Recruiting and hiring new employees can often be a lengthy, not to mention expensive, process. The drive to “get it right” and find candidates who will mesh well with your company culture and your overall team is one reason more and more small businesses are turning to personality tests to help them more effectively gauge a job candidate’s suitability.
Beyond using such tests as a tool to facilitate the hiring process, many companies are also using personality tests in a post-employment capacity. That is to say, these tests can be very helpful when it comes to assessing an employee’s development potential.
RELATED: Hiring for a Job You Don't Understand? Here Are Five Tips >>
The question is, are personality tests right for your business? How might they benefit you in terms of both pre- and post-employment evaluative resources? Let's explore several of the more common personality tests used and ways in which companies are implementing these tests to their advantage.
From identifying a person’s key strengths to pinpointing those areas in which they may need further development, personality tests can offer useful insights into someone’s behavior and thought patterns. The key benefits of these tests either prior to hiring someone or during the course of their tenure include:
RELATED: Recruiting Biases - How To Avoid Blind Spots and Make Smart Hiring Decisions >>
You do want to be somewhat cautious when it comes to personality tests in the workplace. For example, there could be an inherent bias in various tests of this nature. Ensuring that you adhere to your company’s policies regarding diversity and inclusion is important. This is why utilizing a test that could negatively impact different groups could prove quite problematic. Do your research on the tests available; examine the data and make sure that the test you choose has no such bias.
When looking at different assessments you want to consider the reliability and validity of the test. Reliability means that if the same person takes the test multiple times with similar conditions, they will get a similar outcome each time. Validity is the test's ability to measure what it claims to measure. A valid test ensures that the results are an accurate reflection of the traits being measured.
RELATED: No Smoke Screens - Prescreening Helps Ensure Good Hires >>
There are a number of companies that offer personality tests for the workplace. Which one you use should be based on factors such as whether you’re using the test as a screening tool for potential employees or as a development tool for current employees. Also, think about what specifically you want to evaluate by way of certain personality traits, individual preferences, and/or cognitive reasoning abilities.
RELATED: Revisiting the Performance Review - Does It Need To Be Fixed? >>
Our consultants are experienced and well-versed when it comes to employee development and performance. We want to help you better understand your employees and consequently, where their strengths lie. if you’d like to discuss any employee situation, we are here for you. Don’t hesitate to contact us!
.png){kind=logo}
Let us know what you think...