HR made me take a personality test...

[Ultralight]

Turns out I am a "very dominant and critical personality." haha

[iris lilies]

Turns out I am a "very dominant and critical personality." haha
Made you take this? Whatever for?

im sure there were other results as well.

[Ultralight]

Made you take this? Whatever for?

im sure there were other results as well.

I am not entirely sure why they made me take it. They made everyone in my department take it. Everyone knows my results -- HR, bosses, coworkers.

There was one other person with a dominant personality, but she did not also come up critical. She came up as "influential."

Mine was all dominant and critical.

[iris lilies]

Would you like to change, to be dominant and influential?

[Ultralight]

Would you like to change, to be dominant and influential?

I'd rather just go back to not having taken the test and no one being any wiser.

[JaneV2.0]

I'm pretty sure your results came as no surprise to your co-workers. :D

[iris lilies]

Im guessing it was the DISC test.

In it, "Dominant" means " determined, decisive, independent, persistant, direct, focuses n goals not on people."

these are not bad thngs.

[Ultralight]

I'm pretty sure your results came as no surprise to your co-workers. :D

LOL

[rodeosweetheart]

They made my department take the Myers Briggs one time and 7 out of 8 of us came back as introverts.

Two of us, who shared an office, were INFJ, which is supposed to be rare, but a bunch of us on SL are INFJ.

I did not like that we all had to take the test; it seemed wrong somehow.

[JaneV2.0]

They made my department take the Myers Briggs one time and 7 out of 8 of us came back as introverts.

Two of us, who shared an office, were INFJ, which is supposed to be rare, but a bunch of us on SL are INFJ.

I did not like that we all had to take the test; it seemed wrong somehow.

During one of my employer's downsizing events, they gave us all a bunch of employment-type screening tests. Mostly what I learned was that I should never, ever be a pediatric nurse. (No s*, Sherlock! :devil:.) They also gave us the Myers-Briggs test. As I remember, the few women in my job classification, without exception, scored IN-something or other. That was no surprise either. What was a surprise was their suggestion of good job match for me: standup comedian. Yeah, there's a lucrative field. Where's that rolling on the floor emoji when you need it? I survived that and subsequent downsizings. A pity, because by that time, my severance package, the downsizing bonus, and my retirement would have made a handsome golden handshake.

Prior to a mercifully brief stint in retail, I also had to take a pre-employment test. It seemed to ask thousands of questions, many of them the same ones, designed to trip up liars, I guess. At any rate, I must have scored admirably, because the two departments they offered me were children's clothing (patience, I suppose) and fine jewelry (honesty, no doubt). Naturally, I jumped at jewelry (see pediatric nurse reference :~) ) I lasted some four months, until a big promotion came through at my primary job.

[Ultralight]

I am an INFJ too...

[ToomuchStuff]

Turns out I am a "very dominant and critical personality." haha


I'd rather just go back to not having taken the test and no one being any wiser.


I'm pretty sure your results came as no surprise to your co-workers. :D
Exactly. First words out of my mouth when reading this was about a non defecating detective.

Comes across in the posts.

[Ultralight]

Exactly. First words out of my mouth when reading this was about a non defecating detective.

Comes across in the posts.


:cool:

[Zoe Girl]

I am INFJ, probably not as rare as they suggest or we all just hang out in one place. I have a couple friends who are INFJ or have tested that in the past.

UA do you want to talk about it? Like are you fine with this feedback? Does it prompt an urge to make some changes? I don't find the many INFJ's I am around to also test like you did so it sets up a disconnect for me,

[iris lily]

I am an INFJ too...
On steroids.:~)

[iris lilies]

Myers-Briggs is passe now anyway.

On to the next pop psyche trend.

[Ultralight]

UA do you want to talk about it?

Sure...


Like are you fine with this feedback?

More or less...


Does it prompt an urge to make some changes?

Superficially, probably. But I am too long in the tooth to want to make any more fundamental personality changes.


I don't find the many INFJ's I am around to also test like you did so it sets up a disconnect for me,

Why is that?

[Ultralight]

Myers-Briggs is passe now anyway.

