Psychometric Tests – Everything You Need to Know 2022

The world is changing so fast, with every movement companies are thinking of ways to stay ahead of each other. Likewise, 2022 will be a new beginning for every sector, and for every department, firms will evolve their old-fashioned firing process with new ones. In 2022 The psychometric test will determine the character traits or qualities of a potential job seeker. The test will get conducted online during the job application process. There are many formats used for these tests. But, the most common one is a questionnaire. The psychometric test has a significant role to determine whether one individual has the enthusiasm and motivation that the employer is looking for. It will also determine how well you fit into the firm, in terms of attitude and general work style. In most working situations, it is the personality of the person involved in the day-to-day success of the firm. If a manager cannot motivate their staff or the team that does not work well together, the quality of service and productivity will suffer. 

Psychometry is a vast industry that expanded greatly in the last decade. There are many psychometric questionnaires available to use. Some of the questions get broad spectrum tests to classify personality types and other behavior patterns. It gets designed to test candidate suitability for a specific job, while some get planned to test particular traits. A downside of psychometric assessment is that people don’t get accurate when identifying their personality traits. Sometimes candidates may respond to make themselves more likable.

What are the types of personality tests and traits?

A psychologist will define personality as a pattern of behavior and thinking that prevail across context and time. A personality trait gets assumed to be some enduring characteristic, which is relatively constant as opposed to the present temperament of the person which is not a stable characteristic. 

In general, trait characteristics focus on explaining the more personality characteristics that separate one person from another. Some of the traits can be:

• Dependable
• Friendly 
• Trustworthy
• Cheerful 

The goal of psychologists is to understand the cause of an individual’s differences in behavior. Some institutions also conduct learning agility assessment tests to get deeper into the traits one possesses with them. One must identify personality traits and determine the variables that control and produce them. One of the trait theories developed in ancient Greece by the physician Gallen, who suggested their personality was a reflection of four essential touches of humor in the human body.

If one of the senses of wit dominates others, the personality type is associated with the humor we get observed. This kind of classification suggested by Galen’s theory says that there are different types of personalities. Personality theories incline towards the idea that we have similar personality traits or characteristics. But, the extent to which we possess it is not known. For instance, we say that a person is tall or short. We understand that it is a trait that some of us have more than others. But we’re having the same traits. 

If we believe in the existence of a common personality trait, we’ll know that it exists to some extent. 

The five-trait model

Modern personality theory is a new field, and it started in 1920. The five-trait model received significant support from other researchers. It is how it got widely accepted among psychologists. Each of the five personality traits is relative to other people. It is in line with the frequency or intensity of a person’s feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. Each possesses all five of these traits to a lesser or greater extent. It exists on a continuum, rather than attributes that a person may or may not have. 

Let’s take a look at all the 5 traits. These 5 traits hold greater importance in a working culture of an organization.

• Extraversion is one of the characteristics of the five-trait model.

Extraversion gets marked by the pronounced engagement with the external world. Extroverts love being with people and are full of energy. They often experience positive emotions. Extroverts tend to be motivated, enthusiastic, action-oriented and zeal to work as individuals.

• Introverts, on the contrary, will lack the exuberance, energy, and activity levels of extroverts. They will like to be quiet, conservative, deliberate, and disengaged from the social world. 

The Independence and reserve nature of introverts often get mistaken for arrogance or unfriendliness. Needs to extraversion come agreeableness. 

• Agreeableness will reflect individual differences in concern for social harmony and cooperation. 

• Conscientiousness is how you control, regulate, and direct your impulses. 

• Neuroticism is the tendency to wander, or it might be referred to as neuroticism refers to the proneness to experience negative feelings. Some people tend to be speculative and imaginative. Such individuals are open to experience. These are parts of the five-trait model in psychometry.

Desirable and undesirable psychometric tests 

All employers grant some personal qualities as desirable. If one employee seems to have at least one of the personal qualities listed as desirable, they will get screened out by the psychometric test. Leadership, motivation, and honesty are some desirable traits, while anger is an undesirable one.

SHL personality test 

SHL test will measure aspects of behavior that subtitle to performance potential and cannot get identified by other techniques. SHl OPQ will provide a simple and clear framework to understand the impact of personality on job performance. It is available in more than 30 languages and is conducted online. The questionnaire will take in the majority of people in less than 30 minutes. Most of the reports get designed to use by in-line managers.

DISC Test 

It’s a behavior model based on the work of William Marston. It focuses on preferences and styles of behavior which get classified by testing a person’s references in word Association. It is worth mentioning that DISC is brief for dominance, influence, steadiness, and conscientiousness. 

Why do employers use psychometric tests?

There have been changes in the past 20 years in the way that firms operate. The Western world has witnessed ships in the more knowledge-based and customer-focused jobs. A psychometric test is a great way for employers to pre-screen potential candidates for an interview. Many jobs will attract hundreds of applicants. An easy way to cut down on time spent pre-screening applicants is to give a psychometric assessment. You can also use psychometric tests to help choose a candidate that will enhance your current team by choosing traits that your existing employees don’t have.