Do Personality Tests Make the Grade?
THIRD SECTOR TODAY by Jennifer Schaupp Most people are natural psychologists, wanting to understand what makes people tick, what motivates people: And nothing is more psychologically intriguing than a space that houses a hierarchy of strangers who have to prove their worth every day and seemingly get along for 40+ hours per week. No, I am not talking about The Bachelor; I am speaking of the workplace. In some ways, nonprofit offices function like families. People squabble and compete, some members pull their weight more than others, loyalties form, disinterest develops, but ultimately they all work together to solve problems and make day-to-day activities run smoothly. Unlike families, however, you get to pick the entire cast of characters. What if there was a surefire way to make sure you selected people from whom you could guarantee long-term success, a personality match, and continued productivity? Many companies use personality tests when hiring candidates, as they are often affordable and simple to administer. In fact, according to The Harvard Business Review, “the use of personality assessments are on the rise, growing as much as 20% annually.” However, a 2010 study revealed that “personality tests used in employee selection account for approximately 5%…
