Personality tests

Personality tests nearly always form a component of the assessment. By filling in questionnaires these tests give an idea of who you are and what suits you.

The questions

In a personality test you are presented with statements on behavior or opinions. You then choose which of those are more or less applicable to you. The questionnaire usually consists of sixty up to more than two hundred statements with multiple choice answers. Completing the list takes approximately twenty minutes up to three quarters of an hour.

The goal of a personality test

Based on a personality test, the employer that ordered the assessment gains an understanding of who you are and whether you would be able to perform well in a certain position. Personality tests are also used in assessments of current employees, for example in the case of a reorganisation or a development or career assessment.

Tip

When completing a personality test, do not force yourself to pretend to be something you are not. Do not look for the 'right' answers, answer the questions based on your own personality. If you try to answer questions different from who you are, the test will be unnecessarily difficult and will most likely result in a messy, incoherent image of you.

Practicing personality tests

Contrary to the questions of an intelligence test, the questions of a personality test do not have right or wrong answers. Personality tests alfo differ from IQ tests in that they really cannot be practiced. You can take a sample test, so you more or less know what to expect. You can also try a short free personality test.

A personality test can provide you with a lot of information about yourself. It will tell you more or less what suits you and in which position and environment you would be comfortable. This can be useful knowledge if you have to choose an education or career, even if an assessment is not in your near future. 'Practicing' a personality test prior to your assessment can help calm you, because you already know what is about to happen.

Another type of preparation is completing a personal strengths and weaknesses analysis. Read more about the personal SWOT analysis.