You Should Hire Me! - Teacher, Guardian, Connector

Lately I have been encountering many ways to discover my personality type. The results are supposed to help me understand how I interact with others, how I work and where I'm most comfortable in any given situation. Being a person that studies the human sciences these are fascinating tools to me.  
In our prayer group I took the first Kiersey test that came from the book Please Understand Me II and my results were ENFJ. Here is a snippet of what that code means: (taken from Wikipedia.com)
ENFJs focus on others, feeling a glow when those around them are happy, and troubled when something is amiss. They are natural cheerleaders, often expressing support, gratitude, and encouragement, and heaping praise onto those they appreciate. They take note of what is being done and what needs doing, offering their assistance wherever necessary.
ENFJs enjoy organizing group activities and tend to take their commitments seriously. In general, they are reliable and do not like to disappoint others. As team players and project leaders, they have a gift for rallying their players, focusing on what is being done right and each member's strengths. They are loyal and they expect loyalty. They carry conversations well, finding common ground with their speaker. They tend to find the correct and gracious way to respond in any given situation, no matter how tense or uncomfortable it is.
So far this is right on target! When I got home I was looking online for a friend of mine to take the test too and found an updated version of the test, The Kiersey Temperament Sorter . The site will give you a free report based on your answers. If you would like to pay extra you can get the report that tells you how your answers relate to a career and your learning styles too. The questions were similar but the results were not. Could it be that your answers change based on the environment that you are in when you take the test? Here is a brief summary of my results:

Guardians at Work
As a Guardian, you enjoy working as a valued member of a team, whether you are leading it or following a credible leader. You like to work with people who carry their weight. You appreciate having clear-cut responsibilities and being recognized for your dedication and achievements. Your natural traits are those that employers have traditionally valued - and that successful companies still respect. You are responsible and loyal to an organization once you've signed on.

In any environment, including your work place, you are usually focused on making people happy and facilitating harmonious relationships. You often lend "aid and comfort" by drawing on a combination of tradition, past experience, and the direction of established authority. In your ideal job, people would give of themselves and work toward the good of the group.

As a business owner I can clearly see why companies use personality tests during the hiring process. Have you ever wondered why? After tweeting about these tests I received an email from MyProfileTest.com. I was asked to take their test for a spin and give them constructive feed back. Here is a video clip and partial summary taken from their home page explaining more about the test.

What will you learn?

With My Profile Test, you not only receive your test results, you will gain access to our entire database of resources. By utilizing the wisdom of My Profile System, you will learn:

• Who the great models of your thinking profile are
• What makes you tick
• When you can best take advantage of your life's opportunities
• Where you belong in today's workforce
• How you think and operate in everyday life

These tests make complete sense! You might not be in the right career field for your personality. Employers would like you to excel in the position that you are most comfortable. If you have a personality that best fits an accounting position then you wouldn't be very happy as a sales person. It takes two different types of people for those two positions.
If you are a small business owner - Should you hire or work with your friend? Most would say this is dangerous territory for a friendship. However, if you both took these types of tests then you would have a better idea if your personalities would connect on an employment level. Take the test and find out! Guess which one I am?

Lenny the Connector

The Connector is all about the deal. Connectors are extroverted, high-octane individuals who are limitlessly resourceful. With their wit, energy, and intuition, Connectors act as the bridges in life, connecting us with people and opportunities that better our lives and relationships.

How cool is that? Do you think most bloggers are "Connectors?"  These tests not only tell you more about your own personality and where you fit into the work force but help you relate to your spouse and your children. In the F.A.Q. section you can read more of their short explanations. I'm really thinking about having my ten year old son take this test. He and I relate in different ways but I need some help figuring how he thinks. Maybe these tests will help me relate to him better. I invite you to take some of these tests and see where you fit in. After all, knowledge is power!