why introverts don't get job interviews

When I returned to California after my Toronto practicum in 2009, I started applying to just about any job opening I could find. Many of these were retail ventures, and many of them only accepted online applications. And the vast majority of these online applications featured a standardized test called the Unicru Test, a series of statements that the applicants ranks "Strongly Disagree," "Disagree," "No Opinion," "Agree," or "Strongly Agree."

Apparently the way Unicru works is that once you take the test, your results will be sorted into one of three piles. The Green pile goes to management to look through résumés and decide who to call for interviews; the Yellow pile goes to management and may get looked through if a insufficient number of Greens are hired or interviewed; and the Red pile does not go on to management for review.

I’m a good worker. I’ve worked at a coffee shop, a shoe store, and two hardware stores, and I’ve excelled at every one. But if I had taken a Unicru test to apply at any of these places, I probably wouldn’t have even been called in for an interview.

Why? Because I’m an introvert, and apparently, in the eyes of the Kronos company, introverts can’t be good workers.

The vast majority of Unicru statements are infuriating. Some of them simply lack context. Take, for example, “Your family and friends approve of what you do.” I have some friends whose families definitely don’t approve of their lifestyles, but it’s because of differences in morals, passions, religion, politics, or so on – not because my friends make bad decisions. Also consider, “You would rather not get involved in other people’s problems.” For me, I disagree if you’re talking about making sure my friends are doing well and being available for them when they are coping with bad situations, while I wholeheartedly agree if you’re talking about having to listen to the crazy lady next to you on the train ramble on about her landlord; I have no idea which one Unicru means. Unfortunately, you have no way to explain your answer.

Others seem to set some unrealistic standard. Consider “You have no big regrets about your past” or “You look back and feel bad about things you’ve done.” I would argue that any normal person who’s had enough life experience and common sense would have some regrets about things, but apparently the “correct” answer to both of these is, “Strongly Disagree.”

But the items that really frustrate me are the ones geared to weed out the introverts.

The following items should all be “Strongly Agree”:

- It is fun to go to events with big crowds.

- You chat with people you don't know.

- You like to be in the middle of a big crowd

- You like to talk a lot.

- You love to be with people.

- You love to listen to people talk about themselves.

The following items should all be “Strongly Disagree”:

- You are a fairly private person.

- You are unsure of what to say when you meet someone.

- You are unsure of yourself with new people.

- You do not like small talk.

- You do not like to meet new people.

- You like to be alone.

For me and many other introverts, however, the first six would all be “No” and the last six would all be “Yes.” That’s twelve wrong answers right there, so we’re all well on our way to the Red pile.

I think Unicru is dangerous for several reasons, but one is that it confuses an extrovert lifestyle with an extrovert role. I understand the logic behind their methodology: hire extroverted people and they'll be natural fits for a customer service position. However, when you put me in a capacity where it’s my job to interact with people, I do it. I readily go up to customers and ask them about their projects and what they need; in real life, I’d almost never talk to someone I don’t know in line at the store or waiting for the bus stop. Unicru doesn’t even allow for this possibility, however; either you’re an extrovert and you’re qualified, or you’re an introvert and you’re not. 

I thought about this in light of a BBC article by Vanessa Barford that I read this week, called "Do we really give introverts a hard time?" The article argues that most managers, professors, and other authority figures believe extroverts almost always make better employees, students, and - dare I say it? - people than introverts. 

I remember one class at Fuller where our professor asked us to fill out an anonymous survey indicating what learning methods work best for us - reading, class discussion, group projects, whatever. On my list I added that often just listening to a good lecture and thinking about it works for me - not that the other methods aren't valuable, but that's one of several that helps. I personally get burned out in some group discussions because it often turns into the same five people chasing rabbit trails and I'd just end up playing Bubble Spinner.

The professor went over the results of the survey in his next lecture. He singled out that some anonymous person (or perhaps people? maybe I'm not crazy?) mentioned "listening" as a learning method. He shook his head dismissively. "No, that doesn't work," he said. "You have to talk."

With all do respect, I believe that yes, talking is essential, but so is listening, and we live in a culture that almost unilaterally prizes one over the other. 

I am respected at my retail job as an exceptional employee. I made consistant good marks and learned a great deal in university and seminary despite rarely speaking up during lecture. My extrovert friends, please - don't try to turn your introvert friends into one of you. We're fine the way we are. Trust us.