David, Personality Test Expert at JobTestPrep.
Have a question? Contact me at: ask_the_team@jobtestprep.comWhat Is a Pre-Employment Personality Test?
A pre-employment personality test evaluates a candidate's personality traits to determine their fit for a job. These tests typically use the Big Five (OCEAN) model, covering Openness, Conscientiousness, Extroversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism.
Leading companies such as Amazon, Home Depot, Microsoft, and General Motors, as well as industries like Airlines, banks, and health-care, incorporate these tests with cognitive assessments during hiring. Interview questions may include elements from these tests, highlighting traits relevant to the job role.
Some traits are preferred over others, depending on the job's specific needs. Watch the following video to get a more detailed breakdown.
Personality Example Question
"In meetings, I usually let others do the talking"
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Agree
Strongly Agree
This statement assesses the assertiveness trait.
When applying for a management position, employers expect a relatively high level of assertiveness. Choosing the disagree / strongly disagree ratings for the personality test example question above would point to you having what it takes to lead and manage.
On the other hand, answering agree / strongly agree would indicate that you do not easily express your opinions and desires and prefer to let others manage the course of affairs - not a desirable trait for management.
💡In personality tests, it is always useful to think about what the statement aims to reveal about your personality, i.e. which personality traits are relevant to it. The personality test examples below (or similar ones) are common and examine crucial personality traits. Take a moment to read them, and to think about what they aim to reveal.
How to Prepare for A Pre-Employment Personality Test?
As you might have noticed, the way you respond to personality questions depends greatly on the job you're applying for. For example, answering a question for a customer service role differs from how you'd answer it for a managerial position.
To get ready, you'll need a tailored practice pack designed specifically for your target job.
JobTestPrep offers tailored practice tests for 12 different career areas, including management, sales, marketing, graduates, technical fields, healthcare, education, finance, accounting, pilots, customer service, engineering, firefighting, law enforcement, and government roles.
Simply choose the area that matches your job application and start your practice.
See What Our Personality Prep Course Looks Like
What is the Big Five Model?
There are many types of personality tests (you might have heard of Myers Briggs for example), but none have quite gained the stature of the Big Five Model - also know by as the five factor model (FFM), or by the acronym OCEAN.
This model is the basis of many personality tests, and aims to measure a multitude of personality traits through five central factors:
- Openness to Experience - scoring high on this factor points to personality types with an appreciation for art, high in emotion, adventure, unusual ideas, intellectual curiosity, creativity, and a preference for a variety of experiences.
- Conscientiousness - personality types who score high here tend to be organized and dependable, show self-discipline, act dutifully, aim for achievement, and prefer planned rather than spontaneous behavior.
- Extraversion - this trait reflects energy, positive emotions, assertiveness, sociability, and the tendency to seek stimulation in the company of others.
- Agreeableness - reflects a tendency to be compassionate and cooperative rather than suspicious and antagonistic toward others. It is also a measure of one's trusting and helpful nature, and whether a person is generally well-tempered or not.
- Neuroticism - a tendency to experience unpleasant emotions easily, such as anger, anxiety, depression, and vulnerability. It also refers to the degree of emotional stability and impulse control, which is why it is sometimes referred to by its low pole, "emotional stability."
Other Pre-Employment Personality Preps
JobTestPrep draws on thorough research and extensive experience to help job seekers ace their aptitude and pre-employment personality tests. We've crafted many detailed prep kits for top psychological exams in the industry. Explore the links below to find out more!
