Ideal IT profile

Why are Personality Tests Important in your Professional Appraisal?

Personality tests are a type of assessment method used by most companies as part of the job selection
process. Most job assessments, such as the interview, examine overt behavior. In contrast, personality tests
reach deeper and aim to reveal personal characteristics that are less obvious. The information provided by
these tests, as well as by the interview and the aptitude tests, helps an evaluator put the pieces together to
get an overall impression of the applicant. One of the main reasons personality tests are used is that they
provide insight often lacking in the interview process.

Because these tests measure deep insight, mystery and confidentiality surround them, causing many test
takers to feel increased pressure and stress. You cannot let this stress take over you and affect your responses
during the test, you must remember that the aim of the test is to determine if your personality matches
with a specific position.

Personality Tests Reflect the Fit to your Desired Position

Each position requires different features. Some people may perform a job better than others because they
are more suited for that specific job. Employers use personality tests to ascertain if a candidate has the
characteristics the role requires. To successfully pass your personality test, your responses must be
compatible with the role for which you are applying. Before you take the test, you should think about the
demands of a person serving in this position, try to imagine what a work day looks like, which activities and
tasks you will perform, and which personality features will enable you to do your job successfully. These
features are probably the exact same ones the employer is searching for in an applicant.

Taking the time to perform this thinking exercise can help you not only receive the job you want, but also
help you decide if a certain position is really right for you. If, after doing so, you decide you're a perfect fit
for the job, it is time to show the employer that you are the one s/he wants. To do so, your test should
indicate that you are the right fit the job, and therefore you need to emphasize the traits which are important
for this specific role.

For example, if you're applying for a position where you're likely to spend most of your time working alone
(e.g., technical positions, IT, industry professionals and senior managers), you don't want to come across as

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a person who really needs to be around other people. At the same time, you also don't want to present
yourself as someone who is extremely solitary because this might mean you have trouble working with other
people. Try to aim for an average score on this trait.

For team-based jobs, such as sales and service-oriented positions like social workers, doctors, hospitality
workers and customer support staff, scoring high on companionability is definitely an advantage. You don't
want a low score if you are applying for a position in these fields, as it may indicate potential difficulties in
dealing with people.

The popularity of personality tests is on the rise. While the amount of advice available in books and online
for interview, CV, and aptitude test preparation is overwhelming, it is quite puzzling and surprising to see
how little advice there is on preparing for personality tests. Preparing for this fundamental part of the
recruitment process will increase your chances of success on your next job application. In this section, you
will find crucial information to help you answer the personality test in a knowledgeable manner. This
information includes:

1 A summary of the nature of the profession.

2 A list of desirable and undesirable traits.

3 A table of traits with recommended scores for your profession.

What is the Ideal IT Profile?

Although IT work is performed mainly with computers, there is also a lot of teamwork involved. Therefore,
it is important to emphasize features related to human relations like: Friendliness and Team Player.

Typically, working in the computer field is very busy. However, the decision-making process should not be
too fast-paced. Data should be considered seriously, inspections should be conducted, information should
be collected, consulting should be done, and only then should a decision be made. Features you should get
a high score on include: Participativeness, Analytical Skills and Conceptual Elaboration.

Technology in general, and in the software industry in particular, is constantly changing. This requires rapid
adaptation. This rapid pace also creates strong competition between companies in the sector. Characteristics
that are helpful in this regard include: Competitiveness, Achievement Striving, Motivation to Learn and
Flexibility. The Endurance & Energy attribute indicates a preference for a fast pace, but since most IT work
is done sitting motionless and also requires a great deal of thinking, it is best to get an average score on this
trait.

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Summary – Desirable IT Personality Traits
Optimal range
Too low/high

100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%

As can be seen, the optimal range is not always an extreme score. For instance, coming across as too
energetic may hinder your chances, despite endurance and energy being desirable traits.

A Complete Breakdown – The Ideal IT Profile

On the following table, you will find a list of traits that are measured on our test.

The middle column contains The right column contains a

The left column contains the
the recommended range of brief explanation about the trait
trait name and its definition
scores for your profession with regard to your profession

Dominance Although most IT work is performed

in teams, there will be times when
you need to take charge and lead the
Suboptimal Optimal Suboptimal rest of your team. You may also
range (low) range range (high) need to lead engineers and
programmers from different teams.

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All traits can be divided into five parent groups:

Interpersonal competency
• features related to interaction and communication with others.

Cognitive Functions
• features related to perceiving and judging.

Motivation & Drive

• features related to one's impetus for acting.

Conscientiousness
• features related to carefulness and acting according to one's conscience.

Emotion
• features related to emotional balance.

