Online Assessments: a Rant

Post Reply New Topic

I've filled out a few applications over the last year at local hospitals, and two of them sent a follow-up email with a link to an "assessment" questionnaire. This questionnaire asks a bunch of different questions about you and tries to measure how well you work in a team. I think this assessment is discriminatory. Some examples of the questions are "how quiet are you around strangers?" and things like "would people describe you as friendly?" If I answered these honestly, I'd be screened out of the job although my resume is good evidence I can perform the functions of the job effectively. I don't know how companies can get away with this practice.

The fact is that I sometimes seem robotic and shy. I, however, am good at my job and I've effectively diffused escalating situations with my psych patients. But yes, I AM shy and not an easy person to get to know. So what? Who cares as long as I can do my job effectively?

I think it speaks volumes that I have pretty severe ADHD and "high functioning" autism and I can still do my job as well as I do - it's a very social job that requires a lot of multitasking, and attention to detail.

UGH. I'm just so angry about this.

I would be OUTRAGED!! !...Definitely discriminatory...You have every legitimate reason to be angry...And yes, the fact that you can multi-task and do a formidable job despite and in spite of your autistic traits, which can be limiting and even disabling, speaks volumes about your high work ethics...You reminded me of my beloved (Aspie) husband who is exceptionally hard-working...Have a blessed day...Greetings from California...

Those sound like questions one might encounter on a Facebook quiz, not on a job evaluation. How unreasonable. Oh well, just apply enough social lubricant (dishonesty) to get through.

Those employment tests always get under my skin. They definitely contain many discriminatory questions. It seems that most job descriptions want carbon copies of a stereotypical super ongoing extrovert. It's ridiculous.

I get unsettled when I have to pretend at this level to be someone I'm not for a job, but I know I must select their preferred answers to have a chance. I once tested it by answering honestly. I later called to check on my application status and they said I failed the personality test .

There needs to be a social campaign to put a stop to these discriminatory practices.

This is a very good question. Here is an article on the law and ASD. Around page 19 talks about personality tests:

People with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Workplace: An Expanding Legal Frontier

I remember applying for a work experience gig and I had to do one of these personality tests. The questions were things such as "Have you ever been depressed?" "Do you get depressed easily?" "Would you describe yourself as excitable?" "Are you a risk taker?" "Would you describe yourself as a people person?"

...The job was just sorting files. Just basic shadowing admin work. You don't need a risk taker for that. Of course I lied by answering in ways that made me come across as an extroverted risk-taking bubbly person. I passed the personality test, but if I'd actually answered honestly I would have failed. The questions about depression seemed particularly invasive to me, why was that on there? I wouldn't have minded if the questions were situational (dealing with situations that might actually happen in the position) but they were just generic.

Unfortunately I bombed the interview after the quiz. They kept giving me silly questions and I hate that. Particularly a question on what my greatest sacrifice has been. I -that's so vague- I guess they were expecting something like sacrificing time for my pursuits. However, I didn't say that and didn't reply for quite a while because the question threw me off completely. I really wish interview questions were actually job and workplace related. None of this "If you were a biscuit, what kind would you be?" Oh gee, I dunno, hopefully not a sentient one because that would be a horrifying experience.

Yes, I know that they're trying to test my improvising skills. I am actually quite good at improvising usually, but I hate spewing the trite corporate kind of improvising because it isn't improvising at all...it's just regurgitating what they expect and pretending it isn't, even though we both know what's happening here. Granted, I know it's to keep HR happy but ugh I hate it. I know that it's a competitive world with lots of applicants, but surely there are better ways to narrow it down?

If it is an essential job function, it is not _discrimination

Thus far, there is no such thing as Myers Briggs discrimination

That might change ten years later

But someone has to win a civil lawsuit

I've seen several people say that these questionnaires are biased towards extroverted personality types, but I can never be sure exactly what a company is going to do with the results, so I just answer mostly honestly and try not to worry about what the desirable responses are.

Jobseekers have little power over employers or HR staff making questionable hiring decisions on the basis of these questionnaires, so I don't see trying to game the questionnaire as worthwhile.

How fortunate that it's not illegal to lie your ass off on such questionnaires, and there are no repercussions for doing so other than maybe gaining employment.

Really, how is anyone going to prove that other people - ones that the employer couldn't know about - wouldn't describe you as friendly? Take a few steps back from that question for a wider perspective and it becomes obvious that it's utterly moronic to even ask it.

Do note, however, that it does mean that if you work there, you'll be probably working alongside many people who also flat-out lied in order to get the job.