Tests

Here are the questions filed under this category. To read Ken's advice on any item, click on the link "Read Ken's Answer."

	One of the people I work with found a ten-minute IQ test on the Internet. Just for fun, several of us took it. Almost everyone scored fairly well, but I was shocked to see how low I scored. I know my IQ is higher than that. Whether people are kidding me or not, I think they are treating me differently. Now what do I do? Read Ken's Answer
	My boss came into work this morning with some kind of a personality test based on picking colors. He said he used it with his family and it is very accurate. He asked me to pick a few colors, and then he looked up the choices in his book and said that my selections mean that my energy level could be higher and I should listen more carefully to other people. Is there anything to this test? Read Ken's Answer
	We have been approached by a company that sells pre-employment tests. Their brochures look pretty good, but I have heard that there is an issue regarding test validity that can cause troubles for a company. When I mentioned validation to the company representative, he told me not to worry since the tests are all validated. Is that possible? Read Ken's Answer
	I have applied for a supervisor's position four times, and each time I was denied based on a "predictive tool." This tool gave a report that stated I was unmotivated, have no competitive drive or initiative, and need close supervision at all times. These findings are in direct contrast to my performance reviews during the one-and-one-half years I have worked here. I asked the H.R. manager for more information on the "tool," but he never came through. What is my next step? Read Ken's Answer
	When I sit at my desk, I usually tuck one leg under the other. One of the senior consultants said that a personality test on the Internet found that when a male sits like this, it is a sign of deference and weakness. He added that I should never do it in front of a client. Did you ever hear of anything like this? Read Ken's Answer
	As part of the entertainment at our year-end dinner, the company hired a handwriting analyst. She came to the table where I was sitting with my manager and several fellow employees and asked us to write our names on a sheet of paper. Then she gave some positive descriptions of everyone except me. She wondered about my energy and persistence. I don't know if my manager bought what she was saying, but he semi-jokingly said that he would like to hire her to help screen new applicants. This experience wrecked the whole evening for me, and I'm wondering if I should discuss the matter with him. Read Ken's Answer
	I had a job interview for an entry level marketing position, and toward the end the manager handed me a paper and pencil and asked me to draw a man, a house, and a tree. I am a terrible artist and I always have been. I took a few minutes and did my best, and then he looked it over and told me about my personality. I thought he was totally wrong, but I didn't say anything because I want the job. A few days later, I received a form rejection letter, probably because of this test. Do many companies do this? Read Ken's Answer
	I was in a job interview for around 15 minutes when the interviewer got up and said he would be back in a couple of minutes. Just after he left, the phone rang. I assumed the call went onto his voicemail, but when the interviewer returned, he said this was a test. The company is looking for confident and aggressive employees, and because I let the phone ring, I did not show the traits the company needs. The interview ended shortly after that. Does this make any sense to you? Read Ken's Answer
	We just sat through a three-hour seminar and were given a test at the end. The instructor said our high test scores are an important measurement of the seminar’s effectiveness. As a manager, I don’t like being tested after training, and I’m not convinced a test can measure a seminar’s effectiveness. What do you think? Read Ken's Answer
	At the end of a recent job interview, the interviewer asked me to write a summary of what we discussed. He said these summaries help him learn about applicants and make better hiring decisions. I thought my interview went well, and I summarized it as best as I could. I never heard back. Are these summaries a new trend? Read Ken's Answer