Predictive Index

[kaysixteen]

Anyone familiar with this firm and its HR offerings, 'Predictive Index'?   I just applied for a job at a fancy Christian prep school and as the last thing they wanted me to submit, I had to log onto this link they gave me and take this personality assessment, which took maybe 5 minutes tops, and which was designed to have me assess, first how others would assess my various personality traits, and then how I would assess myself?  I confess I am unenthusiastic about such tests, but it is what it is?

[kaysixteen]

As it would happen, within just a very few minutes of my sending the survey in, I got a results email from the company, which apparently has been in business since 1955.  It summarizes me as a "A Specialist is a highly precise worker, who remains skeptical while respecting authority.".   This is not wrong.   But what intrigued me was the attached in-depth analysis of me, complete not only with charts and graphs, but with an extensive write-up (total was 3pp.)   I am revising my assessment of this survey, as, like it or not, its analysis of me really appears, ahem, well... spot on.   Really, spot on, nigh onto 100%.   Now when I read their conclusions about me, this is obvious... I am less sanguine that my assessed profile will be what this school is looking for, though perhaps its nature as a 'classical Christian school' would make it more simpatico with a teacher who is "Most effective and productive when working within the field of own specialty and
experience, and prefers to stick to the proven way. If it becomes necessary to initiate or adopt change,

• will need to see cold, hard, evidence to prove that the new way is more efficient, yields highquality results, and is complete."
  
  We will see.

[wareagle]

The PI was used at one of my former institutions for all job applicants.  It was pretty accurate for me, too.  I had never even heard of it (rather odd, since I have degrees in psych and counseling).  I wondered why it was used.  Were applicants rejected on the basis of this instrument?  Did it bias employers/supervisors when they got results on future employees?

It was also used in the freshman seminar, and one faculty member was quite outspoken about getting rid of it.  A lot of students seemed dismayed at their results, and she did not want them overly-influenced by it.  I know a lot of first-year seminars use MBTI or Clifton Strengths, so these kinds of instruments seem to be fairly common.  But using the same instrument for freshman students AND prospective employees struck me as odd. 

[Puget]

Basically, you told them some stuff about yourself and it told it back to you in fancy prose-- there is no magic to it.

There is very little scientific validity behind these sorts of HR "personality tests" as a rule, though I have no knowledge of this particular one. There have been lawsuits about their use in hiring and promotion.

[marshwiggle]

It was also used in the freshman seminar, and one faculty member was quite outspoken about getting rid of it.  A lot of students seemed dismayed at their results, and she did not want them overly-influenced by it. 

It always fascinates me that people don't weigh these things against their own perceptions. If some "analysis" of me fits with what how I see myself, then I give it some credibility. If it doesn't, I try to see how the questions it asked weren't quite sufficient or useful to get at who I am.

A lot of people must be quite non-self-reflective.

[ergative]

A lot of people must be quite non-self-reflective.

No doubt. But none of us, of course.

[kaysixteen]

You are not wrong that it was regurgitating in book form what I told them about myself, but  I was only asked to describe myself after first being asked to say how others would describe me.   I am not sure that changes things, as it requires an honest assessment on the part of the testee.

I am wondering why this school wants to use this test, and am not convinced that my results are likely to put me onto the head of the queue.... four years ago I lost out on a similar job at a similar school, after taking a test contracted from a local uni psych dept, based on MB, which clearly showed me as an introvert.   The bossman at the school clearly indicated in the interview that he wanted someone to 'sell' Latin (a required course) to recalcitrant parents who had no background with it.   Ah well.   I have a phone screen interview with the school that asked me to take the PI test, Monday.... I am wondering whether to mention it in the 'do you have any questions for us' part, if the interviewer has not mentioned it before....?