"In general, the business world does not look for applicants with high intelligence scores; it prefers those who score slightly above the average. As a matter of fact, a too brainy applicant may be disqualified as not fitting in with the happy mediocrity of the team. You do not have to be too bright.
"Control groups of successful businessmen have shown them to be cultural nonentities who are without aesthetic interests. The executive has no patience with diversions such as art or literature, although he may condescend to read a book on salesmanship or industrial design. He is strongly masculine, but inclined to neglect his wife. The stereotype of the truly masculine man is one with a strong stomach who is insensitive to blood, odors, rough language, disgusting remarks while eating, and so on. Just keep in mind that the rugged he-man is a strong, boorish, hairy, hard-boiled character who has no cultural inclinations of any kind and never cracks a book except for those on economics or salesmanship. The exceptions are those who are hired for creative or artistic positions. These men are supposed to be weak in heterosexuality, but everyone else must score high in that trait. The executive has no complexes or emotional problems of any kind. He is free of inner doubt.
"The instructions at the beginning of the tests generally state that there are no right or wrong answers so you should be as truthful as you can. This is an outright lie. Textbooks on psychology declare that the personality is difficult to define. It is only in fiction that one finds men thoroughly consistent. Test compilers don't know much about women. They always smell clean and sweet and love candy and super-masculine men. If you are a homosexual, you must be particularly careful. That you have as much right as any man or woman to earn a living is of no concern to them. The touchstone is normalcy. You are normal, your parents were normal, your wife is normal, your rearing was normal, and your character the mirror-image of the stereotype for the job you are applying for.
"Have you ever felt close to a nervous breakdown? Answer: Never. Are you easy-going? Answer: Yes. Do you have ability or is your record the result of hard work? Answer: My IQ was 120, but in some subjects I have to work hard. Examiner: Draw a person. Is he bright? Applicant: Sure, he made the sale.
"In summary, the ideal applicant is a paragon of virtues and a wonder of superb emotional adjustment. This book shows you how to beat personality tests by understanding what they are all about."

The material quoted above was excerpted from "How to Beat Personality Tests" by Charles Alex (published 1965, reprinted 1967).

This item by George Noviss was printed on the cover of MC2 (Mensa Canada Communications) November 1987

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