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Hiring the right person isn’t just about skills and experience — it’s about trust.
You can train someone to use a new tool or follow a process, but you can’t easily train them to be honest, accountable, and ethical. That’s where integrity tests come in.
In today’s hiring landscape, where employee theft, fraud, and workplace misconduct cost businesses billions each year, recruiters can’t afford to rely solely on résumés and interviews. Traditional screening methods often miss the subtle cues of dishonesty or poor work ethic — and by the time a bad hire’s behavior surfaces, the damage is already done.
An integrity test gives you a way to assess these qualities before you extend an offer. It measures traits like honesty, accountability, responsibility, and a positive attitude toward workplace rules and teamwork. These assessments are designed to uncover red flags that might not show up in interviews — such as a tendency to bend rules, shift blame, or take shortcuts that harm the company.
This is especially important in:
- Customer-facing roles where trust and professionalism directly impact your brand.
- Financial or asset-sensitive positions where employees handle cash, inventory, or sensitive data.
- Remote and hybrid teams, where self-discipline and integrity are crucial for independent work.
If you’ve ever had to fire someone for dishonesty, you already know: preventing that hire in the first place is far cheaper, faster, and less damaging than fixing the problem later.
Defining an Integrity Test
At its core, an integrity test is a type of pre-employment assessment that evaluates a candidate’s likelihood to behave honestly and ethically at work. It can measure:
| Trait | What It Evaluates | Why It Matters |
| Honesty | Truthfulness, transparency, and adherence to facts | Builds trust with colleagues, clients, and management |
| Accountability | Willingness to own mistakes and take responsibility | Prevents blame-shifting and fosters problem-solving |
| Rule-following | Respect for policies, laws, and ethical guidelines | Reduces compliance risks and workplace misconduct |
| Positive Attitude | Optimism, teamwork, and morale-building behavior | Improves culture and reduces conflict |
| Responsibility | Dependability and reliability in tasks | Keeps operations smooth and deadlines met |
Why Integrity Testing Matters in Hiring
1. Protects Your Company’s Reputation
A single unethical act — whether it’s falsifying reports, mishandling customer data, or mistreating a client — can cause long-term damage to your brand.
2. Prevents Costly Losses
Workplace theft alone costs U.S. businesses over $50 billion annually. Integrity tests can help identify candidates less likely to engage in theft, fraud, or other costly misconduct.
3. Improves Team Morale
When employees know their coworkers share their work ethic and values, trust grows. That trust fuels collaboration, engagement, and loyalty.
4. Reduces Turnover
Employees who value honesty and accountability tend to stay longer, contribute more, and avoid the behaviors that often lead to termination.
Types of Integrity Tests
There are two main types:
| Type | Description | Example Use Case |
| Overt Integrity Test | Directly asks about attitudes toward ethics, honesty, and rule-following. | Screening for cash-handling retail roles. |
| Personality-Based Integrity Test | Measures traits like conscientiousness and agreeableness to predict ethical behavior. | Assessing managerial candidates for long-term culture fit. |
How to Use Integrity Tests Effectively
- Integrate Them Early
Add integrity assessments before interviews to filter out high-risk candidates. - Pair With Behavioral Interviews
Use results to guide targeted interview questions. For example, if a candidate scores low on accountability, ask for examples of how they’ve handled mistakes. - Combine With Reference Checks
Integrity test results can help you ask better, more focused reference check questions. - Apply to All Roles Where Trust Matters
Integrity isn’t just for security guards or finance staff — it’s relevant to almost every position.
Our Recommended Tool: The Positivity & Integrity Assessment
At PreEmploymentAssessments, we recommend the Integrity & Attitude Test for employers who want fast, reliable insights.
Why it works:
- Takes just 10 minutes to complete
- Covers ethical behavior, accountability, and positivity
- Works for customer-facing, administrative, leadership, and frontline roles
- Provides clear, actionable results you can use in hiring decisions immediately
- Available in English and Spanish for broader candidate reach
| Dimension | What It Evaluates | Why It Matters |
| Integrity | Honesty, accountability, rule-following | Builds trust and reduces risk |
| Positivity | Optimism, teamwork, constructive mindset | Boosts morale and team engagement |
| Responsibility | Ownership of actions, problem-solving | Prevents blame culture and improves reliability |
Example Hiring Scenario
Imagine you’re hiring a retail store manager. Two candidates have similar résumés and interview performances. One scores high on the Integrity & Attitude Test, showing strong accountability and rule-following tendencies. The other scores lower, showing a tendency to avoid responsibility.
Which one do you hire?
If you choose without testing, you might end up with the candidate who blames others when things go wrong — which can create long-term headaches. With an integrity test, the risk becomes visible before it becomes a problem.
Related Reading
(To be internally linked)
- Integrity Assessment Questionnaire for Pre-Employment Screening
- Sample Integrity Test Questions Employers Can Use
- What Is an Overt Integrity Test and How You Can Use It as an Employer
- Personality-Based Integrity Tests: How They Work
- How to Test Integrity in Interviews: Employer Guide
- Pre-Employment Integrity Tests: What Employers Need to Know
- Top Integrity Assessment Tools for Hiring Teams
- Supply Chain Integrity Assessment: A Guide for Procurement and HR Leaders
- Honest Hiring: Why Integrity and Work Ethics Tests Are Non-Negotiable
- What Is a Covert Integrity Test? A Guide for Hiring Managers
FAQ
Q: Do integrity tests replace background checks?
No — they complement them. Integrity tests measure attitudes and tendencies, while background checks verify past behavior.
Q: Can candidates fake good answers?
High-quality tests are designed with validity scales to detect inconsistencies or overly ideal responses.
Q: Are integrity tests legal to use in hiring?
Yes, provided they comply with local labor laws and are applied consistently to all candidates for the same role.
Final Thoughts
An integrity test isn’t about catching people out — it’s about building a workplace where trust, accountability, and positivity are the norm. By making it part of your hiring process, you protect your company, your team, and your reputation.
If you’re ready to screen for these critical traits without slowing down hiring, try the Integrity & Attitude Test today. In just 10 minutes, you’ll know whether a candidate is likely to be a positive, reliable contributor to your organization.
👉 Book a Demo and start making integrity a non-negotiable part of your hiring process.
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