Internship Hunt - Part 3

For one of my applications I was asked to complete two tests, through Alva, that generate a 'Personality Profile' and a profile of my 'Logical Ability'.

The personality test is constructed according to the “Five Factor Personality Theory”. This model is said to be the most valid framework when it comes to quantifying one’s personality. The results showed certain possible strengths including:

· Very humble and selfless, putting others before themselves

· Able to hold back negative emotions when the situation requires it

· Strong understanding of negative emotions

Furthermore, the growth factors included:

· Drivers – community, autonomy, stability

· Cultural preferences – supportive, team-oriented, analytical

· Potential roles – detail-focused roles, creative roles, process-oriented roles

I believe these outcomes are due to my cultural background and the environment in which I was raised as well as how I was able to develop myself over the years, especially in the most recent years where I have lived in the Netherlands for my studies (International Business and Management at NHL Stenden, Leeuwarden). Additionally, I mostly agree with the outcomes, for example I prefer to work in a supportive environment where people feel valued and can be motivated through internal factors and where they are able to generate happiness for themselves through the work they are doing as well as the team one is in. Moreover, I strongly believe that it can be beneficial to have the ability to hold back negative as well as positive emotions in certain situations, depending on the type of work that is being done as well as the culture of the business partners, since the behavior of business people is quite different on who you are addressing.

The test which assesses the logic abilities of an individual is meant to determine, for example the efficiency of how one is processing complex information. My score for this test was in the 50th to 69th percentile which can be viewed as average and the most common result. In my opinion this test is somewhat valid for assessing someone’s logic ability. However, as every single question of this test follows the same system it can seem a bit repetitive, which it not necessarily is since they tasks themselves change frequently and requires full attention to detail in order to understand what is asked. Additionally, the time limit of two minutes for solving each individual exercise seems to be sufficient and does not create too much stress.

Consequently I can state that I found this test quite interesting and I am not disappointed with the results since this can always be seen as a good way to get to know yourself better and to view various aspects from different angles. The report one receives at the end also provides quality information which is written in a clear and helpful way.