During part of an online job application, I had to submit to a version of the Myers-Briggs nonsense

[Orrex]

Hey, if anyone wants to take the MBTI online to have a little fun and find out if they're "I" or "E," then that's perfectly fine.

But as a tool for determining employee suitability? It's a load of crap.


Were I not in something of a desperate circumstance I would have said fuck it. Instead, I slogged through the idiocy and entered my answers.


The oh-so-insightful questions were of the following sort:

From each of the following groups of three words, which describes you most accurately?
Circonflex
Seven
Reverberate

Sedimentary
Panache
Brought

Thursday
Interstitial
Yclept

Okay, so those aren't quite the exact choices, but they're not far off. Three unconnected words, and I'm supposed to pick which one describes me? Who the hell's the asshole who convinced anyone that this is a good way to go about anything?


Honestly, I should go into business designing nonsensical tests for use by trend-following employers. I'll make a million!

[Fire Walk With Me]

1. This, and the unicorn dream, means you're a replicant.

I approve of the MBTI, but only if it's used as an aid, and not as an overall determination of whether you should be hired. Odd to find an organization which might place that much focus upon it.

[Orrex]

3. That's always been my objection to it

The MBTI is every bit as accurate (and, ultimately, as useful) as a horoscope or tarot reading. I have no problem with people doing self-assessments for the fun of it, but when an employer or prospective employer uses it as part of an evaluation that has actual consequences, then I cry foul.

The problems with the test as an objective instrument are many and varied, and they render it far too subjective a tool for credible use in this regard.


And it's too bad the fifth Cylon won't live, but then again who does?

[pokerfan]

15. I've had bosses that use it

just to try to get a metric on the various personalities in their department. But not as a condition of employment or part of the interview process.

[Lucian]

2. What does that test have to do with how qualified you are for a job?

It's a meaningless test. I'm always switching between INTP and INTJ. It all depends upon the day.

[wickerwoman]

4. I'm getting pretty fed up with the job search thing too.

In the eleven years since I was last looking for a job in the US, HR departments seem to have gone berserk with unbridled power. I just found out yesterday that I was rejected for a job I interviewed for *four fucking times*.

And at least half a dozen places have refused to allow me to just e-mail them a resume. They want me to spend two hours filling in their stupid-ass custom forms which basically ask exactly the same information that's on my resume but not in a way that I can simply cut and paste it. Plus the expectation that you're going to spend days researching their lame ass company when they know damn well they're going to get 160 applications for 1 position and 159 people are wasting their time.

With jobs I've applied for in other countries, I usually get at least one e-mail acknowledging receipt of my CV and then another e-mail telling me whether or not I'm invited for an interview. But virtually none of the places I've applied in the US has responded in any way (and if you're not really hiring, don't send me a pissy e-mail complaining about my application, take your damn ads down).

But the absolute worst was a company that wouldn't accept e-mailed resumes. They made me download their fourteen page custom application, print it, fill it out by hand, including lengthy essay questions which required hours of research and then mail it in. And then they didn't even acknowledge receipt of the f*in thing. I spent three days and two dollars in postage because they have a hair across their ass about e-mail and they can't even bother to send a "thanks for the application but the position is filled" mass e-mail?

Anyway, I'm damn good at my job and a lot of these companies are missing out on potentially great hires with this stupid ass game playing in HR.

[Orrex]

7. This same job had a similarly obstructive online form

Question one of the online application is "would you like to upload your resume?"

Of course I would! So after uploading I moved on to "personal information and job history" and then filled in all of the information that's already on the resume. For what possible purpose?!? I can see them asking for one or the other, but both seems, well, redundant redundant.


So far, I'm happy to report, I've had generally good luck in getting at least automated emails telling me that my application was received for review. And this job in particular is actually pretty good for my small town, so I hope that I get it.

Based on what it entails, I can say with confidence that I'm overqualified, but as I mentioned above I'm not in a position to be too picky at the moment.


Good luck in your search. Good luck to both of us!

[SoxFan]

5. I think they have a Circonflex in the weight room at the Y

[Orrex]

8. A little disinfectant will clear that up in no time.

[rcrush]

6. I picked Cheesebruger.

[LisaL]

9. Thursday?

I know of Robinson Crusoe and his friend Friday, but Thursday?

[Orrex]

10. See? Now you understand my dilemma!

[jeff30997]

11. Next ting you know...

They'll use the Dungeons & Dragons rules to determine if you would be more of an Orc Insurance

salesperson rather than a Dark Elf Mechanic.Nuts.

[Orrex]

12. In that case, I'm totally screwed

The last book I bought was 2nd ed., and that was about twelve years ago!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

13. I'll bet your score contains at least one "borderline"

I had the same issues, and even in taking the test multiple times, I'm classified as a "borderline introvert".

Suits me better than other options. I don't really like being defined.

[Orrex]

14. I don't mind being defined, as long as it's 'inexhaustible sex god'

But, sadly, that doesn't quite fit the job for which I'm applying.

[dembotoz]

16. I used to work for a successful val pak franchise.

years ago
new corporate owners--think it was cox communications?
Anyway as one of the initiatives we all were requested to take
a personality test. Understand their hope was to come up
with they personality dynamics that would forcast a good
new val pak rep.
They apparently came up with criteria and went on to implement.
Our local owners told us with a smile, that upon review of the test,
none of us would be hired if we were to apply now due to test results.