What test scores should one list on a resume?
April 15, 2011 6:55 PM Subscribe
What test scores is it appropriate to list on a general resume for someone with a Master's and job experience?
E.g. I could list any of: SAT; SAT II (math, English, French); AP (math, French Spanish); GRE (verbal, quantitative, written); GRE subject (psychology); WAIS (aka IQ).
I could take other things also (e.g. LSAT, MCAT) at some point in the near future.
Listing IQ seems a bit awkward to me, though listing SAT/GRE scores is too, and those are effectively used as a proxy for IQ by most people.
Listing something like typing speed, OTOH, is awkward for the opposite reason, as it'd imply secretarial work.
E.g. I could list any of: SAT; SAT II (math, English, French); AP (math, French Spanish); GRE (verbal, quantitative, written); GRE subject (psychology); WAIS (aka IQ).
I could take other things also (e.g. LSAT, MCAT) at some point in the near future.
Listing IQ seems a bit awkward to me, though listing SAT/GRE scores is too, and those are effectively used as a proxy for IQ by most people.
Listing something like typing speed, OTOH, is awkward for the opposite reason, as it'd imply secretarial work.
What test scores should one list on a resume?
None.
posted by DrGail at 6:57 PM on April 15, 2011 [30 favorites]
None.
posted by DrGail at 6:57 PM on April 15, 2011 [30 favorites]
Response by poster: … and another kind of test one might list is MBTI.
posted by saizai at 6:58 PM on April 15, 2011
posted by saizai at 6:58 PM on April 15, 2011
Seconding none. I've done a bit of recruiting work for my company and I wouldn't give second glance to a resume with test scores listed.
posted by Loto at 6:59 PM on April 15, 2011
posted by Loto at 6:59 PM on April 15, 2011
Listing IQ seems a bit awkward to me
Oh god, it is more than a bit awkward. Don't do that.
SAT/GRE scores...are effectively used as a proxy for IQ by most people.
Um, what? I don't know where you're drawing your sample of "most people" from, but that's a weird claim to make. How old are you, and what amount of work experience is going to go on your resume to complement the education test scores?
posted by AkzidenzGrotesk at 6:59 PM on April 15, 2011
Oh god, it is more than a bit awkward. Don't do that.
SAT/GRE scores...are effectively used as a proxy for IQ by most people.
Um, what? I don't know where you're drawing your sample of "most people" from, but that's a weird claim to make. How old are you, and what amount of work experience is going to go on your resume to complement the education test scores?
posted by AkzidenzGrotesk at 6:59 PM on April 15, 2011
Wouldn't put any of this down. Haven't, and I've got stellar scores on a bunch of these things. They just aren't what anybody's looking for. The only time I'd put down test scores would be if the job listing or information says something about needing a minimum test score to be eligible.
posted by gracedissolved at 7:00 PM on April 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by gracedissolved at 7:00 PM on April 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
Companies don't want really smart (as in IQ) people working for them. They're more trouble than they're worth.
posted by speedgraphic at 7:01 PM on April 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by speedgraphic at 7:01 PM on April 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
Not sure what field you're targeting, but as someone who reviews resumes for folks applying to my firm, I would say that listing test scores would be a Very Bad Idea.
posted by monju_bosatsu at 7:01 PM on April 15, 2011
posted by monju_bosatsu at 7:01 PM on April 15, 2011
Yeah, none. I would be very turned off to that, that just screams "inexperienced, socially awkward".
posted by thinkpiece at 7:01 PM on April 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by thinkpiece at 7:01 PM on April 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
Best answer: In certain industries it is completely standard, often required, to list SAT and/or GRE (and/or GMAT) but none of those others, most certainly not AP scores. That's assuming that your job experience is "a few years" and not 10+ years.
One example of such a field is management consulting.
posted by telegraph at 7:02 PM on April 15, 2011
One example of such a field is management consulting.
posted by telegraph at 7:02 PM on April 15, 2011
Best answer: Different cultures have very very different expectations for what should be included in a resume/CV.
I can speak only from authority about the practices of the U.S.; I will tell you that an IQ score listed on your resume would work powerfully against you. Listing other test scores would be less gauche, slightly, but would be very unlikely to help. They're best left off.
posted by jjjjjjjijjjjjjj at 7:03 PM on April 15, 2011
I can speak only from authority about the practices of the U.S.; I will tell you that an IQ score listed on your resume would work powerfully against you. Listing other test scores would be less gauche, slightly, but would be very unlikely to help. They're best left off.
posted by jjjjjjjijjjjjjj at 7:03 PM on April 15, 2011
Best answer: Absolutely none. There may be specialized fields out there for which test scores on specialized certification exams (for example) are traditionally listed, but for a general resume this is most certainly Not Done.
If I received a resume with test scores and IQ it would immediately call into question the maturity and experience of the person who submitted it, which is about as bad a first impression as you can make.
posted by scody at 7:03 PM on April 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
If I received a resume with test scores and IQ it would immediately call into question the maturity and experience of the person who submitted it, which is about as bad a first impression as you can make.
posted by scody at 7:03 PM on April 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
Yeah, listing test scores would say to me "Those four hours I sat in a high school cafeteria? Most relevant four hours of my whole life."
