Over the years, I've taken several of these psychological assessment tests when applying for jobs at different companies.
I remember a long time ago applying for a job with Wal-Mart and their test had about 200 questions on it. Yikes!
What I noticed these tests have in common is that they will ask you the same thing in various ways to see if you'll answer subsequent questions differently than you answered the question the first time they asked it.
Retail businesses are typically, imo, looking to hire people who are honest, and are concerned about reducing employee theft. Some companies seem even more concerned with surveillance of their own staff as opposed to their customers. I can think of two companies I've worked for, to which the above applies.
So, on questions where they ask you if you'd steal or report someone else for stealing, for example, answering those questions pertaining to theft/stealing, knowing the company is likely trying to weed out potential thieves, your best answer, imo, is no, you don't steal ( and hopefully you don't) and to say yes, you'd report another employee if you saw or knew they had stolen merchandise.
They don't want to hire people who will cover for other employees who are stealing from the company. And yes, we live in a snitch culture in this society, and it's pretty disgusting how this can play out in society, but the bottom line here is, stealing from your employer is wrong, so the only 'right' answer to questions about stealing on an assessment, imo, would be 'no, you don't steal and would report someone else for doing it.'
I think they also try to evaluate from your responses on these tests whether or not you're industrious and motivated to work or whether you're a lazy person. If you see questions regarding 'helping other workers if you've finished all your own work', you should answer with a 'Yes, you would,' or something to that effect.
They're basically looking for little worker bees that can perform well under changing, often stressful conditions, and perform their jobs with a smiling face, without questioning their authority, and in an honest way. They expect much, yes, and tend to compensate the worker with not-so-much, but these are hard times and people need jobs and they know it. Employers can afford to be very selective these days, in my opinion, and so it does not serve an applicant well if the applicant responds to questions with answers that suggest to an employer: "No, I won't help others if I'm done with all my own work," or "No, I wouldn't report my co-worker if I knew they stole merchandise,' etc.
Why would they want you if you tell them you'd lie to cover for someone else's crime, even if you personally don't steal? To the potential employer, you still look dishonest because you wouldn't report this, see?
Fwiw, I've always dreaded these psychological assessment tests too, because the applications themselves are generally lengthy enough in and of themselves. The additional requirement of 'test taking' to ascertain ( at least to a degree) what kind of person you are ( character) only adds stress and pressure to an already stressful situation, and makes the job application process even more time-consuming.
It's also been my experience that many employers will not even consider you for a position if you tell them you smoke cigarettes. It's a discriminatory practice, imo, regarding the majority of positions. Some places, it's just unsafe to smoke at work ( like when you're dealing with oxygen tanks or working with gas pumps, for example.)
The best thing I can suggest is: Answer assessment questions honestly, using common sense, and read the questions from the employer's perspective. Think about what you'd want to see if roles were reversed and you were the employer, and give the kind of consistent answers you'd want to see on such a test from an applicant. I think this will help you.
The service/retail industry, for example, uses these assessment tests quite a bit. This industry seems to be looking for people who can not only work hard, exhibit good attendance, and be nice to customers, but they also want people who are flexible, adaptable, stress-tolerant, and trustworthy - people of good character and integrity. I guess the above could apply to what any company might appreciate in an applicant.
Let me also say this: if you have to take one of these assessment tests, don't panic. I think they expect people to try to paint themselves in the best light when taking these tests. If you answer questions inconsistently, they will pick up on that right away. Remember,they're gonna ask you questions that are very similar in wording, but that differ just a bit - to see how consistent you are in your responses.
And then remind yourself, as I've had to do: The worst thing that will happen is that you won't get hired at this particular workplace, but more than likely, imo, you will be hired, especially if you can exhibit honesty in your responses and then present yourself well at the interview.
That's how I've done it over the years, by being straight-up on these tests, and I can't think of a time I didn't get the job after taking the test.
In the case of that position with Wal-Mart many years ago, the sheer length of their test put me off and I never even bothered to apply. I just found another employer where the application process didn't take till the end of time.
I hope at least some of this helps, and wish you much success in your job search.
