7 Popular Career Personality Tests & Choosing the Best One for You

Nowadays, employers are becoming more intentional in their recruitment process by only selecting jobseekers who have innate traits and expertise that match specific job roles. Many employers and HR departments are using career and personality tests to determine who is the most compatible for the job. These pre-employment personality tests are equally valuable to jobseekers; they can use them to figure out which position or role is right for their working styles and attitude type.

A survey from the Society for Human Resource Management and asset management firm Mercer shows that 67% of employers make use of career type personality assessments, on top of vetting resumés and conducting personal interviews, to shortlist jobseekers.

Since the results from these tests are backed by statistics and psychological theories, these will allow employers to determine if you are the right person for the job and if you have the potential to succeed in the given position.

What are career and personality tests exactly?

Career tests are designed to reveal certain aspects of who you are and what you can contribute to the company. Statistics and psychological theories back these test results. With this, personality tests allow employers to determine if you are the right person for the job. It also shows if you have the potential to succeed in a given position and fit the company’s culture. Personality assessments, on the other hand, are designed to reveal certain aspects of who you are, such as your strengths, talents, and weaknesses.

Whether you take these career personality tests as part of a job interview or to learn more about yourself and your working style, the fact remains that employers utilise personality tests in their hiring process. At least familiarising yourself with the mechanics will help you prepare for your job interview.

(Read more: 12 Good Personality Traits to Have at Work )

What are the advantages of taking personality tests?

Career type personality tests may help give you a greater sense of self-awareness. They give you an understanding of what you are already good at and what you can still improve on.

Some job roles may sound appealing in words but may not fit your behaviour or preference. It is important to have a job that matches your personality. With the right role, you are more likely to become highly engaged, productive, and comfortable at work.

What are the disadvantages of taking personality tests?

If you plan on taking a personality test on your own before your job interviews, the downside is they may be expensive. Also, some personality tests are time-consuming—especially when they require you to answer a series of more than 100 questions! There are free test analyses available for many of the career personality tests, but nothing quite as comprehensive as the official career personality tests that potential employers and HR departments use.

What are the most popular career personality tests?

1. The Caliper Profile

This personality type test has two parts: cognitive and personality. The cognitive section includes abstract reasoning, figural reasoning, and other IQ type assessments. The personality portion will have you decide whether the given statements describe you or not.

The Caliper Profile evaluates your personality traits based on five factors:

• Leadership and persuasiveness
• Problem-solving and decision making
• Interpersonal and service orientation
• Personal organisation
• Time management

If, for example,  you are applying for a customer service position, the test should show that you have interpersonal traits such as sociability or accommodation. If you are applying for a managerial role, your results must reveal leadership traits such as assertiveness and resilience.

2. DISC Test

The theory behind the DISC personality test assumes that people are a combination of four personality styles: Dominant, Influence, Steadiness, and Compliant.

If you are the type of person who is direct and decisive, your primary personality style could be Dominant—with secondary to tertiary personalities being Influence and Steadiness.

Once employers know your DISC blend, they will have an idea about how you communicate, the value you can add to the organisation, your motivations, and possible weaknesses.

3. Gallup Strengths Finder

If you constantly find yourself asking the question, “What makes me unique?” then the Gallup Strengths Finder test will help outline your top talents along with definitions that are specific to you alone.

The Gallup Strengths Finder test highlights your top five talents based on the Clifton Strengths themes, such as Futuristic, Achiever, Responsibility, Competition, Harmony, and more. Simply put, this test focuses on what you can do best rather than what you have to improve on.

4. 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire

Created in 1949 by psychologist Raymond Cattel, the 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire determines your strengths and areas for improvement. It features personality type test questions that prompt your reaction to certain situations by answering True or False. The scenarios include dealing with high-stress situations and handling tasks, among others.

5. Situational Judgement Test

Similar to the 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire, the Situational Judgement Test aims to assess how you would react to critical situations or work-related problems. It is a reliable predictor of job performance which measures your skills for conflict management, problem solving, interpersonal communication, cultural sensitivity, teamwork, and negotiation.

6. Colour Personality Test

Colour psychology tests help determine personality types according to beliefs, motivations, and desires based on colour representations. The colour personality test is a tool that can help employers measure your communication and collaboration skills.

For example, orange personality types may enjoy freedom and spontaneity, which works in creative fields such as marketing and advertising. While blue personality types value relationships and compassion, which thrive well in working closely with others, like in the field of education.

7. Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)

Also known as the MBTI, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator was first developed in the 1940s by Isabel Briggs Myers and her mother, Katharine Cook Briggs, to make Carl Jung’s “type theory” accessible to the public. The test comprises 93 questions where you choose on a scale how much you agree or disagree with each statement.

The MBTI is used most commonly by employers to help you perform better on the job and get along better with others. It checks up on your preferences on how you use your perception and judgement, what type of conflict-resolution methods work well for you, and what culture you will most likely thrive on.

Want to learn more tips and tricks for job hunters? Register for the #SEEKScapes Workshop on March 4-5, 2023, at Workshop 1, KL Sentul Depot and find jobs that fit the roles in which you excel and bring out the best in you.

Achieve your career goals faster and #SEEKBetter work now! Update your profile at JobStreet and find the job that aligns with your passion and purpose. For more expert tips and advice on workplace culture, check out our Career Resources Hub.