So what is your personality?

[EyeswideopenParticipant 2930]

I am in agreement with what Old Bill said;

I am me; unique and not defined by some esoteric category.

I am not some random collection of tests and bulls~~~ pseudo diagnostic questions that pigeonhole me into a data point. If human nature were that easy to test and model the world would be a much more ordered, predictable, and boring place.

- Marriage is described as an institution. You would have to be crazy to be commited to it. -"If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal. Not people or things" Albert Einstein

[Anonymous 11]

OldBill nails it. These are generalized simple tests and have no predictive value which is why I think HR latches onto them. Pop psychology at it’s finest most people never question anything, and here we are.

For the record, ENTP is what I have consistently tested as over the years. I can read the profile and see that some of the generalizations are true for me. For example, I hate routine scripted paper pushing type work though I will do it.

I used Myers-Brigg mainly to understand the bad aspects of my type being aware of them helps control them. They are not diagnostic tools. As a physical scientist, I understand that the social sciences like economics and psychology are not predictive due to the infinite irrationality of the human mind.

Humans are far too complex to pigeon hole into 16 categories.

[LivinitupParticipant 135]

I´m the IDGAF type… 😉

give us liberty, or give us death!

[TruthspoonParticipant 1289]

Anonymous wrote:

Humans are far too complex to pigeon hole into 16 categories.

Humans aren’t really that complex. Not really. Animals are fairly predictable to us and I suppose if you were a higher form of life, them humans would appear entirely predictable.

I tend for example, to believe in astrology, that there are twelve fundamental human types of character and we are all limited combinations of those twelve. Obviously if you take into account all the possible permutations and combinations, then it comes hundreds of different human characters.

In fact one can derive the number 666 from the sum of all the decantes in the 360 degrees of the Zodiac. Since a decante is 36 degrees, thus a tenth of the zodiac, but each star-sign is divided into 3 parts, whether lesser or stronger characteristics and a further sub-division of that Zodiac sign for added accuracy of measurement. And fundamentally, you have to be fair to the Zodiac, for most people it might be mumbo jumbo and pseudo science, but the Zodiac has been the great clock in the sky for tens of thousands of years. It’s the ultimate analogue computer. And it’s endlessly ticking away. The sum of all the numbers 1-36 comes to 666. So, it was said to be the number of man, since there are this many fundamental possibilities between the other human characters or ‘decante’ and their interactions with the others around them, this sum comes to 666. Therefore I do believe human characters can be calculated factoring in a set of known variables.

In fact I often meet people who strongly remind me of people I know, almost limited doppelgangers sometimes, and people have said the same to me.

My reasons for believing astrology are entirely scientific, it’s just that science hasn’t caught up yet.

For instance solar radiation and sunlight has a noticeable effect on people, it’s presence as well as it’s absence. It’a presence leading to a fundamental characteristic in its people. For instance the difference between North Europeans, generally more reserved, than people from southern Europe, Turkey, the Arab world, all sunny places and all full of noisy people who like to dance.

So this effect of the intensity of sunlight at a certain part of the year (hence your star sign) will lead to the development of a certain character due to the diffuse presence of solar energy, both invisible and visible, and the effect that must undoubtedly have on the developing human foetus.

I know it’s a limited test, but frankly I’ve always been trying to transcend myself and be a better person, more organised and sensible person, but it just doesn’t hold. I’m not a bad person but I make mistakes which I seem to make again and again and I realise, that is my character and fundamentally I can’t really change that…. unless I get back in the sun. I always seem to be far more outgoing and sociable in sunny climates.

Anyway, I don’t think humans are that complex, they probably have computers and software running human behaviour prediction programmes all the time.

I think there’s no reason, given enough data and a set of parameters, that someone’s behaviour throughout their life could be predicted quite accurately. The only thing that cannot be factored into this equation is ‘chance’ or destiny, the hundreds of strange coincidences that sometimes make things happen in your life. I like thinking about stuff like this.

[KeymasterKeymaster]

Anthony wrote:

Threads like these where you guys talk about your jobs have made me take advice like this way more often now a days. I haven’t got an interview in a while, but I’ve since taken up your attitude regarding all the bulls~~~ politics questions interviewers ask me. I even make notes on quite a few of the threads and save them to my computer for future reference.

Here’s a friendly tip that works.

BEFORE the meeting / conversation / call is over… ask the interviewer directly:

“Is there anything I have said today that may have hurt my chances at being hired (or invited back) here”.

This let’s you leave feeling good about it, even if you won’t get asked back. It also requires them to tell you directly instead of some vague & weak email which may also never come – so you can make an adjustment next time and actually get something out of it that you can use and learn from.

But most importantly…… it can make all the difference in being actually hired! They will realize that you want to know and understand your own critical flaw or error ( whether it’s really your own flaw or their perception of your flaw ), you now have a chance to clarify and correct on the spot before you leave.