On to the next pop psyche trend.

So true!!!!

[Teacher Terry]

The MBTI can be useful not only in looking at suitable jobs but also in marriage counseling and when co-workers are having conflict. WE all tend to think that others see the world as we do when we are close to people. It be useful to open dialogue and help resolve conflict when you realize that others have such a different view of things.

[Zoe Girl]

[QUOTE=UltraliteAngler;236169

Superficially, probably. But I am too long in the tooth to want to make any more fundamental personality changes.

Why is that?[/QUOTE]
This is going into my personal area based on years of work, so you can take it or leave it as you see fit. I see a difference in INFJ types based on the level of ground-ness they may have. INFJ describes a set of characteristics by one model, there are other models but it does tell me a few things about how you may operate in the world. On the introvert side you may notice and feel things in a sensitive way, may be more affected by loud noises or sensing emotions in others. This can be more draining than envigorating like it would be for an extrovert. So managing outside stimulus is a big deal with people who are introverted and intuitive. When we get hit with so much that is overwhelming to our systems we have a couple ways to deal with it. Many times we put up a lot of barriers and protections so that we are not drained. That works but it can also come across as cold or aloof to others, a bit lonely to ourselves. I learned through looking at the Meyers Briggs information that other people were simply not having the same experience which was the most valuable thing about the types for me. My experiences are very connected to other people, highly empathetic to people and environment, and sensitive.

I did a lot of blocking myself off to deal with it and it didn't work that well. What has worked well is working on 'grounding' myself and building that up with meditation techniques. Being highly empathetic (which is a quality I see in other INFJ's) can be difficult to manage and painful. If you don't have support and/or skills to work with it then comes out more as a protect the self at all costs more than having connections with other people. I wouldn't suggest changes as a way to appease someone else or as a response to criticism, but there is a lot that can be done to increase your comfort in the world and with your self that is based on who you are already (not a personality transplant).

Okay if you have more interest let me know,

[ApatheticNoMore]

Personality tests at work or for hiring should be illegal. It's the misuse of psychology IMO. Employees need to protected from this type of stuff as a basic employee protection. But unfortunately that is not the law at present.

Much is not scientific (but nonetheless I do like Meyer's Briggs as an explanatory system - but not for employment - anymore than your sexual life is your employers business, but use personality tests for personal curiosity or therapy or career counseling, ok I don't have a problem with these more VOLUNTARY uses of them ...). And that which is scientific is mostly heritable, a lot of personalities traits are fairly heritable. So like I say it has no place in employment.

Now this doesn't mean their intent in giving the test was evil, they may just want coworkers to work together better despite different personality types, or bosses to motivate various types of employees better etc.. The problem is most organizations are too busy trying to get actual work done (maybe inefficiently but nonetheless) to really bother with HR and whatever theory they have come up with today. Management and organization and personnel theories are a dime a dozen and mostly pretty useless from what I've seen.

[bae]

Personality tests at work or for hiring should be illegal.

I always told companies I worked for that wanted to engage in this nonsense that I simply wouldn't participate, and that I'd do my best to get the idiots suggesting the practice terminated ASAP.

[catherine]

I had a friend who was forced to take a personality test for a job she was being considered for, and she was highly hurt and insulted when it said that she lacked empathy.

The test was spot on. She was mean and gossipy and I guess she couldn't hide it from the test. Too bad she she couldn't take a lesson from it.

[Zoe Girl]

The intent would interest me. I love personality tests on my own. I have had the highest hope for these used at work as a way to value each other or work together better through understanding. I think they are really trying in my organization to do this. Recently they have given us more options for giving feedback, written, in person, survey, etc. based on our style. That is nice, I still feel like the odd one out and misunderstood a lot of the time. So having a shorthand like INFJ that says something like I will talk in small groups and not in larger ones, prefer some solo projects, and am empathetic really can help. I have one supervisor who tends to react to things with 'fix-it' mentality so I don't feel so comfortable talking to her about wanting a solo project or other things,

The only time I didn't like doing this was an exercise with about 20 of us. We self-selected in 4 areas and what a surprise! I was the only one in my section. Then we talked to each other (myself) about some things and presented out to the group. No one I had worked with for very long was surprised that I was alone, but then they asked which group others felt they needed and no one said my group. That was embarrassing (and says a lot about my career). I went to the organizer of the meeting who had participated in this at a national conference I was so concerned. He said that at the national conference there were others in my group and he thought it was because they had a lot of organizational leaders who had my group characteristics. I think it was valuable in some ways, we learned a little about how to work with people who were more authoritarian or feeling focused, how we may come across working together, just fell flat for me.

