I.Q. test for employment? (Updated)

[spidey07]

Why the hell would this be illegal? You aren't entitled to a job.

I've been through all kinds of test - intelligence, psychoanalysis, full day of testing, whatever. it's not illegal. So the employer wants to verify you aren't a dumbass. And somehow you think this is illegal?

*shakes fist at entitlement mentality*

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: mrkun

Originally posted by: videogames101
i can't see a reason to worry about it.. unless.... your IQ isn't above 120?

*gasp*

lol.....

Hehe. Actually, I scored 131 on the test they gave me. Still though, the fact that they do this bothers me.

Why? If more companies did that, it would make you more marketable and you'd probably make more money.

Honestly, it bothers you that a company wants employees with above average intelligence? (top ~15%)

well it would me to a point. it seems the worst workers i have had are those with a high IQ. sure they are smart but they do not have the skills needed to be a good worker.

 

[ranmaniac]

Originally posted by: mrkun

Originally posted by: darkswordsman17
Wait, so you already did their IQ test then? It sounded like you were saying they shouldn't be doing that but then said "hey, they should not be allowed to do this, but I'm going to let them do it anyways"

I see they had a curve.

Oh, they gave me a link to a specific online IQ test they wanted me to take. I took the test after making the original post. So yeah, I passed but I still think what they're doing is illegal.

And yes, all IQ tests are curved.

Edit: All that scoring above 120 does is get me an interview. I think it would be pretty cool to interview, get offered the job, say "what you're doing is illegal and you're morons for having a 120 IQ as a requirement" and then reject the offer.

Which online iq test was it?

 

[pstylesss]

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: m0mentary
The only time I ever took an IQ test was back in 2nd grade where they said I was "gifted" and put in the magnet program. I think it was all BS.

Edit: I do remember the hardest part of the test for me was this weird puzzle they told me to finish.

depending on IQ test 120 may be just about normal.

Most people that do well on IQ tests think they are actually bogus as they seemed basic, however; a lot of the things questioned are not easily done by many.

One of the hardest is taking a 2D image with cut and fold lines and constructing the 3D model in your head. Another is the pattern recognition and matching.

I scored close to genius, but was about 10points shy.

Just having a high IQ is like having a tankful of gas...it doesn't do anything by itself.

So are you one of those people who think IQ tests are bogus, and by thinking that therefore think that you are just shy of genius level?

I think you were just trying to pat yourself on the back.

 

[mrkun]

Originally posted by: alkemyst
depending on IQ test 120 may be just about normal.

Most people that do well on IQ tests think they are actually bogus as they seemed basic, however; a lot of the things questioned are not easily done by many.

Just having a high IQ is like having a tankful of gas...it doesn't do anything by itself.

It says that 85-114 is average. What makes it difficult I believe is the fact that the test is timed, rather than the questions themselves.

And yes, the gas tank analogy is a good one.

Edit: The mean score for the test is 108 and the SD is 15.

 

[bcterps]

The reason most companies don't give cognitive tests as a method for screening is because they cause adverse impact because minorities tend to do worse on those tests. The reason that companies do use cognitive tests for screening is because they are one of the best predictors of job performance. If a company could directly relate test scores to job performance and show that it's a necessary qualification for the job (difficult to do), then they could get away with using cognitive tests as a method for screening candidates.

 

[mrkun]

Originally posted by: spidey07
Why the hell would this be illegal? You aren't entitled to a job.

I've been through all kinds of test - intelligence, psychoanalysis, full day of testing, whatever. it's not illegal. So the employer wants to verify you aren't a dumbass. And somehow you think this is illegal?

*shakes fist at entitlement mentality*

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Griggs_v._Duke_Power_Co.

Where did I say anything about entitlement?

Also, repeating for the 3rd time in this thread: I'm not saying it's illegal for them to give an I.Q. test; I'm saying it's illegal to use it as a sole determinant of employment if it's not directly related to job performance (which there's no way an IQ test can be).

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: mrkun

Originally posted by: spidey07
Why the hell would this be illegal? You aren't entitled to a job.

I've been through all kinds of test - intelligence, psychoanalysis, full day of testing, whatever. it's not illegal. So the employer wants to verify you aren't a dumbass. And somehow you think this is illegal?

*shakes fist at entitlement mentality*

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Griggs_v._Duke_Power_Co.

Where did I say anything about entitlement?

Also, repeating for the 3rd time in this thread: I'm not saying it's illegal for them to give an I.Q. test; I'm saying it's illegal to use it as a sole determinant of employment if it's not directly related to job performance (which there's no way an IQ test can be).

