What is the ideal personality profile in a low/entry level job application?
I should clarify here at the beginning that I am referring here, to low or 'access-level' jobs. These jobs include working as a cashier or cleaning stores and the like. These jobs are pretty much all you can get when you first look for work. NASA scientists or bio-engineers may possess a wide range of personalities, but a cashier generally can only be one type of person. Now then, to the main point! I've been applying for loads of summer jobs recently, hours and hours worth of applications, which once again means I have to fill out their respective personality surveys. These personality profiles tend to bother me though, because I am technically not the type of person they are 'looking' for in access level jobs. I am the sort of person who does not typically initiate conversations with people I do not know, or engage in most social interaction that does not accomplish anything--or as I may call it, 'small talk. 'First of all, let's face it--most employers state flat out on their websites that they are looking for 'extroverted,' people who 'like to interact with others,' 'talkative' and so on. Furthermore, let's also face it, no matter what your right personality is, when compelling a job, it is not hard at all to act that way at work, even if you do not act like that in your personal life, which also makes it simpler to list references, since the people who may be called to verify your profile will come up with an accurate description. In other words, the personality profile should be tailored more towards 'trying to make physically look desirable' more than 'being absolutely truthful,' once again, at least with the access level jobs, such as being a cashier or standard team member. For most people, filling out a personality profile that contains no contradictions and is thus believable, is an simple, if still rather droll task. My question is, what exactly are they looking for?Looking at the last profile I filled out, there are some questions that ought to be obvious to most people, but make me wonder if they are really tricks of some sort:"Do you swear when you argue?""You now and again pretend to be sick to get out of something. " (Agree or disagree)"Right now, I care more about having fun than I do about school or work. " (Agree or disagree). . . Okay, now according to that law called 'common-sense,' questions like this should be denied as 'fake' or 'strongly disagreed' when filling out a profile, no matter what your right personality is. . . Or should they? The first part of this question is, do these questions ever give you an advantage if you admit to them?There are also some questions that seem to not have a right answer. One of the most notable ones is:"You get fuming more often than nervous. " (Agree or disagree?)This seems like a rather tough one. Both rage and insecurity are undesirable personality traits to admit to when compelling a job. If I agree to this statement, I make for myself look like a troublesome hothead. If I disagree to this statement, I make for myself look too introverted to take a job that will always require talking to people. . . and so assuming that there is no 'neutral' option, which there usually is not, what is the assess response to that question?There are a few other questions like that one as well. But anyway, back to the topic at focus--what type of personality is this application looking for? Based on what they question during the survey, there seems to be several traits that they test for---Do I like to talk to people? (This is the huge one. Is extroversion really the best?)-Do I adhere to rules and regulations? (I'm not sure why they even bother asking these questions. )-Do I 'know what other people are thinking?' (This is a weird one, but they seem to care about it more than they should. I guess psychics make valuable employees for catching crooks. )-Do I like to work slow and precise, or quick and sloppy? (This question is a tough call. Both choices possess one 'undesirable' trait and one 'excellent' trait. As of right now, I always point out 'slow and precise,' because it fits more with my right personality. )-Am I competent? (These questions are really those that should be answered 'yes' at all times, because if you didn't adhere to them during the job you would be fired anyway, and they really can't check whether your answer is right or not. Such questions include, "Am I comfortable with counting cash and working with people?" Another well loved one is, "Am I ever late for work or school?" Yeah, that one should be ridiculously obvious as well. )If there are any other common traits that they look for, I can add them as extra comments if I forgot about them. Anyway, I am a bit unusual what the general consensus is about filling out the. . . personality profiles on low level job applications. (This part was cut off the question for some reason. )
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Filed under Entry Level Engineering Jobs by on May 11th, 2011. 
Comments on What is the ideal personality profile in a low/entry level job application?
You’re clearly intelligent with strong verbal skills. You’re not real outgoing in person, but you write like crazy on a keyboard. You think about the questions they’re asking on the profiles. Good sign.
Whatever the company is, they want outgoing people if the employees are working with the public.
Your biggest obstacle was written at the beginning of your statement.
>>>These jobs include working as a cashier or cleaning stores and the like. These jobs are pretty much all you can get when you first look for work.
I hear people say “There’s nothing out there,” and I shy away. B.S. If you reckon there’s nothing out there, there won’t be anything out there. If you reckon the clerk job is all you can find, all you’ll be able to find is a clerk job.
Use your melon. Reckon outside the box, you’re certainly capable of it. Reckon of a job or profession or activity that would suit your personality. Then write down the goal and pursue it. I’ve known people who said “There’s nothing out there” who never found anything. I know other people who set a goal and darn near made a position at a company just for them just by pursuing it.
Get rid of the “It’s all you can find” mind-set.