Three "Personality Profile" questions...

I'm wondering if you would have the same struggles with these questions as I did.

In looking for supplemental income at night.. I found a customer service call center job with the right hours and, well, enough pay to put a meal or two on the table...somewhere around $12 per hour (please hold your applause for later.)

NOW... in order to get to the three rounds of interviews (as informed by an intake worker), I would have to complete an online application and "assessment." After answering the initial "deal killer" questions, and making it through their "call center simulator", I finally came upon the ol' personality profile.

Hey.. I'm not afraid of the truth... so I usually like these things. They bend my brain a bit and make me self-reflect while at the same time, challenge me to think through the system.

Anyways.. remember the job I'm applying for... "Customer Service Representative" (for a wireless provider to remain nameless). Then.. tell me how YOU would answer the following three questions, out of 40 that I answered, (and please include why):

Which of the following do you value least in a job:

a.) Work that really makes a difference
b.) Pleasing others
c.) Opportunity to advance
d.) Work that "Stays at work"; I don't worry about it at home

Which is the most bothersome in a job:

a.) Dealing with frequent interruptions to work
b.) Having to follow a rigid schedule
c.) Being expected to make sales quota

And.. last one..

Which is the most bothersome in a job:

a.) Dealing with a lot of paperwork
b.) Dealing with complex problems
c.) Dealing with a lot of rules
d.) Dealing with irritable peaople

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As always.. there are no "correct" answers.

So.. my recruiter friends.. how would YOU answer those questions? And.. does your company use this approach in their hiring process. What's the reality regarding how the information is used?

Inquiring minds want NEED to know.

I hope this is a fun one for everyone.

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Permalink Reply by Leigh McKiernon on February 13, 2009 at 4:45am

Ah. The old faithful personality profile test!

These generally give an overall idea to the kind of individual you are, to narrow it down to a couple of particular questions… well, it doesn’t hinge on a couple of questions its just the overall result…

To answer your questions…

What do I value least in a job?

B – Pleasing others

Why? Sorry guys, I'm here to make money. You can either be with me or against me. I’m bothered about making those close to me happy, i.e. family etc, and ultimately I’m #1. I’m working to bill money to please me. Don’t get me wrong, it’s nice to get that guy who has been looking for the last 3 months a lucrative 6 months contract / position and there’s some obviously pleasure in that, but its just incidental

What is most bothersome in a job

A – Dealing with frequent interruptions to work

I’m here to do a job and get to an end result. I don’t really have a problem dealing with interruptions but I’d much rather hit the phones for hours on end, generating leads and jobs then rock out the door at 6 or 7 knowing that my job was done… plenty of time for interruptions outside of work!

What is most bothersome in a job

C – Dealing with a lot of rules

Rules and processes while sometimes useful can be a hindrance. The rule is that you send the CV through to HR and wait for HR to contact you. The rule is that you don’t have line manager contact. No thanks. If the rules are reasonable and I’m in agreement with them then I’m happy to follow them, if they’re simply rules that are there for rules sake then no. Laws are obviously a little different, but rules are for kids and subordinates.

My current company don’t profile on personality, although I came through direct recommendation rather than your typical hire so maybe it’s somewhere in the official process. In my last company we had a 100 question personality profile at the end of a 4 stage interview process. Generally feedback seems to be that you need to be renegade and focussed on the end result… after all, our job is all about results – we don’t make money for just keeping people happy and doing what they want, it’s all about influence! I know some people get upset at personality profiles and the fact that it can stop them getting a job they think they want, but generally it’s better… you’d probably end up not enjoying the job or getting on too well with the people around you

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Permalink Reply by Sarah White on February 13, 2009 at 7:52am

Ok, As someone who has put customer service reps through crazy testing early in my career, here are the answers they are "looking" for - although none are wrong ;) The company I worked for gave the whole profile, but actually only looked at 5 of the 20 questions...

Which of the following do you value least in a job:

d.) Work that "Stays at work"; I don't worry about it at home

They want you to care about the customers, think it makes a difference and want to improve/advance at somepoint.

Which is the most bothersome in a job:

a.) Dealing with frequent interruptions to work

This one is a little tougher, since all would be a part of the CSR - but I would say A. When you are in a call center environment you have to follow an amazingly rigid schedule of your bathroom breaks, lunch, etc and even in the wireless (that is what my brother ended up doing) they have sales quotas.

And.. last one..

Which is the most bothersome in a job:

a.) Dealing with a lot of paperwork
b.) Dealing with complex problems
c.) Dealing with a lot of rules
d.) Dealing with irritable peaople

This one could be a or b, but when you are a CSR for a phone company, there is little "paperwork" as everything is done in the system so that would be my answer A. Each call you will deal with irritable people and have a whole list of rules you have to follow. If you have a customer with an issue that you will also be facing complex problems to solve.

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Permalink Reply by Dan Nuroo on February 13, 2009 at 8:50am

OK Jim,

Here are my answers... Did I get the job

Which of the following do you value least in a job:

a.) Work that really makes a difference
b.) Pleasing others
c.) Opportunity to advance
d.) Work that "Stays at work"; I don't worry about it at home - why? because I like to commit to a role, and that means immersing myself in it... I don't have to be always physically working, however, I don't have a need to leave it all at the desk... although if you saw my desk :( )... Once turned down a role after the HR person told me of their clean desk policy... "We hav a clean desk policy here, it is extremely important to us.. can you work in that environment? umm well no, not really, thanks anyway ;)

Which is the most bothersome in a job:

a.) Dealing with frequent interruptions to work - That's all part of problem solving!
b.) Having to follow a rigid schedule - OK that'll be the winner.. only good if I've made the schedule!)
c.) Being expected to make sales quota (don't have that problem anymore, however when it was expected of me.... ummmm, well that can't be bothersome as that is what I was there to do... right?)

And.. last one..

Which is the most bothersome in a job: (same question again I see...

a.) Dealing with a lot of paperwork... we have a winner.... if I could type and not hand write that would help too as noone can rad my writing.

b.) Dealing with complex problems (That's why I go to work)
c.) Dealing with a lot of rules (can be annoying.. . but have learnt the importance of process)
d.) Dealing with irritable peaople (That's what I do... well watered down with some great people of course)