[Teacher Terry]

The MBTI has successfully assisted to resolve work place conflict when all the participants have voluntarily agreed to take it and you have a career counselor then work with the group of employees to discuss and understand the results.

[Ultralight]

There has been a fair amount of debunking of the MBTI in the recent past.

Maybe I am an INFJ, and maybe I ain't really.

I don't put a lot of stock in this stuff.

It reminds me of horoscopes. Hand them out to a group of ten people but switch the names (Cancers are Scorpios today) and everyone will rationalize how "right" the horoscope is.

Tell someone they are an ENTJ and they will find ways they fit into it. And where they don't fit, they will call it an exception or some such.

[JaneV2.0]

I'm an INTJ and I'm sure my partner is an ESFP. I doubt that I've ever dated an introvert.
Myers-Briggs is a fun scale, interesting to see how the different types relate to work and people, and it's very accessible.

ETA: I agree with Apathetic No More as far as employment goes.

[jp1]

The MBTI can be useful not only in looking at suitable jobs but also in marriage counseling and when co-workers are having conflict. WE all tend to think that others see the world as we do when we are close to people. It be useful to open dialogue and help resolve conflict when you realize that others have such a different view of things.

Several years ago i had to do dISC test and training at work for this purpose. Prt of my role requires sales and it was thought to be useful for us to understand how the people we're selling to look at things.

[lessisbest]

It's funny how people are so sensitive when this subject comes up. Those of use who have used personality tests (three decades now, personally) can already tell most things with just a few questions and spending 30-minutes with someone, and you don't even need to use a formal "test". I've used personality tests for decades in order to determine which volunteer would work best in the different areas of volunteer work. I can tell you which personality types work best together, and which don't. This helps prevent a lot of distress before it becomes a crisis. I was trained using this method, and I have successfully used it doing field work in volunteer networks all over Kansas.

One place it helps is how to settle conflicts with different personality types, but if you do your program well, you won't need to settle conflicts.

[Teacher Terry]

Lessibest, I have one of my grad degrees in psychological testing,etc and have used them extensively to help people find jobs, marriage counseling, conflict resolution etc. They can be very useful if used correctly and by someone trained to do so. I also find it amazing how many people object to them.

[Ultralight]

Lessibest, I have one of my grad degrees in psychological testing,etc and have used them extensively to help people find jobs, marriage counseling, conflict resolution etc.

Show me longitudinal studies that back up this statement.

[lessisbest]

Show me longitudinal studies that back up this statement.

:laff: Your personality type is showing......

[Zoe Girl]

Show me longitudinal studies that back up this statement.

So exactly what did you want from posting your personality test results? Maybe a nice opportunity to continue to be critical.

[Ultralight]

So exactly what did you want from posting your personality test results? Maybe a nice opportunity to continue to be critical.

I thought it might give you all a laugh at my expense. Call me charitable. ;)

Here is the distinction that you don't get, Zoe Girl. And it would behoove you to start getting it.

There is a difference between being a prick and being critical. Sure, one can do both at the same time. But one doesn't have to.

Me asking for some proof to back up a heavy-handed statement is purely critical. It is also legitimate.

If I told you I could flap my arms like wings and fly, would you say "show me" or would you just accept it to be true?

[Zoe Girl]

I
There is a difference between being a prick and being critical. Sure, one can do both at the same time. But one doesn't have to.

Me asking for some proof to back up a heavy-handed statement is purely critical. It is also legitimate.


You ask for back up or proof or something a lot of the time. It sounds like she did this work professionally, and was speaking from her own experience. It is a very big difference to question a random comment for proof as compared to something spoken from years of professional experience. That is kinda being a prick.

