Personality Testing

The JASPER (TM) survey is a web based profiler on monster.com that assesses "Job Strengths and Assets". According to the Monster.com site where you can take the test and print out your results for free, the 15 minute interactive test advises how to use your strengths to your advantage, gain confidence in your job skills, and enhance your resume.

The test contained some novel survey techniques such as moving sliders along a graph to indicate relative strength of opinion and tagging words as they stream across a banner with the mouse. The test also uses conventional methods of aquiring data, like multiple choice selection and ranking. All in all, the process seemed very intuitive and a convienient on screen gauge displayed progress and percent complete.

At the end of the test the subject is presented with separate options to view, print or share the results. The print option produces a sixteen page report that classifies the test-taker as one of eight distinct personality types derived from rankings across four personality dimensions in three areas, values, tasks, and environment. In addition to providing an assessment of the subject's work style, the report also includes a brief description of each of the other seven styles.

One of the things I noticed about the report was that it was couched in very positive terms. This made me think that it might be unwise to permit sharing of the data and suspect that the data may be scored differently for display to prospective employers. For example, the following was reported on my report:

"...you are more rousing than agreeable when it comes to how you interact with others at work. This means that you challenge the status quo, not only in coming up with new ideas, but also in challenging your colleagues to think outside the box. Although you are known to push the envelope, you do so in a manner that is thought provoking and beneficial to the company..."

Ummm... can you see how that might be framed a bit differently to emphasize undesireable work behaviors?

Since Monster.com charges employers for access to the site, it wouldn't be much of a stretch to imagine that employer's HR departments might be as interested in exposing risks at least as much as the positive aspects of each candidate.

All in all, I thought my test results were fairly accurate and seemed to complement some of the other personality profile tests in the recent past such as the learning styles inventory we took in the Foundations courses at SNL.

Has anyone else had experiences with any other on-line personality tests? Do you feel that these tests are revealing? How do you feel about the ethics of a job site like monster administering these types of tests?

- David