Franchises Use Personality Tests to Assess Potential Buyers
If you’re shopping for a franchise, the odds are good that you, too, will be invited to take a personality survey. Thomas Bowman, director of franchise solutions for Wonderlic Inc., says his Libertyville, Ill.-based company has prepared customized personality surveys for “hundreds” of franchisers, which he declined to name.Accord uses a behavioral profile developed by the McQuaig Institute of Executive Development, a 30-year-old Toronto company whose assessment tools are used by thousands of organizations, then customizes the results into assessment reports for their franchise clients. You can take the test online in less than half an hour by ranking sets of words that best describe you. In one group, for example, you are asked to rank, from one to four, obeying orders, pushing for results, entertaining and enjoying routine.
You can’t flunk a personality survey, but you can send out signals that you might not be the right fit for a franchise system. “We’re in the hospitality business, and we want franchisees who are definitely outgoing,” said Mr. Shoeman.
If your personality profile whispers introvert, you won’t be automatically rejected, Mr. Shoeman said, “but we’ll be watching your comfort level during the interview process. If you’re really quiet, we’ll teach you how to hire personality types who are more suited to the coffee-house environment.” Sometimes, he added, the combination of profile and interview sends out so many “red flags” that It’s a Grind will turn down an applicant.
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