If you do that, it really won’t matter if they call again or not.
You got your answer before leaving the room.

Anthony wrote:

I’ve gotten turned down by so many jobs I applied to. I mainly think it was because I was playing along with their bulls~~~ questions like “tell me about yourself.” I hate those stupid questions with a passion.

It definitely was and yes they are irritating as hell. Playing along is really seeking their approval instead of concentrating on finding out if YOU want to work there at all.

“So why do you want to work here?”

Stupid question right? That’s like Simon Cowell holding American Idol auditions and asking “what are you doing here?”. It’s the dumbest question anywhere, but they want you to fumble about and stumble on it while telling them all kinds of bulls~~~ about how you want to be a #1 selling artist. The question its designed to f~~~ you into a corner.

If you say “I want to be an awesome famous rockstar”, its the wrong answer.
If you say “I’m not really sure”, its the wrong answer.
If you say “Well I’m trying my best …. “, it’s the wrong answer.

But if you say “Well you’re holding an audition, right? Well that’s what Im doing here. Showing up for your audition. You don’t mind do you?”. Now Simon thinks you’re an asshole because you made him look stupid, but its really his own fault because he asked a stupid question.

Simon only wants to hear them open their mouths so the audience can interrogate and judge as quickly as possible. How many times has a singer looked like a complete moron (Susan Boyle) and when they actually sing, there is total shock on their faces?

That’s why the question “what are you doing here?” is stupid and tells them NOTHING relevant about you.

Answering these dumb questions gets you nowhere anyway. You can’t win “tell me about yourself” or “what are you doing here”. They are not even relevant to the job or the task at hand, and all you’re really doing is trying to get to the next question — and SING.

The company has a need to fill a specific role, so….

“Well that’s my question, really and I’m hoping you can answer it today. I can give you 101 reasons to want to work with me, but I think you are better able to tell me why I would want to work for you. So tell me… why would I want to work there?”

And now you’re interviewing THEM.

If you keep doing what you've always done... you're gonna keep getting what you always got.

[BadgerParticipant 2277]

Another dumb question is “Where do you expect to be in five years?”

I am in my 70s, and went through all my life and NEVER would have or could have predicted exactly where I would be five years hence at any age.

So, if asked, you might tell them to answer that question you need some more information.

Who will be the President five years from now?
What level will the stock market be at?
Will the economy be in a recession or expansion?
Will I be working at this job?
And so forth.

Other members can add more relevant questions.

[AnthonyParticipant 2281]

Keymaster wrote:

“Is there anything I have said today that may have hurt my chances at being hired (or invited back) here”.

I’ll definitely end up using that. At least if I end with that question, I’ll know whether or not I end up getting that job when I leave and it gives them no room to give bulls~~~ answers like “Well, we’ll call you if anything comes up.”

Keymaster wrote:

That’s why the question “what are you doing here?” is stupid and tells them NOTHING relevant about you.

Yep. I’ve since learned especially after finding this website, that you should always try to force them to answer your questions and not the other way around because they placed an ad. So they need you more than you need them. Wasting time answering their text book interview questions just makes you stumble on them. Their questions are designed to make you f~~~ up in an interview.

Keymaster wrote:

“Well that’s my question, really and I’m hoping you can answer it today. I can give you 101 reasons to want to work with me, but I think you are better able to tell me why I would want to work for you. So tell me… why would I want to work there?”

That’s one of the greatest answers I actually ever heard to their stupid question. And it actually switches the roles where you’re interviewing them. Which is awesome in of itself.

Once you have a Fleshlight real vaginas become worthless.

[KeymasterKeymaster]

Badger wrote:

Another dumb question is “Where do you expect to be in five years?”

That is the worst question, IMO.

“Well that depends on how this conversations goes. I could be working here 5 years from now. So do you have another question for me?”

Fast, Accurate , Concise, and True.

= “FACT”.

And the fact is: “5 year goals” are far too limiting. And that’s all you need to say.

You can actually accomplish MORE than your 5-year goal in less time!

A lot can happen in 1 year or 1 month (as you pointed out). 5 year goals are for those who think nothing can radically change tomorrow. You make 3-month/short term goals and when you get there, you look around and reevaluate. And if you made a mistake, you can adjust your trajectory instead of waiting 5 years to find out if it panned out. Who wants to throw 5 years away?

Coming from an HR idiot, they actually see themselves asking the same questions 5 years from now, so who cares! It’s not even relevant. They don’t even know how the next 5 minutes will turn out!! The worst thing you can do is try and answer that question.

Badger wrote:

I am in my 70s, and went through all my life and NEVER would have or could have predicted exactly where I would be five years hence at any age.

Exactly. And same for everyone else!

No matter where I was — at any time — I could not have even imagined the next 5 years.

