Testing, testing

US: Are you the right person for the job? More and more American firms are using personality tests to find the answer before hiring.

Tests such as the 45-minute Birkman Method have been used for some time in the retail industry. Now they are spreading to such industries as finance, information technology and health.

“Companies understand that the right personality fit is a critical criterion for good performance,” human resources consultant Scott Erker told The Wall Street Journal. Erker says that finding the right person from the start saves companies money, which is an important reason for the popularity of the tests.

Finding the right person from the start saves money, which is why the tests are popular.

Erker advises job seekers to find out which tests companies use, and then to try to determine the sort of questions they might be asked. But they should not simply give answers they think the company wants.

“Don’t try to psych out the test,” says Jo Bennett of executive recruiting firm Battalia Winston. Instead, it is better to be honest with your answers, the experts say. Lying or writing manipulative answers will only lead to unhappiness in your new job, according to Bennett.