This division is designed to make it easier for you to read and understand the table. Each group represents a
common theme for the personality traits contained within.

Some of the traits on the table, like Empathy and General Reasoning Ability, are composites of different sub
traits. For example, the Empathy trait is a composite of two additional compound traits – Cognitive and
Emotional Empathy. Perspective Taking and Analytical Insight are the sub traits of Cognitive Empathy, while
Empathic Involvement and Active Consideration are the sub traits of Emotional Empathy (see diagram
below). Each of the sub traits gets a score, while the compound trait receives a weighted grade calculated
from the traits that comprise it.

Perspective
Taking
Cognitive
Empathy
Analytical
Insight
Empathy
Empathic
Involvement
Emotional
Empathy
Active
Consideration

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We recommend that you read the ideal table below together with your test results, so you can
make a comparison between the two. Of course, it is important to remember that the match does
not have to be full, and won’t be in most cases. However, it is desirable to have some sort of
resemblance to the important traits required of the role; these are outlined in the table.

Important: The Ideal Profile Shouldn’t Be Extreme

It is true that the ideal profile notes that either the top or bottom scores for many of the personality scales are
still found in the ideal range. Therefore, the scores you achieved on these scales are not problematic for any of
the specific traits. Nonetheless, if your score in too many traits was at the ends of the scale, our algorithm will
identify a pattern of extreme scores. This means your answers often lean in one direction, which may imply a non-
flexible personality profile.

So how can this contradiction be resolved? By finding a middle ground. The ideal profile presents a scope of
possible scores for each personality trait that are still considered "ideal". If you simply tone down some of your
scores, you will achieve an ideal profile that won't raise the "extreme scores" alert.

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 I. Interpersonal competency

1. Empathy
A. Cognitive Empathy
A.I. Perspective In most technological professions,
taking you are required to analyze systems
rather than humans. However,
because this type of work is
performed collaboratively, a basic
understanding of human nature is
required.
A.II. Analytical In most technological professions,
Insight you are required to analyze systems
rather than humans. However,
interactions with others are often
necessary to complete assigned
tasks. Thus, a basic understanding
of human nature is required.
B. Emotional Empathy
B.I. Empathic As most of your job will take place
Involvement in front of a computer, it is not so
important to be emotionally
involved. It is best to stay away
from the extremes of this scale.
B.II. Active Even when most of your work is
Consideration performed on a computer, it is good
to be perceived as someone who
tries to help those around him.
2. Comfort with Attention There is almost no need to speak in
public.
3. Control If the job you're applying for is not
managerial, a high score on this
feature can be harmful.
4. Social Confidence In the high-tech industry, most of
the work is performed in teams.
Sometimes teams will be composed
of people from different countries.
You must be able to communicate
with new people who are different
from you.
5. Persuasiveness Even if you are not in direct contact
with customers, the ability to
persuade can be effective when you
are required to sell ideas to
management. The ability to

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 negotiate is also very essential for
teamwork.
6. Diplomacy & Tact
A. Deliberation You can take advantage of this
feature to show you use discretion
and that you are not reckless. In
addition, this feature is important
for teamwork, because it shows you
do not want to hurt the people
around you.
B. Tolerance & Civility It is quite possible you will have
many interactions with people from
different cultures You must treat
them all with tolerance.
C. Directness On the one hand, your speech
should be clear and understandable
so the rest of the team will
understand you. On the other hand,
being too blunt can be rude and
hurtful. You must be careful to find
a balance between direct speech
and speech that is too blunt.
D. Participativeness As an IT professional, you will often
have to ask for help from colleagues
who are experts in a particular
subject.
E. Modesty Modesty is a good thing, especially
when you are part of a team and
when others need your help to
solve problems.
7. Dominance Although most IT work is performed
in teams, there will be times when
you need to take charge and lead
the rest of your team. You may also
need to lead engineers and
programmers from different teams.
8. Assertiveness In most cases, this type of position
has a clear job description and there
is no need for too much
assertiveness.
9. Friendliness This type of job is almost always
performed in teams, so it is
important to show you are a
friendly person.
10. Sociability Since an IT professional spends a lot
of time with his/her colleagues, it is
highly desirable he/she be a

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 socially-minded person who feels
comfortable in social situations.
11. Trust
A. Interpersonal Trust Trust in the people around you is
& Integrity values the basis of normal human
relations. In addition, your job is to
solve problems within the computer
system. This feature is essential to
your work, as you are required to
believe the person who reported
the technical problem.
B. Skepticism You should review the information
that comes to you through the tools
at your disposal, and at your own
discretion.