Use that space to list some actual accomplishments.
(I say this as someone who tests ridiculously well who also has terrible work habits.)
posted by tchemgrrl at 7:10 PM on April 15, 2011
Use that space to list some actual accomplishments.
(I say this as someone who tests ridiculously well who also has terrible work habits.)
posted by tchemgrrl at 7:10 PM on April 15, 2011
Best answer: Or, to put all of this another way: once you've left college/grad school, no one really cares about your test scores anymore. Really. No matter how good they are, now matter how much currency they carry while you're a student, after a certain point, no one with any ability to give you a job or fellowship or grant cares about how well you took a test when you were 18 or 22. I say this not to be harsh, but to let you know that outside of academia, those numbers really, really don't matter to how people perceive you personally, professionally, and/or intellectually. (And the flip side is that people who bring up their test scores socially or professionally are, in my experience, often considered either arrogant or gauche, if not both.)
posted by scody at 7:11 PM on April 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by scody at 7:11 PM on April 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
Actually, make my answer conditionally "none". If you are applying to work for a tutoring company they will often want to see the test scores for the tests they want you to teach.
However, in all other cases, leave them off.
posted by Loto at 7:11 PM on April 15, 2011
However, in all other cases, leave them off.
posted by Loto at 7:11 PM on April 15, 2011
Response by poster: @amtho My interests are in psych, not in anthropology. Cultural expectations vary considerably. :-P
(E.g.: I was specifically asked to list my birthdate and martial status for a German PhD application, together with an apologetic note that technically it's not required but it's Expected anyway.)
posted by saizai at 7:12 PM on April 15, 2011
(E.g.: I was specifically asked to list my birthdate and martial status for a German PhD application, together with an apologetic note that technically it's not required but it's Expected anyway.)
posted by saizai at 7:12 PM on April 15, 2011
If I saw IQ scores and/or test scores on a resume that came across my desk, it would keep moving right right on across and into the shredder.
posted by gyusan at 7:13 PM on April 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by gyusan at 7:13 PM on April 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
Particularly within the psych field in the US, you should be aware that IQ tests are not considered really useful or informative measures of anything when presented in isolation, and even then, they're only really important for assessing someone's learning disabilities or cognitive deficits, or determining whether someone has mental retardation. If you're looking for a *job* in psychology, no one cares what your WAIS score is. And volunteering the info anyway will invite a lot of negative perception at a time when you want to lower the chances of someone evaluating you negatively.
posted by so_gracefully at 7:20 PM on April 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by so_gracefully at 7:20 PM on April 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
What exactly are you applying for? As someone with a Masters in Counseling Psychology, none of my potential employers have ever asked for test scores. I would leave them off unless the position specifically states you need to include them. Even then, I think I would have them as a separate page of your resume (like the reference page is). That way, you can include the test score page when it's called for, and leave it out when it's not needed and you don't have to worry about reformatting your resume and potentially making a mistake.
I would never reveal my IQ unless specifically asked for it. As someone who studied psychology no doubt you are familiar of the controversy surrounding IQ scores, and whether or not they really assess overall intelligence.
posted by MultiFaceted at 7:20 PM on April 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
I would never reveal my IQ unless specifically asked for it. As someone who studied psychology no doubt you are familiar of the controversy surrounding IQ scores, and whether or not they really assess overall intelligence.
posted by MultiFaceted at 7:20 PM on April 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
GRE if you're applying for grad school. Otherwise, nothing.
You can't give people a measure of your aptitude for a certain job, which is really all they care about. And if you want them to know you're smart, you demonstrate it doing intelligent things-- well-written cover letter, lack of typos, and not telling anyone your IQ, prompted or otherwise.
posted by supercres at 7:30 PM on April 15, 2011
You can't give people a measure of your aptitude for a certain job, which is really all they care about. And if you want them to know you're smart, you demonstrate it doing intelligent things-- well-written cover letter, lack of typos, and not telling anyone your IQ, prompted or otherwise.
posted by supercres at 7:30 PM on April 15, 2011
Listing IQ seems a bit awkward to me, though listing SAT/GRE scores is too, and those are effectively used as a proxy for IQ by most people.
I have never met anyone who considers these a proxy of IQ. I have met many people who consider both tests to be a really strange way of testing knowledge/skills/intelligence.
posted by wansac at 7:30 PM on April 15, 2011
I have never met anyone who considers these a proxy of IQ. I have met many people who consider both tests to be a really strange way of testing knowledge/skills/intelligence.
posted by wansac at 7:30 PM on April 15, 2011
Best answer: As a point of difference, is quite common in finance and consulting for resumes to provide board scores, even for people at a several removes from school, especially from those without an obviously rigorous quantitiative degree. I saw them all the time recruiting for finance and it was a mark in a candidate's favor to have high scores.
posted by MattD at 7:46 PM on April 15, 2011
posted by MattD at 7:46 PM on April 15, 2011
Response by poster: Looks like everyone agrees one shouldn't list any scores whatsoever unless explicitly requested. Thanks to all for the input.