If you were a flight engineer or astronaut or circus performer I would probably have some trust in what you said, Would be interesting to watch however

[Ultralight]

You ask for back up or proof or something a lot of the time. It sounds like she did this work professionally, and was speaking from her own experience. It is a very big difference to question a random comment for proof as compared to something spoken from years of professional experience. That is kinda being a prick.

If you were a flight engineer or astronaut or circus performer I would probably have some trust in what you said, Would be interesting to watch however

People read palms professionally, some do it for their entire career. That does not make it evidence-based.

What would make it evidence-based? Evidence. See how this works?

Now, since Terry is educated, a professional, and strongly supports these personality tests then I am sure she has no problem providing compelling evidence to support her claim. Stay tuned!

[JaneV2.0]

Evidence that supports whatever your opinion is, I bet.
Tbe expression "evidence-based" just makes me laugh. Whose evidence? Whose "facts?"

[Ultralight]

Evidence that supports whatever your opinion is, I bet.
Tbe expression "evidence-based" just makes me laugh. Whose evidence? Whose "facts?"

Again, this is science illiteracy.

I can explain to you, but really, it would be better to research this yourself. Though I doubt you will. Remaining ignorant to things often feels comfortable.

Let's look at something like penicillin. How do we have evidence that it works as an antibiotic?

Jane's viewpoint: "Some doctor had an opinion that it would destroy bacteria and cure diseases. So he gave it to people and by golly, it worked. Well, that was just his opinion anyway" There was no testing under lab conditions. They did not test it under field conditions. There were no experiments. And since their were no experiments the experiment was never repeated.

Reality (where things are evidence-based): Researchers made discoveries of penicillin and its antibiotic uses. They tested it in labs. They tested it in the field. They experimented. Experiments were repeated. Then because of all sorts of evidence that it worked as an antibiotic that cured disease we consider this to be a fact.

That is all in layman's terms and meant to illustrate how evidence works.

But you may poo-poo evidence, but when the rubber meets the road I bet you bow down to it.

Have you ever taken antibiotics?


You can now thank me for enlightening you.

[JaneV2.0]

I doubt I'm particularly scientifically illiterate--I studied various sciences both in high school and in college--there's some evidence for you. Do you require transcripts?

As I suggested, the quality of evidence is what matters, and whether it stands the test of time. I could present you with a two-volume book meticulously researched by Dr. Ian Stevenson, in which he painstakingly documented instance after instance of reincarnation, rife with footnotes. Convinced yet? I thought not.

[Ultralight]

I doubt I'm particularly scientifically illiterate--I studied various sciences both in high school and in college--there's some evidence for you. Do you require transcripts?

As I suggested, the quality of evidence is what matters, and whether it stands the test of time. I could present you with a two-volume book meticulously researched by Dr. Ian Stevenson, in which he painstakingly documented instance after instance of reincarnation, rife with footnotes. Convinced yet? I thought not.

Do his footnotes stand up to the rigor of the scientific method?

What makes you doubt Dr. Stevenson's book and evidence? My guess is that you doubt because the "evidence" has been debunked. But debunked how?

We'll get you there soon, Jane! You can do this. :)
Keep going. :)

[bae]

I also find it amazing how many people object to them.

In the context of employment, access to the inner workings of my mind is not one of the things I am selling, and I view these tests as an invasion of my privacy, much akin to asking me which sexual positions I prefer with which sorts of partners, what my religion is, or what political party I belong to.

[JaneV2.0]

Do his footnotes stand up to the rigor of the scientific method?

What makes you doubt Dr. Stevenson's book and evidence? My guess is that you doubt because the "evidence" has been debunked. But debunked how?

We'll get you there soon, Jane! You can do this. :)
Keep going. :)

Do you acknowledge that science comprises different factions arguing evidence on both (or all) sides of many questions? Or do you think that once evidence is presented by one researcher, the science is settled? As in phrenology, the miasma theory, "humors", the stress theory of peptic ulcers...

