Personality assessments in recruiting

Personality assessments in recruiting can help to identify the most suitable candidates. What are the possible applications and what are the challenges?
Schematisches Diagramm für Persönlichkeitsanalysen im Recruiting

Basics

Personality assessments are diagnostic tools that aim to capture a person’s individual characteristics, behaviors and settings. They are based on various psychological theories and models that explain human behavior and personality.

The most commonly used theoretical basis for personality assessments is the five-factor model, also known as the Big Five. This model comprises the dimensions of Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Emotional Stability and Openness to Experience. These five factors provide a comprehensive description of personality and are often used in various tests and questionnaires to create a detailed profile of applicants.

Personality assessments in recruiting

Companies are increasingly relying on personality analyses in recruiting in order to better assess the suitability of candidates. By using personality tests, companies can evaluate not only the professional but also the social skills and character traits of applicants. This leads to more informed decisions and ultimately to higher employee satisfaction and retention.

Personality assessments are used in recruiting, particularly as preparation for a second interview or as part of a trial job.

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Possible applications

Personality assessments offer valuable insights into the soft skills, working style and team compatibility of candidates. Used correctly, they can enrich the recruiting process and enable well-founded decisions that go beyond professional qualifications. In this section, you will learn how personality assessments can be used in a targeted manner:

Additional information for the interview

Personality assessments provide valuable insights that can be used during the interview or trial working days. The tests provide recruiters with detailed information about candidates’ strengths, weaknesses and preferences. This information can help to ask targeted questions and develop a better understanding of the applicant. This makes the interview more effective and allows for a deeper rating of the candidate’s fit with the position and company culture.

Assessment of suitability for specific positions

Personality tests help to assess the suitability of applicants for specific positions. For example, tests can show whether a person is suitable for a management position or whether they would be better suited to a supporting role.

However, before personality tests are used, companies should think carefully about the profile of the position being sought. Depending on the position, different personality traits are important. For a management position, characteristics such as high extraversion and conscientiousness could be decisive, while openness to experience and emotional stability could be of greater importance for a creative role.

These preliminary considerations are crucial for selecting the appropriate tests and interpreting the results correctly.

Improving the team composition

Another advantage is the improvement in team composition. By understanding individual personality traits, companies can put together teams that work together harmoniously and productively. This leads to better collaboration and increased performance. The targeted composition of teams based on personality tests can minimize conflicts and optimize team dynamics.

Support after employment

The results of personality assessments can also be valuable after employment. Managers can use the insights gained to better manage their employees and develop the team in a targeted manner.

By understanding individual personality traits, managers can create individual development plans based on the strengths and weaknesses of each team member. This not only promotes the personal and professional development of employees, but also strengthens the entire team and increases job satisfaction and productivity.

Avoid pigeonholing

There is a danger that personality assessments can lead to rigid pigeonholing. People are complex and change over time. A one-off test can therefore never reflect the full spectrum of a personality.

Companies should therefore consider personality assessments as part of a holistic application process and not as the sole decision-making criterion.

Questions & Answers: Personality assessments in recruiting

Personality assessments are tools that evaluate the individual characteristics and behavior of applicants in order to better assess their suitability for a job.

Questionnaires such as the Big Five, DISC or MBTI analyze behavior, motivation and personality.

They provide valuable insights, but should always be used in combination with interviews and other evaluation methods.

They help with the rating of soft skills and cultural fit, which are often more decisive for success than purely technical skills.

Picture of Raphael Mösch
Raphael Mösch

CEO

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