Help me get a job I know I'm good at!
September 11, 2013 1:00 PM Subscribe
Why do I keep failing entry level job assessments, when I know I can do the job?
I'm applying for a job that I've done before. It's a call center for a hotel. I've worked for this company's competitor at the same kind of job for 2 years, and besides my personal issues at the time, I know it's a good job, where I can be content with going to work, and I can do it.
But I've been applying for a lot of jobs since I left that job a year ago, and I've failed a lot of those job assessment questionnaires. Obviously I'm not answering something right, even though I know I can do the job. So I have a few questions about what I can do to make sure I can pass this and get the job I really want.
Is there something a job like this is looking for that I need to factor into my answers? i.e. Am I supposed to be more motivated by money or helping people, do I like working in a team or alone, etc.
Is it unethical for me to be even asking this question and/or having someone around when I'm taking it to bounce the questions and answers off of?
Do any of you that work in HR have any tips for me to make sure I'm doing these the best way and can actually pass this stupid thing?
I'm applying for a job that I've done before. It's a call center for a hotel. I've worked for this company's competitor at the same kind of job for 2 years, and besides my personal issues at the time, I know it's a good job, where I can be content with going to work, and I can do it.
But I've been applying for a lot of jobs since I left that job a year ago, and I've failed a lot of those job assessment questionnaires. Obviously I'm not answering something right, even though I know I can do the job. So I have a few questions about what I can do to make sure I can pass this and get the job I really want.
Is there something a job like this is looking for that I need to factor into my answers? i.e. Am I supposed to be more motivated by money or helping people, do I like working in a team or alone, etc.
Is it unethical for me to be even asking this question and/or having someone around when I'm taking it to bounce the questions and answers off of?
Do any of you that work in HR have any tips for me to make sure I'm doing these the best way and can actually pass this stupid thing?
I was about to link to that comment as well. You give them the answers they want, rather than the answers that reflect the truth about whatever they're asking. Read between the lines and figure out what they're actually asking:
From the questions you posted:
-If it is a business, you are motivated by money. If you're motivated by helping people, you might put them ahead of making money and the company doesn't want that. You are working for them to make them money ahead of anything else.
-You like working on a team. You work on a "team" in just about any job. The team could be your department, or the entire business. The question is asking "am I capable of working with other human beings," not your personal preference.
posted by griphus at 1:10 PM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
From the questions you posted:
-If it is a business, you are motivated by money. If you're motivated by helping people, you might put them ahead of making money and the company doesn't want that. You are working for them to make them money ahead of anything else.
-You like working on a team. You work on a "team" in just about any job. The team could be your department, or the entire business. The question is asking "am I capable of working with other human beings," not your personal preference.
posted by griphus at 1:10 PM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
Is it unethical for me to be even asking this question...
I think this statement suggests 1) you would be a scrupulous employee with strong ethics (an asset to the organization!) and 2) you are thinking too much about the assessment. The comment linked by royalsong is really helpful (and that's an interesting thread).
Personally, I treat any assessment / personality questionnaire like any other multiple choice test. The assignment is to give them the answers they are looking for, not some metaphysically correct answer or the answer I think is best. I'm sure there are algorithms that will track how many exceptionally "good" answers you give and correlate it with bullshitting, but I don't think most employers look beyond the responses.
I love working on a team! I feel strongly about taking initiative! I'm looking for a long-term job with opportunity for advancement! My schedule is flexible!
(But don't lie on your job applications.)
posted by Admiral Haddock at 1:15 PM on September 11, 2013 [2 favorites]
I think this statement suggests 1) you would be a scrupulous employee with strong ethics (an asset to the organization!) and 2) you are thinking too much about the assessment. The comment linked by royalsong is really helpful (and that's an interesting thread).
Personally, I treat any assessment / personality questionnaire like any other multiple choice test. The assignment is to give them the answers they are looking for, not some metaphysically correct answer or the answer I think is best. I'm sure there are algorithms that will track how many exceptionally "good" answers you give and correlate it with bullshitting, but I don't think most employers look beyond the responses.
I love working on a team! I feel strongly about taking initiative! I'm looking for a long-term job with opportunity for advancement! My schedule is flexible!
(But don't lie on your job applications.)
posted by Admiral Haddock at 1:15 PM on September 11, 2013 [2 favorites]
There are a lot of assessments. Are they skill based or are they personality based?
It's hard to game personality tests because they build in validity checks. So you have to be pretty consistant throughout the testing. If on one question you indicate that you enjoy working in teams 4 out of 5. But then you answer a 5 on "I enjoy working by myself." That may be discordant.
Here's an article that's rather broad.
eHow has an interesting take on it.
I would recommend taking one of these things on line and then see what the feedback is.
Here's a test you can take to see where it's scoring you. That may give you some insight as to what the issue may be.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 1:39 PM on September 11, 2013
It's hard to game personality tests because they build in validity checks. So you have to be pretty consistant throughout the testing. If on one question you indicate that you enjoy working in teams 4 out of 5. But then you answer a 5 on "I enjoy working by myself." That may be discordant.
Here's an article that's rather broad.
eHow has an interesting take on it.
I would recommend taking one of these things on line and then see what the feedback is.