Any further commenters, please have something new to say. :-P
posted by saizai at 7:46 PM on April 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
Any further commenters, please have something new to say. :-P
posted by saizai at 7:46 PM on April 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
That said, taking a board just for resume listing is a bad idea. Don't sit the LSAT if you aren't applying law school.
posted by MattD at 7:47 PM on April 15, 2011
posted by MattD at 7:47 PM on April 15, 2011
GRE if you're applying for grad school.
Many graduate school programs will also be turned off if you place a lot of weight on your on test scores.
posted by Jagz-Mario at 8:01 PM on April 15, 2011
Many graduate school programs will also be turned off if you place a lot of weight on your on test scores.
posted by Jagz-Mario at 8:01 PM on April 15, 2011
Best answer: Many graduate school programs will also be turned off if you place a lot of weight on your on test scores.
And more to the point: if they care about your GRE scores, they will require you have them sent.... so they've got them already!
posted by wansac at 8:44 PM on April 15, 2011
And more to the point: if they care about your GRE scores, they will require you have them sent.... so they've got them already!
posted by wansac at 8:44 PM on April 15, 2011
Is it typical to include a photo on professional CVs these days?
posted by wansac at 11:28 PM on April 15, 2011
posted by wansac at 11:28 PM on April 15, 2011
Response by poster: It's been specifically requested of me a couple times before. It also more subtly answers the question of gender ("Sai" is ambiguous) and identification.
I think it's a cultural thing though. This is another thing that was mentioned as de facto required in Germany, but not really mentioned either way in US.
posted by saizai at 11:38 PM on April 15, 2011
I think it's a cultural thing though. This is another thing that was mentioned as de facto required in Germany, but not really mentioned either way in US.
posted by saizai at 11:38 PM on April 15, 2011
I was told not to put your GPA on a resume.
If the interviewer has a higher GPA, then he or she thinks you are a slacker.
If the interviewer has a lower GPA, he orshe can feel threatened.
I imagine IQ is the same.
posted by Monday at 11:59 PM on April 15, 2011
If the interviewer has a higher GPA, then he or she thinks you are a slacker.
If the interviewer has a lower GPA, he orshe can feel threatened.
I imagine IQ is the same.
posted by Monday at 11:59 PM on April 15, 2011
If you are applying for particular kinds of jobs in Germany, it would be a good idea to say that in your question. On this website, if you don't specify, people will assume you're looking for general jobs in the US -- so if your question requires information specific to Germany, or to jobs in certain industries, you'll get more relevant answers if you say that upfront.
posted by LobsterMitten at 12:02 AM on April 16, 2011
posted by LobsterMitten at 12:02 AM on April 16, 2011
Response by poster: The question was meant generically. I'm curious whether standards vary, not just in how I in particular should act for some specific job. :P
posted by saizai at 12:29 AM on April 16, 2011
posted by saizai at 12:29 AM on April 16, 2011
Do not ever include a photo on an application for a job in the United States, unless you are applying to be an actor, model, stripper, or hooker.
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 5:30 AM on April 16, 2011 [8 favorites]
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 5:30 AM on April 16, 2011 [8 favorites]
Also - I recruit in management and strategy consulting, and we don't want your test scores. I don't really even want your GPA, assuming you have more than three or four years of work experience. And we sure as hell don't want your IQ or MBTI or anything like that. Put your test scores on if they are specificially requested/required in the job ad. Otherwise, leave them off.
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 5:34 AM on April 16, 2011
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 5:34 AM on April 16, 2011
While wearing one of my professional hats, I have handled and reviewed thousands of resumes and job applications.
If you put your SAT scores on a resume, and it's for an entry-level job, I might roll my eyes but try not to hold it against you.
If you put GRE, IQ or MBTI scores, I will almost certainly move you to the bottom of the pile, unless I'm specifically shopping for narcissistic oddballs or business cartoonists.
posted by rokusan at 7:32 AM on April 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
If you put your SAT scores on a resume, and it's for an entry-level job, I might roll my eyes but try not to hold it against you.
If you put GRE, IQ or MBTI scores, I will almost certainly move you to the bottom of the pile, unless I'm specifically shopping for narcissistic oddballs or business cartoonists.
posted by rokusan at 7:32 AM on April 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
No photos, no test scores. This for an institutional and academic setting.
I won't see them anyway. Everything but text is stripped out by our HR system. The CVs and cover letters I get have all be reformatted to remove "bias".
posted by bonehead at 9:56 AM on April 16, 2011
I won't see them anyway. Everything but text is stripped out by our HR system. The CVs and cover letters I get have all be reformatted to remove "bias".
posted by bonehead at 9:56 AM on April 16, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by la petite marie at 6:57 PM on April 15, 2011 [1 favorite]