DISC Personality Profiling - Do you use it? Does it work?

[scu_be_doo]

I’ve been on a management training course over the last 2 days where there was a large module on DISC Personality Profiling. I’ve never had any exposure to this before. My profile was pretty spot on and all the other delegates agreed that theirs were also accurate.

A couple of people on the course from one of our competitors said they profile everybody they hire and won’t take on any sales people who don’t match the right profile, no matter how well they interview.

I’m thinking of adding it to our recruitment process. What is the PH view?

Thanks,

Scu_be_doo

[flyingjase]

scu_be_doo said:

I’ve been on a management training course over the last 2 days where there was a large module on DISC Personality Profiling. I’ve never had any exposure to this before. My profile was pretty spot on and all the other delegates agreed that theirs were also accurate.

A couple of people on the course from one of our competitors said they profile everybody they hire and won’t take on any sales people who don’t match the right profile, no matter how well they interview.

I’m thinking of adding it to our recruitment process. What is the PH view?

Thanks,

Scu_be_doo

Before I found DISC, I was very very sceptical of all psychometric / personality type tests. They were always very time consuming and theoretical

We use Thomas International in Marlow and the results continue to amaze me. They ask around 20 questions for a PPA (Personality Profile) which is the bit I'm most interested in and the reports are spot on the money.

I use it before I hire anyone and on my staff annually (the results change as you develop)

Where I have gone against the report on a hiring decision, I've usually been the one that's proved wrong

So in answer - I recomend you run with it as it will improve your hiring decisions. They also offer a sales profile as well which maybe useful to you.

Good luck with it

Jason

[Carsie]

Years ago (LOL!)I was interviewed for a postion in Business Management with Ford Mtr Co and also with Unipart. Over the course of the days I was assessed using DISC profiling and Myres Briggs Psychometric Modelling - I have to say I was pretty astounded at how accurate the results were, it was as though someone was looking inside my head!

Today we regularly come across this form of assesments within the business's we are involved with and I have to say I think they are very,very,worthwhile and would certainly recommend them.

Naturally, as with all models you have to know what you're doing in the assesment of results but on balance I think they are to be recommended.

On a slightly different note, my Partner recently convinced me to undertake an NLP Practitioners Course; I have to say that my MAJOR sceptisim has done a complete U turn. What I have been taught and the tools used are fascinating and are a really help within our Consultancy Practice, particularly in diagnostics and overcoming resistance to change.

p.s Oh yes..... I got shortlisted to three for Ford Mtr Co and was offered the position with Unipart,definitely the right choice and a position which which I loved - great guys and a fantastic company.

[H6CJF]

I trained in the use of psychometric tests many years ago so that we could offer it as an additional service in our training / consultancy business. I have to say it was the most worthwhile thing I did because it rapidly became one of our best selling 'products'

As most people will probably know, you have to be trained and accredtited by the British Psychological Society to carry out testing and therefore for most businesses it is more cost effective to outsource testing to people like me rather than incur the cost of training a member of staff for the relatively small amount of tests they would be doing.

These days most of the testing I do is carried out 'on line' with the results e-mailed to the recruiting manager. Seems to work well. So if anyone is thinking of starting to use psychometrics and wants more info please get in touch.. I would be happy to help if I can

Chris

[TimCrighton]

We use INSIGHTS and have found that to be really good

[scu_be_doo]

Thanks for the replies everybody. I think I'm going to give this DISC profiling a go.

[T5R+]

H6CJF said:

These days most of the testing I do is carried out 'on line' with the results e-mailed to the recruiting manager. Seems to work well. So if anyone is thinking of starting to use psychometrics and wants more info please get in touch.. I would be happy to help if I can

Chris

Apologies in advance, off topic slightly.......have PhD/CChem/CEng and when taking computer based numerical/verbal interactive tests = Fail. Naturally, pass everything else and thus historically employers have asked that I sit paper version, resulting in pass(es) in upper quartile (computer and paper at same level of testing). Onto my 3rd Blue-Chip over last 15 years and it always the same. Have to try reason why

Once came across a prospective employer who would not allow me to proceed to the assessment group/centre as did not pass the computer based test, whilst "flying" through the interview.

BTW - do believe in the merit of Personality Profiling but think to a degree there is an art to these.

Irony is that now that I am at a fairly senior level it can be a matter of 3 - 4 interviews with little/no testing.

Edited by T5R+ on Thursday 2nd April 20:50

[MarkoTVR]

I had a Life Styles Inventory (LSI) done on me by Human Synergistics whilst working at a company a few years ago (the whole place went through evaluation as part of a culture change programme). The results were pretty interesting, to say the least!

My feedback session was with two people, one whom had only spoken to me twice before (who was interpreting the given results) and the another who'd never met me before (who was acting as an observer to see how the feedback session went). Both of them were able to read things about me that were spot on, and even guessed a few things I hadn't told anyone (nothing bad!!).

I suppose it's not amazing given the number of questions you have to answer as part of the initial process, but it's still a bit weird when people who really know you can interpret the results (which aren't black and white, i.e. this person is like x) and read you like a book.

Had a look at a DISC profiler recently, and my combination pretty much sums me up there too.