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Why companies are interested in Myers-Briggs types

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Re: Why companies are interested in Myers-Briggs types

#191
post #144

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just come out and say it? There’s nothing wrong with knowing you are a certain type. At least it’s helpful for me to point at the ‘challenges’ section and tell people ‘I do this, please keep poking me until I give you attention’. In the same way it’s helpful to have a literal definition of how other people think, because the idea that someone might deliberately go with a suboptimal idea because they value peace is…

Recently in startups I’ve been a part of it’s become a bit of a fad to have a short write up called “how I work” which is basically a treatise consisting of that person telling everyone else how they interact with the world. I’ve found it refreshing, actually.

I only ever saw one of those being posted to hn quite some time ago. I must admit, that I found this specific example quite disturbing.

The implied undertone was that all others should accommodate the author and change themselves to better interact with the author so that his needs were met and he could be a productive member of the work force.

But what does that imply the other way around? If I were to write a play book like this, were this person to also adapt to my ways/wants? Or would this be too much to ask?

Working in any professional environment to me implies adapting to others around at least a bit (without loosing what makes out our personality). Out of respect to other human beings alone I think this is decent human behavior.

But as said, to me these writings sound like excuses to expect one sided adaption and I could say "pampering". But maybe that is just me.

Re: Why companies are interested in Myers-Briggs types

#192
It's horrifying that some comments are seriously arguing for the benefit of Myers Briggs here. It's a cold reminder that HN is not a rational place as a lot of us like to think; there's believers here that believe in psychology equivalent of flat earth, and can read about "confirmation bias" but not see it in themselves even after clearly writing it down for us!

A friendly reminder of the beating this dead horse that is Myers Briggs have had almost a decade ago by Adam Grant

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog...

Edit: non amp link (thanks smingo) https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/give-and-take/201309...

Re: Why companies are interested in Myers-Briggs types

#193

It's horrifying that some comments are seriously arguing for the benefit of Myers Briggs here. It's a cold reminder that HN is not a rational place as a lot of us like to think; there's believers here that believe in psychology equivalent of flat earth, and can read about "confirmation bias" but not see it in themselves even after clearly writing it down for us! A friendly reminder of the beating this dead horse that…

Link without Google amp: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/give-and-take/201309...

Re: Why companies are interested in Myers-Briggs types

#194
post #193

It's horrifying that some comments are seriously arguing for the benefit of Myers Briggs here. It's a cold reminder that HN is not a rational place as a lot of us like to think; there's believers here that believe in psychology equivalent of flat earth, and can read about "confirmation bias" but not see it in themselves even after clearly writing it down for us! A friendly reminder of the beating this dead horse that…

Link without Google amp: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/give-and-take/201309...

[deleted]

Re: Why companies are interested in Myers-Briggs types

#195

I interviewed for a decent sounding software architecture position, where the CTO interview went very well. They moved me on to a Big Five personality test, which I failed somehow, and they wouldn't tell me the results or the criteria. End of the process. Bullet dodged? Does anyone know what kind of pass/fail filter would be used here?

Why don't you find the test and do it again to see if what it says makes sense to you?

Re: Why companies are interested in Myers-Briggs types

#196
post #5

I appreciate it when a company asks about or tests my Myers-Briggs type early in the hiring process, because then I know that I don't want to work for them, and they wouldn't be happy with me either. Win/win.

Love this answer, I was thinking the same thing. I remember in college I applied to over 100 internships and my friend said “I don’t understand how you wrote over 100 cover letters.” My response was “I didn’t. If they ask for a cover letter I don’t want to work for them.”

I hate cover letters so much. They're utterly ridiculous.. imagine applying for a lawnmower technician position or something and needing a cover letter. You'd have to write how you're great because ever since you were little you would read lawnmower catalogs to bed.

Re: Why companies are interested in Myers-Briggs types

#197
I kinda hate it, when an article is titled "Why companies are interested in...", and then goes on at length to explain what "..." actually is, and how it compares to something else, and how it's used by companies.

And then just ends, never even touching the "why" question at all.

Re: Why companies are interested in Myers-Briggs types

#198

A previous company used Real Colors, an MBTI knock-off, and it was striking how attached people got to those results. People openly stereotyped whole groups of people because they appeared to cluster in one sector (e.g., SDEs must be Green). They disregarded all counter-examples because they conflicted with these biases. It was weird.

You'd be surprised how common that is with MBTI. Check out the subreddit r/mbti, and specific ones like r/intp etc etc.

Re: Why companies are interested in Myers-Briggs types

#199
post #169

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I get what you're saying. I do. It's true that interviews aren't always easy to maneuver, but the interview process of today reflects the manager, teammates, and workplace of tomorrow.

So, are you saying that a sucky interview process at one place today predicts the general practices of the same workplace in the future? Or all workplaces? The first case seems kinda rational if not without exceptions; the second kind of less rational. The first line about getting what I'm saying is typically used to telegraph disagreement beyond the point of consideration, which kind of weirdly raises the stakes for…

I think parent meant the interview reflects how the job will be, not that it reflects how every other job will be.

Re: Why companies are interested in Myers-Briggs types

#200
post #138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In other words, you don't understand it either. That is not surprising: you would need to learn something. That would involve work, so is understandably unpopular.

Saying "You just don't get it" isn't really an argument. The only times I've seen Myers-Briggs used are either as harmless entertainment ("Look at this meme. I'm such a INFP, tee hee.") or in Brazil-esque corporate settings where it could actually affect your employment ("Sorry, we were hoping for a XSTX person"). Sure, my experience is purely anecdotal much like most people here, but you could've shown us a countere…

Indeed, they undermine their own argument that it has utility: "People naturally try to sort themselves into work that they are good at, where how they think works best." So why then would an employer need to know your allegedly accurate MBTI, when your application for the job and presumably effort in developing and maintaining the necessary skills already indicates that you're applying to the work you're good at?
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