Ignaz Semmelweis paid the price for not being able to present "evidence" for the effectiveness of hand washing in presenting infection. Many patients paid a greater price.

[freshstart]

They made my department take the Myers Briggs one time and 7 out of 8 of us came back as introverts.

Two of us, who shared an office, were INFJ, which is supposed to be rare, but a bunch of us on SL are INFJ.

I did not like that we all had to take the test; it seemed wrong somehow.

I got asked in my interview, I'm an INTJ but knew if I admitted to the J I would not get the job. (It was clear the boss has a loose handle on understanding results) I lied and said INTP and got the job. It was a group interview and everyone went, "phew, not a J," so good call on lying, lol. How stupid the whole thing was. I went on as a J for 11 yrs and no one noticed or if they did, they did not care.

[bae]

Tell me how you want me to score on the Myers Briggs, and I'll get that result.

Next...

[Alan]

I got asked in my interview, I'm an INTJ but knew if I admitted to the J I would not get the job. (It was clear the boss has a loose handle on understanding results) I lied and said INTP and got the job. It was a group interview and everyone went, "phew, not a J," so good call on lying, lol. How stupid the whole thing was. I went on as a J for 11 yrs and no one noticed or if they did, they did not care.I'm a natural INTP, everyone wants to be like me. ;)

[JaneV2.0]

As an INTJ, I resemble that remark. People run screaming from the room when I enter. !pow!
rrrrr rrrrr

[Ultralight]

Do you acknowledge that science comprises different factions arguing evidence on both (or all) sides of many questions? Or do you think that once evidence is presented by one researcher, the science is settled? As in phrenology, the miasma theory, "humors", the stress theory of peptic ulcers...

Ignaz Semmelweis paid the price for not being able to present "evidence" for the effectiveness of hand washing in presenting infection. Many patients paid a greater price.

Some issues of science are much less settled than others. But some are rather settled.

That is why I mentioned repeating experiments and such above.

Why was phrenology debunked?

Again, if you got a bacterial infection I bet dollars to donuts you'd take antibiotics. There ain't no way you'd say some silly crap like: "The science isn't settled on this cipro!"

Right?

[Teacher Terry]

Bae, you must have missed the point when I said people voluntarily took the test and we used it for conflict resolution at work or in marriage counseling. Nobody was forced to take it. I do not think people should be asked their personality type in a job interview. There are appropriate and inappropriate uses of tests like anything else. Also the tests don't exist in a vacuum. They are part of a package accompanied by a good clinical interview by a qualified professional, a review of medical records if you are helping someone return to work and they have a disability, etc. The point is to use the information to help people in various parts of their lives not to exclude them from things. Tests are only one of many tools that a professional can use. The testing companies spend a small fortune to ensure that they are valid and reliable, etc. That is one reason the tests themselves are expensive. UL: I am not going to teach a psychometric course for you online but I have 24 years of experience in this field as well as 3 grad degrees but you won't care abut any of that because you like to argue and be annoying.

[JaneV2.0]

Some issues of science are much less settled than others. But some are rather settled.

That is why I mentioned repeating experiments and such above.

Why was phrenology debunked?

Again, if you got a bacterial infection I bet dollars to donuts you'd take antibiotics. There ain't no way you'd say some silly crap like: "The science isn't settled on this cipro!"

Right?

I believe I covered that. ("As I suggested, the quality of evidence is what matters, and whether it stands the test of time".)

I'd prefer not to have to take antibiotics (fluoroquinolones, especially). They're notoriously overused. But I would take one of the older, proven ones if it were absolutely necessary. I'm not one who uncritically believes Pharma's "evidence," much of which has been proven unreliable.

[JaneV2.0]

Some issues of science are much less settled than others. But some are rather settled.

That is why I mentioned repeating experiments and such above.

Why was phrenology debunked?

Again, if you got a bacterial infection I bet dollars to donuts you'd take antibiotics. There ain't no way you'd say some silly crap like: "The science isn't settled on this cipro!"

Right?

I believe I covered that. (As I suggested, the quality of evidence is what matters, and whether it stands the test of time.)

