What these [personality] tests tell employers about…
![“What these [personality] tests tell employers about potential employees is hard to imagine since the 'right' answer should be obvious to anyone who has ever encountered the principle of hierarchy and subordination. Do I work well with others? You bet, but never to the point where I would hesitate…” quote by Barbara Ehrenreich](https://sms4smile.com/q/i/efa/barbara-ehrenreich-1204_decision-making_what-these-personality-tests-tell-employ_1173261.jpg)
““What these [personality] tests tell employers about potential employees is hard to imagine since the 'right' answer should be obvious to anyone who has ever encountered the principle of hierarchy and subordination. Do I work well with others? You bet, but never to the point where I would hesitate to inform on them for the slightest infraction. Am I capable of independent decision making? Oh yes, but I know better than to let this capacity interfere with a slavish obedience to orders . . . The real function of these tests, I decide, is to convey information not to the employer but to the potential employee, and the information being conveyed is always: You will have no secrets from us. We don't just want your muscles and that portion of your brain that is directly connected to them; we want your innermost self.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Personality tests are used to extract personal secrets, ensuring obedience and control rather than assessing fit.
In simple terms: Tests reveal secrets, enforce obedience.
Key Takeaway
Beware of tests that demand total conformity.
Themes
control
workplace
privacy
Mood
critical
skeptical
Type
ethical
psychological
When to use this quote
- job interviews
- corporate culture
- employee monitoring
Key Concepts
psychometrics
hierarchy
obedience
Questions to Reflect On
- Do such tests respect individual rights?
- How can employees protect their privacy?
A Different Perspective
Tests can violate personal autonomy and privacy.