Interviewing for a Job? You May Have to Take a Big 5 Personality Test
Hunting for a new job? You might have to “pass” a personality test before you get hired. Personality tests have become an increasingly popular aspect of the hiring process, with the number of employers using them jumping by as much as 20 percent each year. Pre-employment personality tests are used by companies to identify if a candidate has a personality that will match the company and position. Most employers give Big Five personality tests. Big Five tests are a tool that helps employers understand the relationship between personality and work behavior. So, here’s what you need to know about the Big Five model.
What Is the Big Five Model?
The Big Five model or the five-factor model (FFM) consists of five basic personality traits. Psychologists define an individual’s personality type based on these five dimensions.
What Are the Five Basic Personality Traits?
The five basic traits are often referred to as “OCEAN”: Openness to Experience, Conscientiousness, Extraversion/Introversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism.
1. Openness to Experience
This trait measures if you are open to new experiences. In other words, it measures how much someone shows an appreciation for excitement, adventure, and unfamiliar things. Someone who shows openness to experience will often display a preference for diversity in activities over routine. For example, if you like trying a new restaurant every time you go out for lunch — rather than returning to your three favorites — you might be high in openness to experience. Although this can lead to a lot of interesting, novel experiences, someone who scores high in openness may also be considered impulsive and lacking focus. Those who receive low scores can be perceived as perseverant, pragmatic, and fact-driven — but sometimes close-minded.
2. Conscientiousness
This trait measures whether you are organized, reliable, disciplined, and dutiful. Conscientious people would rather make plans than be spontaneous. The meeting will be from 2-2:35 next Tuesday? Great, it’s on their calendar. However, those who receive a high score may be perceived as inflexible. Those who receive a low score can be seen as open but perhaps a little unreliable.
3. Extraversion/Introversion
As an introvert, you already know that this trait measures whether you gain energy from the company of others or from being alone. Extroverts tend to seek stimulation from others while introverts thrive in more low-key settings and tend to appear more quiet, calm, and thoughtful. Those who receive high scores may be perceived as team players or attention-seekers. Those who receive low scores might be seen as reserved, private, and reflective.
4. Agreeableness
This trait measures whether you are sympathetic and cooperative versus distrustful and antagonistic toward others. Basically, it’s just how it sounds — it lets an employer know if a person is considered to be agreeable. Those who receive a high score are perceived as well-tempered but possibly naive or submissive. Those who receive a low score may be seen as competitive or argumentative.
5. Neuroticism
This trait measures if you are inclined to experience unpleasant emotions easily. It also measures the degree of emotional stability and impulse control you possess. Those who receive a high score are usually perceived as stable or calm. However, such individuals can also be viewed as uninspiring or indifferent. Those who receive a low score may be seen as mercurial or easily excitable. However, such people are also often viewed as dynamic.
How Can I Prepare?
There is no one trait employers are looking for in a candidate. Different traits are needed depending on the position you’re applying for and the company’s culture. However, it’s still important to be prepared if an employer presents you with a Big Five personality test. Candidates who don’t seem to show any specific characteristics of the Big Five traits can be looked at as “plain.” Check out this Big Five personality test prep pack for practice tests and in-depth answer explanations. You can also compare your results to specific traits desired for certain professions. Preparing in advance can help you feel more at ease if you have to take a personality test on interview day.
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Read this: 7 Ways You Might Be Using Personality Type Wrong
Learn more: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, by Susan Cain 
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