I'd prefer not to have to take antibiotics (fluoroquinolones, especially). They're notoriously overused. But I would take one of the older, proven ones if it were absolutely necessary. I'm not one who uncritically believes Pharma's "evidence," much of which has been proven unreliable. I think your example is a classic red herring.

[Ultralight]

I believe I covered that. (As I suggested, the quality of evidence is what matters, and whether it stands the test of time.)

I'd prefer not to have to take antibiotics (fluoroquinolones, especially). They're notoriously overused. But I would take one of the older, proven ones if it were absolutely necessary. I'm not one who uncritically believes Pharma's "evidence," much of which has been proven unreliable. I think your example is a classic red herring.

I thought you said evidence was just the person's opinion?

Wait? Something has been proven unreliable? How did that happen?

[Ultralight]

Evidence that supports whatever your opinion is, I bet.
Tbe expression "evidence-based" just makes me laugh. Whose evidence? Whose "facts?"

Remember when you said this?

How can you be sure than "quality" evidence is not just whatever supports someone's opinion?

[JaneV2.0]

Remember when you said this?

How can you be sure than "quality" evidence is not just whatever supports someone's opinion?

"Stands the test of time."

[Ultralight]

"Stands the test of time."

Is "the test of time" a form of evidence?

[Alan]

.....You can now thank me for enlightening you.Packy?

[iris lilies]

Is "the test of time" a form of evidence?
Test of time allows other, conflicting evidence to come to light.

Most importantly, time allows society to move on past specific interpretations of the scientific evidence. It is seldom pure science we plebs hear about. By the time the science comes to our ears, it is already tied to societal issues and views.

[iris lilies]

Packy?
Thank meeeeee!!!

hahaha.

[Teacher Terry]

Alan: thanks for making me laugh out loud:cool:

[Ultralight]

Packy?

Got the message.

Thread abandoned.

[ApatheticNoMore]

Even if the tests were evidence based that's neither here nor there in that they shouldn't be used in employment - not the employers business and should be illegal.

Now if you went to a career counselor and they gave you the test, it is your decision how much stock to put in it etc.. It isn't always so clean as people tend to revere authorities like counselors a bit too much and that's cultural as well (even those who aren't particularly authoritarian). But .... much psychology is more theories than science.

Anyway science and social science does not take place in some vacuum where it's all about the scientific method, not in the modern world. Studies for one thing are almost always FUNDED BY SOMEONE. The difference in results in studies of those paid by pharma to research anti-depressants and those funded outside of pharma, yea those funded by pharma were far more favorable. Pharma was ghostwriting anti-depressant studies as well. It was a scandal. There are huge industries trying to push the science in their favor, Monsanto funds UC Davis, etc.. Much social science and even science research has been shown to be unrepeatable. Unrepeatable. That's not science. But it often does make up the common body of knowledge of what people think they know. There's also built in biases to scientific publishing - such as negative results (ie hypothesis not shown) which are as valid a result as anything, not tending to get published.


I'm a natural INTP, everyone wants to be like me.

I'm one of the lucky ones as well.

[freshstart]

I could maybe see how Meyer/Briggs could be useful as a team exercise so you know how to expect others to handle certain things and how they communicate. But to just ask in an interview what is your type, that is pointless and to God-forbid hire on that little info is ridiculous. Eventually she stopped asking type because no new employees new what the heck she was talking about, that was funny.

[rodeosweetheart]

Packy, we hardly knew ye. . .

[Zoe Girl]

Packy, we hardly knew ye. . .

:)

[JaneV2.0]

I miss Packy, at least he had a sense of humor, however ill-timed, ill-advised, or misanthropic. I think of him when the "people who mow too much" break out their gas-belching noise machines. Which should be about now. Three. Two. One...

[rodeosweetheart]

I think of him when the "people who mow too much" break out their gas-belching noise machines. Which should be about now. Three. Two. One...

Up where we live, we are back to a foot of snow on the ground, two in the drifts. Sigh.

[herbgeek]

I've seen my neighbor mow his grass when half his lawn was still under snow. And he waters it in March, when most every night is below freezing. So he can mow more.