THE VOCATIONAL VALUE OF TESTS 179
take an individual over the most difficult obstacles. In
one of the experiments already described was a girl whose
performance in the most significant test proclaimed that
she would most decidedly fail at the work she was trying
to do. As a matter of fact this girl succeeded, but it took
her about four times as long as the average success. However,
due to her dominant ambition, she did finally succeed
and became one of the most successful workers in the
room.
While it is highly advisable to recognize ambition and
to give it its just deserts, it is just as desirable to detect
l mpulse. Very many candidates apply for a certain kind
°f work or a certain course of training, not because they
ar e extremely ambitious in that direction, but because
they have heard from some successful friend how pleasant
the work is and how easy it is to make a high wage in a
short time. The new candidate does not stop to consider
that what is pleasant and profitable to his friend may not
he equally pleasant and profitable for him. In cases of
this kind—and every employment office and industry
tfteets them in abundance—the verdict of the tests should
he followed. If it is not, and the ill-adapted applicant is
hired, the result is quite likely to be another turnover,
hor as soon as the new worker discovers that the work is
ttot quite as enjoyable and remunerative for him as it is for
his friend, he will probably leave. The vocational value of
tests is particularly great in this respect. Many useless
an d costly vocational experiments can be eliminated by
their application, and successful ones made possible instead.
'
When a candidate has a good training but poor natural
a hility, the question of his vocation becomes a grave one.
^ the individual has himself recognized his tempera
