If you fail a job interview personality test, what should you do? Can you still get the job? And how can you ensure you don’t fail such a test? Let’s get some clarity on this tricky subject.
A True Story
“I got a zero score on altruism.” I couldn’t believe it when my client told me this. For years he had been working for a B-corp, a company he joined because he was excited about its socially responsible mission, very similar to that of the company he was interviewing with. It was also clear to me that he cared deeply about his direct reports, one of whom appreciated him enough to write a glowing LinkedIn review saying how he’d supported their career advancement. To me, his career clearly demonstrated a “practice of disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others”–the definition of altruism.
Am I biased in favor of my client? Perhaps. But I have always believed that I can best serve my clients by balancing my support with clear-eyed, objective feedback. If I believed that this person were low in altruism, I wouldn’t have been so adamant in my assurances that the test had been wrong. I wouldn’t have been moved to write this post.
What to Do If You Fail an Interview Personality Test
Here’s the advice I gave this client, which may well apply to you.
- Realize that these personality tests are not necessarily accurate.
- If you don’t think the result was accurate, learn from the experience: If possible, review the test questions and see if you can figure out how your answers gave the wrong impression, so you can do better on such tests in the future.
- Realize that the personality test are generally not the most important part of the hiring process. The interview will carry more weight.
- In the interview, it may be best not to dispute the test results, unless the interviewer asks for your thoughts. Going out of your way to raise the subject could be seen as defensiveness.
- Instead, focus on demonstrating the quality the test failed to find, among other relevant strengths and skills. For example, rather than arguing, “No, I’m very altruistic/driven/whatever,” provide examples. Give them some evidence!
How to Succeed with Job Interview Personality Tests
Online advice can be very contradictory on this point. For example, you’ll see sites advising you, on the one hand, to answer all questions honestly and authentically. In my opinion, this should be your Rule #1, not just because it’s ethically right, but because these tests are designed to spot dishonest answers. Being authentic inspires trust.
You’ll also see advice like this: “Think about how you behave in a professional context rather than personal scenarios, to keep your responses relevant to the work environment and the specific role you are applying for.” Unfortunately, my client was trying to do just that! She thought they wanted to see a very businesslike, bottom-line-oriented attitude, not realizing they were testing for altruism.
Some sites will advise you to avoid selecting extreme options (like “strongly agree” or “strongly disagree”) too frequently. This advice has merit, but it is also a bit risky, since it could lead you to give answers that don’t authentically reflect you.
Some will advise you to maintain consistency in your answers. Okay, personality tests often include similar questions phrased differently, and inconsistent responses can suggest that you’re trying to game the test. However, a conscious effort to be consistent is, in itself, a way of gaming the test.
My advice is this:
- If you do alter your answers to follow strategic advice such as consistency or avoiding extremes, make sure your answers are still true.
And also:
- Read the questions carefully.
- As long as there’s no time limit, take your time.
Don’t Let these Tests Make You Crazy!
Job search can be very frustrating. The system is broken in so many ways. However high you feel the stakes are, don’t take any of it personally. Be kind to yourself and persevere.
