Only a test, but your career may be at stake

Given the problems, are applicants allowed to just say no?

Not really. Miranda of the human resource society estimates that 99 percent of employers will reject an applicant who refuses to take a test.

Bottom line: If you have an ethical problem with such a test, refuse to take it and find comfort in the fact that the place of employment probably is not the best environment for you anyway. Lewis Maltby, president of the National Work Rights Institutes in Princeton, N.J., advises that applicants “decide what’s more important, getting the job or your privacy rights.”

That said, if you still really want the job, take steps to prepare before you plunge into the test-taking pool.  Often you can ask your prospective employer the name of the exam and research it on the Web so you’re prepared for the questions, says Ben Dattner, a New York based management consultant and adjunct professor at New York University.

These tests are hard to fool because they are designed to spot liars, but it is important to think logically when answering the questions, Dattner says.

If you’re applying for a job as a sales person that will require you to interact with people day in and day out, make sure you keep that in mind when asked questions about social interaction. Saying you don’t like to mingle at parties might not be a great idea. But be honest if you want to make sure the job is a good fit and are not just out to make a quick dollar.

Besides the job interview process, personality tests might be a good tool to help you figure out what kind of job or career might be right for you. College students and alumni can go to their school’s career development offices, where tests are often available for a nominal fee or free. Many reputable personality test companies allow individuals to take the exams on their own for as little as $15 a pop.

Looking back, Nguyen says she was happy to take the test.

“If I didn’t get hired I would imagine my answers didn’t fit in with what they were looking for and it probably wouldn’t have worked for me either,” she adds.

Eve Tahmincioglu is a regular contributor to many business publications and author of "From the Sandbox to the Corner Office."

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