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annb
Guest
They are annoying because they don’t specify a time frame. Are we talking EVER or are we talking on a regular basis or most of the time? And what degree are we talking about. Anyway good luck with getting a job!
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OutinChgoburbs
Guest
I would be grateful I was not working at this company, no matter how badly I needed the job.
Why? Because they are looking for a type personality. They are not looking for a person to do the job.
My husband was a trainer at a major utility for almost 14 years. He had excellent reviews and a good work ethic. They decided to down-size. How? They gave every employee a MMPI and a Meyers-Briggs. They did not need any INTJ people who bordered on ENTJ. They might think for themselves. Hubby was down-sized. Best thing that ever happened to him.
They were looking to fill a lot of “sheep” slots, followers who would go along with whatever the company wanted to do. They weren’t looking at these employees as people, as individuals to do a job. Over time, they had a bunch of people who would just go along and never take the lead. It cost the utility more money to find leaders and people to do a job. In the end, they didn’t save the time and money they thought they would.
While the utility came to this conclusion, my husband finished his masters, worked as a consultant at a higher pay rate than the utility (and the utility was one of his clients!), gradually developed his own business with client colleges and universities, teaching philosophy and ethics, and as a contracted ethicist. When the utility wanted him back ten years later, he laughed.
Testing instruments can be helpful, but they are certainly not all that accurate, and they do not give the whole of a person’s worth and skill. You are worth more than a slot with money. Keep praying, and keep looking.
Why? Because they are looking for a type personality. They are not looking for a person to do the job.
My husband was a trainer at a major utility for almost 14 years. He had excellent reviews and a good work ethic. They decided to down-size. How? They gave every employee a MMPI and a Meyers-Briggs. They did not need any INTJ people who bordered on ENTJ. They might think for themselves. Hubby was down-sized. Best thing that ever happened to him.
They were looking to fill a lot of “sheep” slots, followers who would go along with whatever the company wanted to do. They weren’t looking at these employees as people, as individuals to do a job. Over time, they had a bunch of people who would just go along and never take the lead. It cost the utility more money to find leaders and people to do a job. In the end, they didn’t save the time and money they thought they would.
While the utility came to this conclusion, my husband finished his masters, worked as a consultant at a higher pay rate than the utility (and the utility was one of his clients!), gradually developed his own business with client colleges and universities, teaching philosophy and ethics, and as a contracted ethicist. When the utility wanted him back ten years later, he laughed.
Testing instruments can be helpful, but they are certainly not all that accurate, and they do not give the whole of a person’s worth and skill. You are worth more than a slot with money. Keep praying, and keep looking.
K
katybird
Guest
I would have answered those questions as “No” or, if there’s a scale, “disagree moderately.” I have answered those exact questions and didn’t fail the tests.
I doubt that those are the questions that are getting you.
I was a receptionist for a psychologist who did a LOT of testing of this sort. I used to run the program to score them and type up the reports .It’s ASTOUNDING what they can learn about people from these tests, but I do believe they can be quite accurate, so long as the subject tries to be honest (and, there are questions to catch dishonesty, too.)
I asked him about this sort of thing. A question that I know trips people up is something to the effect of “everybody steals office supplies once in a while.” Similar to what you’ve got, but something that we all honestly know isn’t true. He told me something interesting: yes, there are people who would never, ever steal so much as a paperclip. “But,” he said, “such people tend to be brittle. If they DO steal, they embezzle thousands of dollars.” In other words, there’s a sort of honesty that can often be associated with someone being on the verge of completely snapping. I’m not sure if this makes sense or not.
Anyway, like I said, I doubt that those are the questions that are getting you. I don’t think that most people lie, steal, malinger, etc. However, I do think that, sometimes, ordinarily nice and decent people do those things in moderation. It may be that a rigid, black-and-white approach to all such questions is triggering something that indicates you may be either dishonest in the test-taking, or they may view you as “brittle.” It’s not that “they” don’t believe you’re lying and will steal, it’s just that experience has shown that people who are sometimes a bit forgiving on small foibles are preferable to people who are rigid and may therefor totally snap one day.
I doubt that those are the questions that are getting you.
I was a receptionist for a psychologist who did a LOT of testing of this sort. I used to run the program to score them and type up the reports .It’s ASTOUNDING what they can learn about people from these tests, but I do believe they can be quite accurate, so long as the subject tries to be honest (and, there are questions to catch dishonesty, too.)
I asked him about this sort of thing. A question that I know trips people up is something to the effect of “everybody steals office supplies once in a while.” Similar to what you’ve got, but something that we all honestly know isn’t true. He told me something interesting: yes, there are people who would never, ever steal so much as a paperclip. “But,” he said, “such people tend to be brittle. If they DO steal, they embezzle thousands of dollars.” In other words, there’s a sort of honesty that can often be associated with someone being on the verge of completely snapping. I’m not sure if this makes sense or not.