Here's a test you can take to see where it's scoring you. That may give you some insight as to what the issue may be.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 1:39 PM on September 11, 2013
Is it unethical for me to be even asking this question...
I can tell you that employers utilize all sorts of not-valid tests ...is that ethical? Businesses are not in the business of ethics.
posted by vitabellosi at 1:56 PM on September 11, 2013
I can tell you that employers utilize all sorts of not-valid tests ...is that ethical? Businesses are not in the business of ethics.
posted by vitabellosi at 1:56 PM on September 11, 2013
-If it is a business, you are motivated by money. If you're motivated by helping people, you might put them ahead of making money and the company doesn't want that. You are working for them to make them money ahead of anything else.
This depends on the actual question being asked. If it is "Why do you want a job?", then a valid answer would be "to make money / support myself". But if the question is "why do you want this job", then you like helping people.
Also, it depends on the type of job. You might want a commissioned sales person who was motivated by money. But a phone answerer should want to help people. It's not like they make more or less money depending on how helpful they were or weren't.
Almost all front line jobs (at least in larger corporations) don't concern themselves with profitability. They want you to help as many people as you can, within the established rules. Dealing with the money is management's problem.
posted by gjc at 2:20 PM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
This depends on the actual question being asked. If it is "Why do you want a job?", then a valid answer would be "to make money / support myself". But if the question is "why do you want this job", then you like helping people.
Also, it depends on the type of job. You might want a commissioned sales person who was motivated by money. But a phone answerer should want to help people. It's not like they make more or less money depending on how helpful they were or weren't.
Almost all front line jobs (at least in larger corporations) don't concern themselves with profitability. They want you to help as many people as you can, within the established rules. Dealing with the money is management's problem.
posted by gjc at 2:20 PM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
First and foremost the job interview is not a stupid thing. It is the thing that is hanging you up. You are making a smart move by starting to look for advice on how to improve your interview skills, that is an excellent step in landing a job. Notice I didn't say the job you want.
You need to ask yourself, is the job that you are applying for really the job you want? Is it really the job to move a view of your career forward? If it isn't what is the job to you? Is it just a check, is it something to tide you over until something in your field opens up, is it a Get Out Of Debt (GOOD) job? What is the opinion that you are telegraphing either with your words or your body language to the recruiters.
A job interview is a first date. You need to be focused on the impression you are making the entire time. It isn't enough to look your best, you also don't want to outshine your date - or make it look like you are better than the position. If you attended HBS (which you didn't indicate hat you did) and aren't applying to a mismatch placement - you are telegraphing something you may not realize to your employer.
A few years into my first job, washing dishes, there was a chef with 24 years of line experience at fine dining establishments and here he was applying to a crappy Italian restaurant along the Maine seacoast. It didn't make sense. What was discovered was he had a bit of a drinking problem and was trying to recover, and that in the process of doing so he had burned the majority of his fine dining relationships. Two hours into his first night, he was in the basement, nipping at some bottles of cheap cooking wine. That was the night I was promoted from dishwasher to cook - because clearly he was immediately fired.
Ask yourself what flaws and risks do you telegraph. Did you go to a $50K/yr school and the job is closer to minimum wage pay? Is your skill set to great, did you graduate magna cum laud, do you have a letter of recommendation from the dean of the college? Are you over-killing for the job? Do you have too many other options for the job that other candidates don't?
You've got to establish an interest, identify why you want the job, and make sure that people view you as a fit. Over-achieve after you are in the position.
posted by Nanukthedog at 6:26 PM on September 11, 2013 [2 favorites]
You need to ask yourself, is the job that you are applying for really the job you want? Is it really the job to move a view of your career forward? If it isn't what is the job to you? Is it just a check, is it something to tide you over until something in your field opens up, is it a Get Out Of Debt (GOOD) job? What is the opinion that you are telegraphing either with your words or your body language to the recruiters.
A job interview is a first date. You need to be focused on the impression you are making the entire time. It isn't enough to look your best, you also don't want to outshine your date - or make it look like you are better than the position. If you attended HBS (which you didn't indicate hat you did) and aren't applying to a mismatch placement - you are telegraphing something you may not realize to your employer.
A few years into my first job, washing dishes, there was a chef with 24 years of line experience at fine dining establishments and here he was applying to a crappy Italian restaurant along the Maine seacoast. It didn't make sense. What was discovered was he had a bit of a drinking problem and was trying to recover, and that in the process of doing so he had burned the majority of his fine dining relationships. Two hours into his first night, he was in the basement, nipping at some bottles of cheap cooking wine. That was the night I was promoted from dishwasher to cook - because clearly he was immediately fired.
Ask yourself what flaws and risks do you telegraph. Did you go to a $50K/yr school and the job is closer to minimum wage pay? Is your skill set to great, did you graduate magna cum laud, do you have a letter of recommendation from the dean of the college? Are you over-killing for the job? Do you have too many other options for the job that other candidates don't?
You've got to establish an interest, identify why you want the job, and make sure that people view you as a fit. Over-achieve after you are in the position.
posted by Nanukthedog at 6:26 PM on September 11, 2013 [2 favorites]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by royalsong at 1:04 PM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]