II. Cognitive Functions

12. General Reasoning Ability

A. Analytical Skills IT work involves dealing with small
details, as well as putting a great
deal of thought into the assessment
of problems and possible solutions.
Therefore, it is important to show
you can examine each case carefully
until you reach a decision on a
course of action.
B. Motivation to Technology is developing and
learn evolving all the time. You must
show a willingness to keep up and
learn the latest developments.
C. Forward Thinking Some technological positions
require you to plan in advance, so
you should get a satisfactory result
on this feature.
D. Conceptual Working with software involves
Elaboration many theoretical constructs.
Therefore, it is very essential an IT
professional be comfortable
working with abstract concepts.
13. Flexibility The advanced technology world is
changing rapidly, and you cannot
lag behind. You must keep up with
the latest technology.

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14. Creativity
A. Generate Ideas Work in the software field requires
great creativity, whether in
development, design or technical
support.
B. Unconventionality Technology is constantly developing
and advancing; you cannot remain
stagnate. In addition, you must be
able to look for new solutions in
case of failure.
C. Rich Fantasy Imagination is related to creativity,
but you must stay down to earth.
D. Aesthetic Sense If you are looking for a position as a
graphic designer, or something
similar, this feature is one of the
most important for you and you
should get a very high score on it.

III. Motivation & Drive

15. Service Orientation Most IT positions will not involve
serving customers.
16. Competitiveness The software market is very
competitive. You must demonstrate
that you are more capable than
others.
17. Need for Recognition Companies differ in the assessments
they provide to their employees.
18. Proactivity The desire and ability to influence
and change is often perceived as a
positive feature.
19. Need for Company While it may seem there is no need
for companionability while working
in front of a computer, an IT
professional will have numerous of
interactions with the rest of his/her
team.
20. Team Player Most of the work in the software
world is performed in teams. There
are also many projects that are
worked on by multidisciplinary
teams. Thus, team work is very
important for these positions.

21. Achievement Striving A software professional's work day

is long and pressure-filled. He/she
must be constantly motivated to
effectively meet the objectives.

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 IV. Conscientiousness
22. Space & Time Management
A. Good Organization IT jobs require a great deal of
organization in carrying out routine
tasks and engaging in small details.
B. Planning The work day in the software field is
loaded with numerous tasks.
Therefore, you must be able to plan
your time properly and prioritize
critical tasks over less important
ones.
23. Conformity/Integrity Working in IT requires you to be
very reliable, because you are not
always closely supervised. Your
managers trust you to do the job
well.
24. Self-Control & Stability The concentration required for long
hours of work can cause you to lose
control of your emotions. It is
important to stay calm and not let
emotions interfere with the job.
25. Perseverance The numerous and lengthy routine
tasks that are part of this job
require a high degree of
concentration. You must be able to
stick with them until the end.
26. Endurance & Energy Although an IT professional's work
day is longer than usual, almost all
of his/her work is done sitting in
front of a computer, without lot of
movement.
27. Boredom Intolerance
A. Need for Change A programmer's work involves
many routine activities that occupy
him/her for most of the day.
B. Excitement Most IT work is done in front of a
Seeking computer, so someone who is
looking for adventure will probably
not be satisfied in an IT position.
28. Risk Taking This feature can be vital for
employees of start-ups.
29. Autonomy A programmer has limited freedom
of action and should adhere closely
to his/her job description.

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30. Thoroughness Every detail is super important for
programmers, in any programming
language.
31. Decisiveness Most of the times you will need to
make decisions, the process will not
be quick, but rather require a lot of
thinking and deep observation.
Thus, quick decision-making can be
a stumbling block in this profession.

V. Emotion
32. Anxiety Fear and anxiety are not effective in
any role. They prevent progression
and inhibit your productivity.
33. Optimism & Well-Being Optimism is a good thing, and it can
have a positive effect on your work.
However, you must remain
grounded in reality.
34. Resilience The ability to accept criticism is
always important, because it allows
you to progress. There is always
something new you can learn.
35. Self-Confidence You are expected to know how to
work by yourself, so you must be
sure of your abilities.

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Summary – Ace your Personality Test
To successfully pass a personality test, your profile must be compatible with the position for which you are
applying. Before you take the test, you should think about the demands of a person serving in this position,
try to imagine what a work day looks like, which activities and tasks you will perform, and which personality
features will enable you to do your job successfully. These features are probably the exact same ones the
employer is searching for in an applicant. We hope you found this part of your preparation process instructive
and helpful. We advise you to compare your personality practice test results to the table above and to see
which traits are compatible with our ideal profile.

In addition, we invite you to review our personality test theory guide for further reading and insights on how
to prepare more efficiently for personality tests.

The JobTestPrep team wishes you all the best. Good luck!

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