This article summarises the evidence that personality tests help people learn and improve their performance. It found little evidence to support their wide-scale use as development tools (as opposed to recruitment tools), suggesting that people professionals should use them with caution.

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Reviewed by

Jonny Gifford, former Senior Adviser for Organisational Behaviour, CIPD

Jonny’s work centred on conducting applied research in employment and people management, and strengthening links between academia and practice. He led the CIPD’s work on evidence-based HR and academic knowledge exchange.

Jonny is an Academic Member of the CIPD, a Fellow of the Center for Evidence-Based Management (CEBMa), and a PhD candidate at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

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