That's spidey's "thing." Anytime someone complains about something, it's all about entitlement. :laugh:

 

[mrkun]

Originally posted by: ranmaniac

Which online iq test was it?

http://www.iqtest.com

 

[mugs]

OP - regardless of why it IS illegal, why do you think it SHOULD BE illegal?

 

[Alistar7]

I always love it when a potential employer asks me to take an IQ test. The last one I was given was the Wonderlic. I got 48 out of 50 correct, not too shabby lol. Translates to a an IQ of 156. My reward, a position you could train a monkey how to do in a day.......

 

[AbAbber2k]

Originally posted by: mrkun

Originally posted by: ranmaniac

Which online iq test was it?

http://www.iqtest.com

I only got 121.

I'd barely make the cut at that company. /wrists

 

[Scarpozzi]

Maybe that's there way of weeding out women.

 

[AbAbber2k]

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
Maybe that's there way of weeding out women.

ZING!



Seriously that's not funny. :|























:laugh:

Edit: Or maybe it's their way of weeding YOU out.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Originally posted by: AbAbber2k

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
Maybe that's there way of weeding out women.

ZING!
Seriously that's not funny. :|
:laugh:

My wife is in P.A. School right now....so hopefully I'm not right. I'm banking on her to finish up so I can retire by the age of 29.

 

[AbAbber2k]

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi

Originally posted by: AbAbber2k

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
Maybe that's there way of weeding out women.

ZING!
Seriously that's not funny. :|
:laugh:

My wife is in P.A. School right now....so hopefully I'm not right. I'm banking on her to finish up so I can retire by the age of 29.

Sugar Momma ftw :thumbsup:

 

[LegendKiller]

I had to do the same thing to get a job at Crapital One, turns out I would have been better off failing it...

 

[mrkun]

Originally posted by: mugs
OP - regardless of why it IS illegal, why do you think it SHOULD BE illegal?

I'm on the fence actually.

Job discrimination based on many other factors that aren't highly related to job performance are illegal (e.g. race, sexual orientation, religion, etc.) Someone else said jokingly "maybe that's their way of weeding out women," but that's actually quite salient. One could refuse to hire women because of the "likelihood" that they'll become pregnant and have to take time off the job, thus hurting the company's productivity. Further, one could refuse to hire black people because of the "likelihood" that they'll steal from the office in comparison to a white people. Both of these things are statistically accurate, but I think it's highly unreasonable to generalize from them in a discriminatory way towards individuals. I.Q. is in the same vein, as its use as a predictor of job performance is based on the statistical fact that people with higher I.Q. ratings are generally more successful.

However, it is legal to not hire someone solely on the basis of pretty much any other factor that's not explicitly illegal (at least in practice). For instance, employers can choose not to hire someone solely on the basis of personality or appearance.

Edit: Okay, since writing that I'm no longer on the fence. It should be illegal because of what I said in the first paragraph. I further think that using personality tests as a sole determinant of employment should be illegal as well. "Personality" is a somewhat abstract concept that I would debate can accurately judged by a test. I've taken them before and I think they're highly subjective. What should be a discriminable trait instead is behavior, because this along with the example of appearance, are things that an individual has control over, while personality and I.Q. aren't.

 

[Raduque]

I hate that IQ test. Too much goddamned math, I was never good at math, especially trying to do it quickly. I got a 107.

 

[Whisper]

According to the web site:

"The test is not intended for professional use. The test is offered for personal entertainment purposes."

Looks like the company did a great job of picking an appropriate test to give potential employees.

 

[mrkun]

Originally posted by: Whisper
According to the web site:

"The test is not intended for professional use. The test is offered for personal entertainment purposes."

Looks like the company did a great job of picking an appropriate test to give potential employees.

Haha. Yeah, I saw that too.

Originally posted by: Raduque
I hate that IQ test. Too much goddamned math, I was never good at math, especially trying to do it quickly. I got a 107.

That's probably why the company uses this particular test.

 

[ranmaniac]

I scored a 125 on it, and ironically I've worked as an accounting clerk for a couple years, and it was painfully boring.

 

[mrkun]

Originally posted by: ranmaniac
I scored a 125 on it, and ironically I've worked as an accounting clerk for a couple years, and it was painfully boring.

Yeah, it is boring, but it's the best paying job I can get while I'm still in college.

 

[Finalnight]

lol, i guessed on a bunch and still got 123. Test is quite odd.

 

[Saint Michael]

I got a 146, bow before me and pay reverence to my awe-inspiring intellect! I don't know why people are even out there bothering to study physics and math, don't they know I'm about to prove everything and shit? Just give me a couple of minutes...