3 personality tests you must take (+ what they mean for your work life)

3 personality tests you must take (+ what they mean for your work life)3 personality tests you must take (+ what they mean for your work life)Buzzfeed alone has hundreds ofthem ranging from Which Sandwich Are You? (Im a hamburger with lettuce instead of buns by the way, and I feel attacked) to Which Buzzfeed Quiz Are You. While these are solid time wasters, theyre notlage going to gift you some senfgas truth about why you are the way you are. However, there are free personality tests out there that can spur valuable self-reflection and even help you in the workplace.Now, before you read any further, I have to say, no personality test can boil down your unique thoughts, feelings, experiences, and behaviors. So instead of looking at personality tests as comprehensive overviews of whowe are, lets use them as tools. These tools, when wielded properly, can help you better empathize with your coworkers and boss, reflect on how you view yourself, and gain insight into how others might view you.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moraThe Four TendenciesWere cheating a little bit with this first one. Thats becauseThe Four Tendenciesdoesnt gauge your personality, but rather, how you respond to expectation. The creator, Gretchen Rubin, explains that there are two types of expectation. Inner- which is something like a self-created New Years resolution- and outer- which are things like boss-assigned deadlines, or answering a friend.Your tendency (either Upholder, Obliger, Rebel, or Questioner) is determined by how you respond to these expectations. Rubin argues that people who understand their tendency make better decisions, meet deadlinessuffer less stress, and engage more deeply with others. While this might seem like a lofty statement, I was pleasantly surprised by how learning my tendency- Obliger- and organizing my goals with my tendency in mind, helped quell some feeling s of burn out and allowed me to work with a coworker more effectively.As an Obliger, I respond well to outer expectation. If a deadline is platzdeckchen by a coworker or boss, Im the first to create an organized list of how were going to meet it. At my last job, I didnt feel supported in this, so my perception was that I was the only one who cared about the task at hand. This lead to major feelings of burn out. Later,I discoveredmy coworker was a Questioner, meaning she responds best to inner expectation and needs to understandwhya deadlineis set to move forward. Once we learned each others tendencies, we had an easier time communicating. I would explain more clearly why deadlines were set, and shewould be more intentional about setting top priorities so I wouldnt become overwhelmed. Win, winMyers-Briggs personality testMyers-Briggsis taking over the world. Some employershave even started asking for yourscore in interviews Thereason for this tests success is two-fold. One, its a fre e quiz that takes less than 15 minutes, making it accessible. Two, itmeasures personality traits on a contrasting spectrum,which means the resultsare read as black and white- making them easy to understand.Im conflicted about this method of scoring, because I find people uniquein their shady grey areas. It can be confining, and often a gross oversimplification, tolabel someone by a five-letter score.No one score is better than another, and no matter which letter were looking at, all of them have qualities that- if taken too far- can have negative consequences. So again, we wont look at this test as an end-all-be-all, but as a tool for self-reflection.Reading your scoreExtraversion (E) vs. Introversion (I)The first letter in your score represents how you interact with your surroundings. Do you feel like your brain is firing on all cylinders- like youre your best self- when youre out with a group? So much so that you seek out these types of experiences? Youre exhibiting extraversion i n amajorway.On the flip side, if externalstimulus can become draining and overwhelming and you seek out solitary moments, youre leaning toward introversion.Sensing (S) vs. Intuition (N)If youre trying to decipher why you focus on certain information more than others, this is the letter for you. Sensing or observant individuals will focus on information that is delivered as tried and true. They tend to be pragmatic and thrive in routine. Intuitive individuals enjoy ideas, novelty, and imaginative problem-solving.Thinking (T) vs. Feeling (F)This letter interprets how you respond to emotions within yourself and others. For Thinking individuals, subduing emotions is important, as they value efficiency and logic. Often, this type is misclassified as cold or unfeeling, when in reality they experience emotions, but might not view them as useful in situations.Feeling individuals, are more sensitive to their own and others emotions, potentially making this type more empathetic. This type can be misclassified as weak in the workplace when often, these are the people who will go above and beyond to fight for their principles and beliefs.Judging (J) vs. Perceiving (P)This trait helps break down your decision making process and how you respond to structure. The Judging trait responds best to certainty and order, and oftenfolks with this trait have contingency plans for every event. Complete with mental check-lists, this traittranslates to a strong work ethic but might be viewed as inflexible. The Perceiving (or prospecting) trait responds more readily to unexpected challenges andthrives in sifting through a variety of options.The big 5 personality testAlso known as the 5 factors model, this personality test is the only one recognized by personality psychologists. (Psst, if you want to know more about this awesome sounding profession, check out this podcastepisode of Ologies.) Whats unique about this test isthat you are looking at 5 broad dimensions of how people differ, an d instead of saying you are either this or that, you are given a percentage.The 5 factors this test looks at areOpenness to experienceConscientiousnessExtraversionAgreeablenessNeuroticismBecause this model is recognized in academia, there are a few studies that take advantage of this naming convention. Onethat caught my eye talks about how people who exhibit a high percentage of conscientiousness mightfind more professional success. It also sharesbehaviors that contribute to conscientiousness- so if you didnt score high in conscientiousness- you can fold these behaviors into your routine.A challenge with this test is that the agreeableness trait can be incredibly difficult to judge on your own. Depending on how self-assured you are, you might view yourself as more or less agreeable. Because of this, I recommend having a trusted friend or family member (that you feel safe with) take the testasyou. It can be so eye-opening to compare these results, especially if youve ever wondered ho w other people view your actions.Other popular testsAs someone who is constantly curious about why I am, the way I am- Im elated whenever a new personality test comes on the scene. Below are a few more tests that I hope you enjoy taking as much as I did.The Hexaco Personality InventoryEnneagram TestWhich Hogwarts House Are You In? (Im onlykind ofkidding about this one.)Which Side Hustle Is Right For You?This article originally appeared on Career Contessa.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people