Anyway, like I said, I doubt that those are the questions that are getting you. I don’t think that most people lie, steal, malinger, etc. However, I do think that, sometimes, ordinarily nice and decent people do those things in moderation. It may be that a rigid, black-and-white approach to all such questions is triggering something that indicates you may be either dishonest in the test-taking, or they may view you as “brittle.” It’s not that “they” don’t believe you’re lying and will steal, it’s just that experience has shown that people who are sometimes a bit forgiving on small foibles are preferable to people who are rigid and may therefor totally snap one day.
J
Jennifer_G
Guest
I never had to take a personality test for a job. I’m not sure about most of the questions, but I’ve read that people (inadverdantly) ‘steal’ from the company – things like pens, pencils, paper, etc.
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CarolAnnSFO
Guest
I had to take one of those tests for the company I’m with now (I’ve been there over 30 years), but I knew all about those tests and how to answer the questions (first college degree was in psych). The strangest part of the test was having to draw pictures. I had to draw a businessman and a tree. Not too sure what they were looking for there; I just drew a nice-looking, smiling, conservative businessman wearing a power suit and carrying a quality briefcase. My tree was a large, sturdy, leafy specimen. Given that I’m no artist (and neither are most of the other people taking those tests), scoring that part of it must have been a hoot!
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wacky_wonderful
Guest
it’s just that experience has shown that people who are sometimes a bit forgiving on small foibles are preferable to people who are rigid and may therefor totally snap one day.
Interesting. I can see where I made mistakes in answering, just by reading what you and others have written. I believe that excluding a person based solely on how they score on these tests is unfair. When I was 19 I was promoted to working in the cash room at JCPenney’s. Just me and thousands of dollars in the vault, every day. I made the $30,000 daily deposit (you can tell by that how many years ago that was!), though at the time I couldn’t afford lunch and had to wear the same skirt and blouse to work every day. I washed them by hand every night, and ironed them dry. I finally asked to go back to the sales floor because I was lonely! Taking anything from that room never occurred to me. Must have been the things I learned from the nuns. You may THINK you’re alone, but God is watching!!
P.S. Someone needs to market a test for engaged couples. That would sure cut down on the divorce rate, wouldn’t it?
Interesting. I can see where I made mistakes in answering, just by reading what you and others have written. I believe that excluding a person based solely on how they score on these tests is unfair. When I was 19 I was promoted to working in the cash room at JCPenney’s. Just me and thousands of dollars in the vault, every day. I made the $30,000 daily deposit (you can tell by that how many years ago that was!), though at the time I couldn’t afford lunch and had to wear the same skirt and blouse to work every day. I washed them by hand every night, and ironed them dry. I finally asked to go back to the sales floor because I was lonely! Taking anything from that room never occurred to me. Must have been the things I learned from the nuns. You may THINK you’re alone, but God is watching!!
P.S. Someone needs to market a test for engaged couples. That would sure cut down on the divorce rate, wouldn’t it?
J
jc-servant
Guest
I’m not sure how accurate or relevant the test was that the OP took online. However, I was happy to submit to psychological testing when I first applied to become a police officer. I hope they did use it to weed out potentially abusive or corrupt officers. Most departments still don’t routinely test because it is so expensive to do it correctly. I remember hearing that it cost over $300 for my tests way back in the late 1980’s.
I was scored in areas like empathy, compassion, aggression, patience, etc. The evaluator told me that the best profile for a police officer showed higher aggression, patience and compassion than the general population. It makes sense because without the higher level of aggression (but not too high) a person would not be able to inject themselves into potentially hostile or dangerous situations and other people’s lives over and over. The higher levels of patience served me well as I had to remain polite but firm when traffic violators and drunk or hateful people screamed, threw things out of the window at me, cursed, fought, etc. The compassion is essential when you see people in some of the most humiliating or horrifying or terrifying moments of their lives and you must try to help or control them while preserving their dignity as humans.
Perhaps the OP scored low in an area that the employer has found essential to a specific job in their company? It does not mean that the “rejected” person is defective but possibly a poor match for that employer’s needs.
Rather than trying to study books to skew the tests or something, I would suggest being your best, most honest self and asking the Lord to lead you to the job where you can best honor Him with your work. Maybe where you want to go is not where you should be? Sometimes He saves us from what we desire for a higher purpose!
