Understanding personalities has become crucial for personal and professional success in today’s dynamic and diverse workforce. Various personality assessments offer unique insights into an individual’s behavior, preferences, and potential. This comprehensive guide will explore ten prominent personality assessments, providing an overview of each and highlighting their key features and applications. Whether you’re an HR professional looking to improve team dynamics or an individual seeking self-awareness, this guide will help you navigate the world of personality assessments.

The Birkman Method

The Birkman Method is a robust personality assessment tool that delves deep into an individual’s behavior, motivations, and needs. It measures social behaviors, occupational interests, stress behaviors, and underlying motivators. This comprehensive assessment, widely used in career development, team building, and leadership coaching, has many key features:

• Measures usual behavior and stress behaviors when underlying needs are not met
• Provides insights into an individual’s interests and preferences
• Offers guidance for personal and professional development
• Promotes effective communication and conflict resolution
• Provides comprehensive career reporting for job seekers with many reports

Check out our Birkman Resources page to learn more about the Birkman Method.

Enneagram

The Enneagram is a personality framework that identifies nine distinct personality types, each with its own core motivations and fears. It helps individuals understand their inner drivers and offers a path to personal growth and self-awareness. The Enneagram, commonly used in self-help, personal development, and coaching, has many features, including:

• Defines nine core personality types
• Reveals motivations and potential stressors for each type
• Encourages personal growth and self-improvement
• Enhances interpersonal relationships and communication

To understand the pros and cons of the Enneagram better, take a look at our blog comparing the Enneagram vs. the Birkman Method.

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, or MBTI, is one of the most well-known personality assessments worldwide. It categorizes individuals into one of sixteen personality types based on preferences in four dichotomies: Extraversion/Introversion, Sensing/Intuition, Thinking/Feeling, and Judging/Perceiving. The MBTI, widely used in career counseling, team building, and organizational development, has many great features, such as:

• Identifies individual personality type
• Offers insights into communication and decision-making styles
• Facilitates understanding of team dynamics and diversity
• Promotes personal and professional growth

For a deeper look at MBTI, check out our blog post about the pros and cons of MBTI vs. the Birkman Method. 

Hogan Assessments

Hogan Assessments consist of various personality assessments that focus on an individual’s reputation, identity, and values. These assessments, widely used in leadership development, talent selection, and organizational success, have many key features:

• Measures personality traits, values, and potential derailers
• Predicts leadership effectiveness and potential pitfalls
• Enhances talent selection and succession planning
• Provides insights into reputation management and leadership development

To dive deeper into the Hogan Assessment, check out our blog about the pros and cons of Hogan vs. the Birkman Method.

DISC Personality Assessment

The DISC assessment categorizes individuals into four primary personality styles: Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness. It helps individuals understand their communication preferences, work style, and interactions with others. The DISC assessment,  often used in team building, sales training, and conflict resolution, includes the following key features:

• Identifies four primary personality styles
• Enhances communication and interpersonal relationships
• Supports team building and conflict resolution efforts
• Guides individuals in leveraging their strengths

To take a closer look at the DISC and how it compares to the Birkman Method, check out our blog that compares the pros and cons of DISC vs. Birkman. 

Predictive Index (PI)

The Predictive Index is a behavioral assessment tool that measures four primary drives – Dominance, Extraversion, Patience, and Formality – to predict an individual’s workplace behaviors and tendencies. It aids in talent management, employee selection, and team alignment.

Key Features:

• Focuses on predicting workplace behaviors
• Assists in employee selection and team alignment
• Offers insights into employee motivations and preferences
• Enhances workforce productivity and engagement

For a deeper look at Predictive Index, check out our blog about the pros and cons of Predictive Index vs. the Birkman Method. 

O*NET Interest Profiler

The O*NET Interest Profiler helps individuals explore career options by assessing their interests and compatibility with various occupations. It provides valuable guidance for career planning, job search, and educational choices.

Key Features:

• Assesses an individual’s interests and preferences
• Matches interests to relevant occupations
• Supports career planning and educational decisions
• Helps individuals find fulfilling career paths

To take a closer look at O*NET Interest Profiler, check out our blog that compares the pros and cons of O*NET vs. the Birkman Method.

CliftonStrengths Assessment

The CliftonStrengths assessment, formerly StrengthsFinder, identifies an individual’s top strengths out of 34 themes. It empowers individuals to leverage their strengths in personal and professional settings, leading to greater job satisfaction and performance.

Key Features:

• Identifies an individual’s top strengths
• Encourages self-awareness and personal development
• Enhances team collaboration and performance
• Boosts employee engagement and job satisfaction

To learn more about the CliftonStrengths assessment, check out our blog that compares the pros and cons of CliftonStrengths vs. the Birkman Method.

Culture Index

The Culture Index is an assessment tool that measures an individual’s cognitive and conative traits to predict their fit within a particular organizational culture. It assists in talent acquisition, team alignment, and organizational culture development.

Key Features:

• Assesses cognitive and conative traits
• Predicts an individual’s fit within an organizational culture
• Supports talent acquisition and team alignment
• Enhances cultural awareness and development

To dig deeper into the pros and cons of the Culture Index vs. the Birkman Method, visit our blog that compares the two assessments.

JobTest.org

JobTest.org offers a range of pre-employment assessments and practice tests designed to help individuals prepare for job applications and interviews. These assessments cover various cognitive abilities, skills, and personality traits relevant to specific job roles.

Key Features:

• Provides practice tests and assessments for job seekers
• Prepares candidates for job applications and interviews
• Enhances job readiness and interview performance
• Offers tailored resources for specific job roles

To look closer at how JobTest.org compares to the Birkman Method, look at our blog outlining each option’s pros and cons.

Summary of Assessment Comparisons

Personality assessments are vital in personal development, team dynamics, and organizational success. Each of the ten assessments mentioned in this guide offers unique insights and applications. Whether seeking personal growth, improving team performance, or making informed hiring decisions, understanding the power of these assessments can be a transformative experience. Choose the one that aligns with your goals and embark on a journey of self-discovery, improved relationships, and enhanced professional success.

Each assessment above can help you in some way with your career. After all, knowing yourself is the beginning of your journey to finding a fulfilling job. Check out our Birkman Resources page to investigate the Birkman Method Assessment. If you are open to a conversation about your career coaching needs, visit our schedule a consultation page.