@FOREWARNED So glad you said that.

If you keep doing what you've always done... you're gonna keep getting what you always got.

[RockmaninoffParticipant 1641]

Keymaster wrote:

Another time, one of those super-manginas asked me “so tell me about yourself”. I didn’t tell him ANYTHING “about myself”. Just started telling him my name , what I do, and what’s on my resume…. and that’s the only s~~~ I will ever talk about in a professional situation. It’s UNPROFESSIONAL to talk about your “personality”.

Funny, Key: When I first started interviewing, this was my instinctive answer: name, education, what you’ve studied, period.

After a lot of unsuccessful interviews, and getting advice from people, I was told that this answer was bad: “These are PEOPLE who are hiring you,” I was told. “This question is the opportunity to demonstrate why you’re unique, to give the proverbial hook, to make yourself seem more human and more than just your résumé.”

Maybe for you, who, presumably, have decades of experience and have unique skills that set you apart from others, this works. But after telling an HR asshole that I knew Java and C/C++, he flat out told me: “Every grad knows Java and C/C++”

Fortunately, I have a few job offers now, so I don’t have to worry about this s~~~ for the time being.

". . . elle, suivant l’usage des femmes et des chats qui ne viennent pas quand on les appelle et qui viennent quand on ne les appelle pas, s’arrêta devant moi et m’adressa la parole"—Prosper Mérimée

[KeymasterKeymaster]

Anthony wrote:

they placed an ad. So they need you more than you need them.

I was actually forced to say that out loud once.

“So why are you looking for a job?”

“??? You placed an ad. I merely responded to it. It’s you who are looking. Let’s establish that right now. I will work tomorrow whether you hire me or not. Does that answer your question?”

That’s a s~~~ty attitude from an interviewer.

If you keep doing what you've always done... you're gonna keep getting what you always got.

[KeymasterKeymaster]

Rockmaninoff wrote:

After a lot of unsuccessful interviews, and getting advice from people, I was told that this answer was bad: “These are PEOPLE who are hiring you,” I was told. “This question is the opportunity to demonstrate why you’re unique, to give the proverbial hook, to make yourself seem more human and more than just your résumé.”

Yes, that’s exactly why you’re there in person. For all those reasons.

But just work with me for a sec…. if you were on a date, are you interested in what she SAYS about her “personality?”.

There’s TELLING someone ….. and there is SHOWING someone. You can show someone everything they need to know with handshake, tone of voice, body language, greeting, politesse, basic manners, professional conduct even email composition, how you answer (or don’t answer) stupid questions, and 1001 other ways.

Have you ever read a female dating profile? “I’m honest, kind, funny, trustworthy…” and a mile-long list of meaningless adjectives. She is TELLING you instead of SHOWING you.

Instead of saying “I’m funny”…. actually SAY something funny.
But she doesn’t. She just says “I’m funny” and expects to be taken at face value.

Once I was hired for a position and 2 years after working I heard the comment: “OMG when you first walked in you were so polite”. Nobody said that to me and I didn’t need to say “Well, I’m polite.” because I showed them.

So being “rhetorically fit” shows them – instead of telling them.
That’s why I would answer that way.

You don’t NEED to answer “so tell me about your personality”….
to actually SHOW them what you want to show them about your personality.

What you don’t say is just as important as what you DO say.

Not answering “so tell me about your personality” in a professional interview is PART of my personality. It’s not the right place for it. You want to know my “personality”, invite me to lunch / dinner / or drinks. Unless you’re a comedian, they aren’t PAYING anyone to be “funny”.

—– EDIT —-

I was once hired for telling a joke! Really. And I had that job for 9 years! We were all sitting around and I was offered to join them a sandwich and a drink as part of the interview. The mood in the room was uncomfortably quiet, funereal and sombre. One person said “someone please tell a joke”.

Nobody knew me, and I told an EXTREMELY dirty / offensive joke. The CEO – and everyone – doubled over in laughter. It totally broke the ice, and I got hired. But it only worked because the atmosphere was dull and NOBODY was expecting a new hire to open his mouth at all. I totally owned that room that day.

I didn’t do that by “telling them about my personality”. And I wasn’t even really qualified for the job either. I was just starting out.

If you keep doing what you've always done... you're gonna keep getting what you always got.

[narwhalParticipant]

The problem I see with stuff like this is it implies that a person isn’t in control of their own behavior or are incapable of change. Total BS.

The worse case I saw with this kind of stuff is years ago when I started dating this woman. After about the 4th date, she handed me this astrology report that told me who I was, who she was, and what we were like together. She wanted me to study it.

I have no idea what letters someone assigned to me, but I know I’m impatient, and tend to be introverted. However, neither is an excuse when the job I need/want to do requires me to be patient or extroverted.

Ok. Then do it.

[Author]

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