With Inland Revenue holding off using information from psychometric tests until a ruling from the Employment Court, Herald business editor-at-large Liam Dann finds out whether they have any value in the business recruitment process.
Psychometric testing in the workplace has been called 'absurd' by a union, but do they deserve such a harsh reception?
Inland Revenue has put the brakes on using results from the testing in a proposed restructure after PSA brought legal action against the organisation.
Why do workplaces use psychometric testingand how much can it reveal about an employee?
Business editor at large Liam Dann undertook a test called the SASQ, which was devised by Professor Martin Seligman.
Jamie Ford, a director at Foresight Consulting, said the test was all about revealing the underlying attitude or mindset of a person.
"I was surprised by how accurate it was," Dann said. "I've been in management long enough to have a good idea of my strengths and weaknesses, it did ring true."
The test featured a range of scenarios, from workplace events like getting a raise or missing a deadline, to social situations like a date gone wrong.
Dann was then asked to imagine likely reasons for those scenarios and analyse them on a sliding scale.
"It turned out I scored very highly on handling advesity and managing difficult situations. I needed to work on my optimism and make a bit more of positive situations."
