ASK HR: Relax, there is nothing strange about this request...

Q. Last month, I applied for a teaching job in a private high school. The recruiting manager acknowledged receiving my resume and mentioned that the board was impressed.

In a subsequent email, she sent me a link and asked me to take a personality test. I find it disconcerting that I was asked to take a test before meeting or speaking to someone about the role. Is this standard procedure?

The interview process in institutions varies. There are instances whereby you are invited for a panel interview, then the best candidates are taken through a personality test to determine the suitability into the organisation.

Your prospective employer prefers to eliminate potential candidates by administering the test before the panel interview. You should be flexible to accommodate their preference. Also, this should not alarm you, it demonstrates that this employer takes the role they are interviewing for with the seriousness it deserves. It’s important to understand why personality tests are important in the recruitment process. In the situation you have highlighted, I suspect that the recruitment manager is looking for a teacher who is able to interact with teams that comprise of teachers and non-teaching staff and the students. Such a test gives an indication of how the candidate reacts to different situations since it simulates the actual workplace to increase its accuracy.

The candidate’s problem-solving approach is another element that is examined using the test. Certain roles require unique traits, a personality test can determine this to some extent.

Teachers should have some specific traits such as patience, be outgoing, willing to learn and become innovative and accommodate students while challenging them without offending.

The personality test also ensures that there is an almost perfect match between the candidate and the role, therefore this also will reduce your learning curve in the role in case you are the successful candidate.

Organisations are also looking for individuals whose values are closely matched to the corporate values.

Many employees take up the first job opportunity they get even if they are not passionate about it due to the current labour market situation, therefore the personality test also gauges the interest the candidate has in the role. It might not be fool-proof, but it gives a fair indication.

In case you are successful in the personality test, you will have an opportunity to meet and discuss the role with the recruiting manager, and should you get the job, the probation period will give you an opportunity to figure out whether this is the right job for you or not.