Question about Psych Test for Job...

I was just contacted by a really large company for a sales job. They told me that there would be a psych test involved in the interviewing process to determine what type of personality I had. Has anyone ever heard of this or taken a test like this for a job? Kris, you majored in Psych...Have you ever come across this?

I have taken a test before for a job but never a psych test. It was really strange. The type of test I took was more of an association test. I recall one of the questions asked, "Which of these items do not belong?" a)apple b)banana c)pear d)asparagus...Kind of weird for a sales job...

Anyone ever heard of these tests?

- Rachel

[Phoebe]

I am not real familiar with Industrial/Organizational Psych, but I have heard of psychological tests before on job interviews. I have seen this mostly with government jobs like law enforcement or something. I can see in a sales job them wanting to know how assertive, or honest you are. They may have you take the MMPI, Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, it is pretty common.

Not sure if this helps.

Jennifer

Thanks, Jennifer! It's just really weird. I guess some of these companies are really particluar about the people they hire. When they mentioned a "test," I guess I got kind of jumpy...
I asked this question on the Monster.com board in the sales so I'll see what they have to say....

Thanks again!

- Rachel

I have heard of the MMPI being used as well.....which I think is really questionable at best in a job search situation! Have you ever heard about having credit checks done before being hired? A friend of ours checked his credit report and found out that one of the practices that he had interviewed checked out his credit !

Kris

Thanks, Kris! Yes, I've heard about credit checks being done before getting hired. I guess it depends on the type of company hiring. I've had one done before but it was related to the job in a way. I used to repossess cars...The company I worked for loaned out money to people to buy cars but these people had bad credit and they charged them a lot of interest...The company didn't do so well though b/c the people they loaned out money to never paid on time....My job was to track these people down...I'll try to do some research on the MMPI...

- Rachel

hehehehe research won't help It's a nast little test...did I say little? If memory serves (we had to try and fake a diagnosis for an abnormal psych class in college and then the PhD student forgot to label the tests somehow and after hours of taking them they all hit the trash bin at least we all still got our extra credit ) it is over 500 questions that repeat themselves over and over again just in diffferent little tricky ways...

I think I'll consider making it mandatory for all moderators! Of course then we'd all probably have to go into therapy or something!

You have got to be kidding about the test, Kris! That's crazy to have 500 questions! Well, I guess all I can do is be calm about it and hope for the best! Sigh...

- Rachel

Well, I wouldn't sweat it....you probably will end up just taking an aptitude test of sorts or something....but you'll have to let us know if you get the MMPI...maybe we can all help you with the answers

Kris

Rachel-
A lot of hospitals and other medically related facilities have gone to doing personality testing on potential new employees. I know I just had to do one when I interviewed for the job I'm starting tomorrow. I suppose it would tell them if I was an anti-social psychopath, but I don't remember that question being on there

It was done on computer, about 100 questions or so. It was one of those agree-disagree things, which you had to chose for statements like "I never get angry when people work slower than I do." " I never call in sick to work unless I am sick." It was weird-- how are you supposed to wholesale agree or disagree to statements like these?

Anyway, maybe that's all you're up against. I probably wouldn't worry too much about it.

Now, Kris you should worry about if she makes the moderators take that 500 question test. There just might be a mysterious package to arrive at her door....
Kidding, of course!

Wendy

Did you end up taking this? What kind did they give you? I think we are all still willing to help out with answers if you need any

Kris

hahaha! No, they haven't called me yet. With the recent event last week, shipping packages are slow. It was for a sales gig with Airborne Express. I'm kind of re-thinking the whole thing right now. Thanks for the feedback and I'll let you know what happens!

-Rachel