How to Take Tests With "Strongly Agree" and "Strongly Disagree"
06.01.2010 13:50
Self improvementPre-Employment Personality Tests
Today's job market is tight, there are usually over a dozen applicants for each posted position. How do employers figure out who is the best candidate for the job? It used to be that you would be hired based on your resume, your previous experience, and a personal interview.
Now, because of the reduction in force of most Human Resources Departments, applicants have to take a Pre-Employment Personality Test. Typically this test is administered online, it is timed, and once you answer a question, or finished a section of several questions, you cannot go back and review your answers.
You're told to answer each question as honestly as you possibly can and you are assured that there are no right or wrong answers. They are required to make this statement, but once you take one of these tests and don't get the job, you begin to wonder. Did they tell you the whole truth?
Types of Questions on a Pre-Employment Personality Test
Most personality tests are multiple choice or true and false. Here's a tip that will help to improve your scores on this test.
In any section where you have choices of Strongly Disagree, Disagree, Somewhat Disagree, Neutral, Somewhat Agree, Agree, Strongly Agree you need to be careful.
Most people, who are answering honestly, will not choose either Strongly Disagree or Strongly Agree.
Why is that? When we're applying for a job, we don't want to make waves. We want to be seen as a person who is able to get along. Having strong feelings either for or against an idea or topic seems to be somewhat rude. We might even worry that we will appear as confrontational, aggressive, or even boorish.
Right?
So, you'll take the more passive approach. You don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. You'll choose anything BUT the Strongly Agree or Strongly Disagree.
AND YOU WILL GET THAT ANSWER WRONG!
Strongly Agree and Strongly Disagree Questions
Any section that has choices ranging from Strongly Agree to Strongly Disagree need to be seen as True or False. Ignore all the choices in-between!
That's right, ignore them!
Because they're wrong.
If you agree with the statement, mark that you Strongly Agree with it. If you disagree with a Statement, mark that you Strongly Disagree. There are no other right answers. The statement is either true or false. There is no gray area in these questions. If you want to get a better score on the personality test, this single change will make all the difference.
Answer as honestly as possible, but stop trying to not hurt the test's feelings. It's just a test after all.
Did this article help you? Strongly Agree!
Best wishes on your future job searches. I'm guessing that you'll get hired a lot faster now.
KA Birmingham, specialist in coaching people in how to sell themselves. If you like her advice, keep an eye out for her upcoming book, "Just Show the Son-of-a-B**** You Have Better Manners: Lessons in Business from My Dad"
KA_Birmingham