Because of life (high rent, food, a lawyer, etc), I needed to get a second job. I asked my friend if where she works was hiring and she said: “yes they always are hiring, I will even put in a form for you so I will know that you will be looked at.” My friend knew that I was a great fit for the job because of the amount of experience I have, and just as a small detail this is an entry-level position.
She helped me do my resume so it would be noticed. Everything so far was going great until there was the personality test. I hate these things, quite simply they don't work or benefit a company at all. Now I really wanted this job. Even though it was a customer service job, the starting pay was $4 over the minimum wage, guaranteed raises at the end of every year, benefits such as health, dental, and therapy covered insurance, and so on. I did my best on answering the questions about how they would like it. However, I did tell my friend I might be auto-denied because of this test. She didn't believe me, at this point, she didn't hate personality tests and thought HR read through resumes before an auto-deny.
A month passes and she doesn't hear anything and neither do I. I guessed I was denied because of that test. My friend still didn't think that because she put in a recommendation request and my resume was nearly perfect, so she emailed HR. She found out I was denied the job, this made her extremely upset and it wasn't just her. Turns out my friend's supervisor wanted me as well, and also put in a recommendation request for me. When my friend found this out not only did she tell her supervisor but did everything short of harassment to get me the email for HR. Now everybody who works in the same department as my friend, knows HR doesn't look at resumes.
I ended up emailing back and forth with someone from HR on why I was denied. I detailed that first email with the experience that they were looking for, leaving no room for interpretation or denial. I am assuming on the account of the combination of both my friend and her supervisor, HR realized they messed up. The HR rep of course gets back to me without ever addressing why I was denied. She offered me an interview which landed me the job.
In the end, my friend and her entire department collectively hate the personality test and know HR doesn't look at anything. What I have learned, is always make sure you have a friend who will have your back, email asking why you were denied, and the hiring process is even more messed up than I thought.