Personality
tests can provide useful information about yourself, including your
strengths and developmental needs. Personality has been found related
to success at work, in marriage and interpersonal relationships, health,
and life in general. A large number of companies use personality
tests to determine if a candidate is a good fit for their organization,
and even professional sports teams use personality tests.
There are a number of poorly written personality tests out there, with feedback that reads more like a horoscope or a fortune cookie than an accurate assessment. Most of the personality tests included on this page appear to have some validity and provide useful feedback. The ratings provided with each test are strictly this author's opinion.
All
of the tests featured here are personality or personality-related tests
that are scored online, with results fed immediately back to the user. Those that are not free have the cost listed.
Enjoy!
The
Fitability 5 personality test: Similar to the PROFILER above, but provides access to much more information, including "ideal" personality profiles for all 750 positions recognized by the Department of Labor. Also provides detailed DOL information for each job, like knowledge, skills, interests, etc. Very helpful for finding your ideal career! Cost: $19.95.
RATING: *****(5)
The
Keirsey-Temperment Sorter:A test based on the Myers-Briggs
Type Indicator (MBTI), which measures four main attributes: Extroversion-Introversion,
Sensing-Intuition, Thinking-Feeling, and Judging-Perceiving. You
fall into one of 16 "types" based on your score.
RATING: ***(3)
Integrated
Psychological Type Indicator: Another MBTI based test.
RATING: ***(3)
The
Ennegram: Another "type" indicator, but not based on
the MBTI. Instead of 16, there are 9: Reformer, Motivator, Helper,
Romantic, Thinker, Skeptic, Enthusiast, Leader, Peacmaker. Little academic
research is known to exist that supports this model, yet there are several
books on it.
RATING: ***(3)
The
Inner Self Personality Test: A java-based test
that only shows you 1 question at a time, so it may take a while to complete
the test. The feedback, however, is interesting.
RATING: ***(3)
The
Colorgenics Personality Test: Pick your favorite color, and find out who you are! The report will appear accurate, but take it again at random, and the output you receive will also appear accurate. Reads more like a horoscope, so don't take it too seriously. You might enjoy it, and you might like a mood ring too.
RATING: **(2)
Balance:
A 6 item test that measures your ability to balance the often conflicting
demands of work and personal life. The feedback includes a graph
of how you compare to people in your age group, gender, and other demographics.
RATING: ****(4)
Self
Esteem: Self esteem is the perception we have of ourselves
and our capabilities. How do you regard yourself? Do you believe
in yourself?
RATING: ***(3)
Attention
Deficit test: Will simply help you see how attentive
or scattered you have tended to be. Everyone has it to some degree, and
especially to the degree that they're interested in any particular subject.
RATING: ***(3)
Love
of Power: A 12 item test that measures
your desire for power - or ruthlessness, depending on how you look at it.
The author openly admits that he has no credientials, but it is a fun test
- just don't take the results too seriously.
RATING: **(2)
Organization Character:Do you work for one of "Fortune's Top 100 Places to Work," or the next Enron! Is a corporate scandal on your horizon? Rate your organization on a number of different qualities and see how it compares to others. The questions alone will make you think.Rate Your Boss!:Do you work for a jerk or a superstar? Rate your boss on a number of different behaviors and see how he/she compares to others. Based on the Leadership Character model of the Turknett Leadership Group.
RATING: ****(4)
The
Toxic Organization: Do you ever wonder if you are just
fine, but the environment you work in is what's dragging you down? This
test measures a number of different attributes of the organization you
work in and helps you determine if you are in an environment that is detrimental
to your psychological well-being.
RATING: ****(4)