By Laura George, The Hot Spot Tanning Salon

How do you select the right new hire when almost every applicant states that they have great customer service skills, are trustworthy, reliable, friendly, and fast learners? You interview them for 10 to 15 minutes; they are on their best behavior and answering your questions by the book. So how do you know who you are really hiring?

About ten years ago I took an assessment designed to measure people’s preferences to how they perceive the world and make decisions, the Myers-Briggs Type indicator® (MTBI®). The assessment was based upon the theory that we all experience the world in four principal psychological functions: sensation, intuition, feeling and thinking.

I was in an academic setting when I took the test and my first reaction was that it was ridiculous. There was no test that could provide insight into who I am, how I think and react, or how I will be perceived by others. After taking the test, the first things I learned about my “type” was that I would be cynical about assessment and its results. As I read on, I realized that my “type” was me in a nutshell. The MBTI test is fairly simple. It asks approximately 70 easy-to-answer questions in order to determine the tester’s preferences. The results provide the four psychological preferences with the level of preference represented as a percentage.

To run a salon, you need a strong sales staff, but you also need worker bees. Most of the staff  at out salon are ENFJs (Extravert, Intuitive, Feeling, Judging), also known as “smooth-talking persuuaders.” ENFJs are more attuned to other people’s needs and emotions. They tend to be responsive, responsible, sociable, and try to involve others, often providing leadership.

Click here to read the entire article in the latest issue of Smart Tan Magazine online.