an insult to now require the test?

 


 

 

The personality test is more of an assessment. There are no right or wrong answers. The evaluation comes under the guise of making sure the employee will fit the corporate culture.

 

Some "catch-22" personality test questions:

"Have you ever been mad at work, even for personal reasons?"

"Have you ever taken anything from the office, even a pen or paperclip?"

"Have you ever felt tired at the work place?"

 

Cabe

http://twitter.com/Cabe_e14

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  • DAB
    0 DAB over 13 years ago

    Hi Cabe,

     

    I have taken a number of personality tests for various reasons, but nothing at the level you indicate here.

    Usually these types of tests are done as part of a team building exercise to help people working together better understand the personality of the others they are working with.  Most are innocuous and sometimes informative.

     

    However, the type of test you show here appears to be of a different nature.  Some people are total control freaks and sometimes abuse the information.

    I would use this type of test to see if they are really read and also ask to see the results in relation to the group.  One quick way to put management on the defensive is to ask to see the process they use and how it fits into the management decision space.  If management cannot explain or will not explain, then you know you are working at a temporary job and you should begin planning your next move.

     

    My personnal ethics would consider this action too much for a good management team or a company to ask of an employee.  I would find a new job quickly.

    Good managers have the observation skills to assess their employees.  If they have to use a test, they should not be managers.

     

    Just my opinion.

    DAB

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  • DAB
    0 DAB over 13 years ago

    Hi Cabe,

     

    I have taken a number of personality tests for various reasons, but nothing at the level you indicate here.

    Usually these types of tests are done as part of a team building exercise to help people working together better understand the personality of the others they are working with.  Most are innocuous and sometimes informative.

     

    However, the type of test you show here appears to be of a different nature.  Some people are total control freaks and sometimes abuse the information.

    I would use this type of test to see if they are really read and also ask to see the results in relation to the group.  One quick way to put management on the defensive is to ask to see the process they use and how it fits into the management decision space.  If management cannot explain or will not explain, then you know you are working at a temporary job and you should begin planning your next move.

     

    My personnal ethics would consider this action too much for a good management team or a company to ask of an employee.  I would find a new job quickly.

    Good managers have the observation skills to assess their employees.  If they have to use a test, they should not be managers.

     

    Just my opinion.

    DAB

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