I was scored in areas like empathy, compassion, aggression, patience, etc. The evaluator told me that the best profile for a police officer showed higher aggression, patience and compassion than the general population. It makes sense because without the higher level of aggression (but not too high) a person would not be able to inject themselves into potentially hostile or dangerous situations and other people’s lives over and over. The higher levels of patience served me well as I had to remain polite but firm when traffic violators and drunk or hateful people screamed, threw things out of the window at me, cursed, fought, etc. The compassion is essential when you see people in some of the most humiliating or horrifying or terrifying moments of their lives and you must try to help or control them while preserving their dignity as humans.
Perhaps the OP scored low in an area that the employer has found essential to a specific job in their company? It does not mean that the “rejected” person is defective but possibly a poor match for that employer’s needs.
Rather than trying to study books to skew the tests or something, I would suggest being your best, most honest self and asking the Lord to lead you to the job where you can best honor Him with your work. Maybe where you want to go is not where you should be? Sometimes He saves us from what we desire for a higher purpose!
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wacky_wonderful
Guest
QUOTE: Maybe where you want to go is not where you should be?
Yes, I agree. But I want to get where I’m supposed to be before the unemployment runs out! I’m the impatient one, God has a plan and He knows the end from the beginning, so He’s not worried at all!
QUOTE: Sometimes He saves us from what we desire for a higher purpose!
Do I really want to know what that is? Yes and no. I’m not all that brave.
Yes, I agree. But I want to get where I’m supposed to be before the unemployment runs out! I’m the impatient one, God has a plan and He knows the end from the beginning, so He’s not worried at all!
QUOTE: Sometimes He saves us from what we desire for a higher purpose!
Do I really want to know what that is? Yes and no. I’m not all that brave.
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crystal
Guest
Wacky and Wonderful,
You have a great personality! I can tell by your posts. Your chocolate milk remark made me laugh.
Let’s see, you’re conscientious, truthful and honest, you have a good sense of humor, you take other people’s advice into consideration, you’re articulate and interesting. You have a good memory and you like to do your best.
That’s what I see. Maybe you can print out this thread and hand it to the next employer who wants to know what kind of personality you have.
If I was looking to employ, I’d be interested in hiring you!!
Crystal
You have a great personality! I can tell by your posts. Your chocolate milk remark made me laugh.
Let’s see, you’re conscientious, truthful and honest, you have a good sense of humor, you take other people’s advice into consideration, you’re articulate and interesting. You have a good memory and you like to do your best.
That’s what I see. Maybe you can print out this thread and hand it to the next employer who wants to know what kind of personality you have.
If I was looking to employ, I’d be interested in hiring you!!
Crystal
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wacky_wonderful
Guest
QUOTE: If I was looking to employ, I’d be interested in hiring you!! Crystal
Crystal, thank you for your very kind words. I appreciate them and will remember them on those days when I’m singing “Nobody loves me, everybody hates me, I’m gonna go out and eat worms!”
I do believe that I will find “my” job soon. There are many who are praying for me. I can’t wait to be a taxpayer again!!
CrystalCrystal, thank you for your very kind words. I appreciate them and will remember them on those days when I’m singing “Nobody loves me, everybody hates me, I’m gonna go out and eat worms!”
I do believe that I will find “my” job soon. There are many who are praying for me. I can’t wait to be a taxpayer again!!
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jc-servant
Guest
Perhaps this is what God is trying to tell you during your unemployment? Take a leap of faith and rest in Him?
It is VERY scary to let go of our preconceived ideas and trust when the path He has chosen is very different from our plans/desires. I learned this lesson the hard way myself, so I can sympathize with your situation.
I was in a horrible work environment and personal situation in a state far from any family. I kept asking God for help/guidance but I was not listening to or believing the answer. “Quit your job and move home to the parents!” After much drama I was let go instead of the mean, troublemaking person in the office because she had more experience and I could not yet take over. I had to be completely broken in my pride before God could rebuild me. I felt like my entire life had crashed, socially, professionally, financially and spiritually.
I got to recharge and be nurtured for about 9 months at home. I read more about the faith. God delivered a wonderful temporary job into my lap, then he provided the job that I needed to move to Texas. I read even more about the faith and prayed tons. God provided me with what I needed, when I needed it but not exactly when I wanted it. He was leading me to where I needed to be to take that big leap and join the Catholic church! My sponsor was my former college roommate who already lived in TX. Her parish became my parish and the center of my life outside of my family. Now, my life is filled with joy and incredible career opportunities at my newest job.
I know that God can do it all for you too, if you can step out in faith and take the “scary path.”
Just take a deep breath and ask Him for the courage to accept His will no matter what it is. I know it sounds nuts to ask for the grace to accept His grace, but I have done it before and had great results.
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wacky_wonderful
Guest
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