Frequently Asked Questions

What are the primary core value types?

There are four primary core value types that are called Builder, Merchant, Innovator, and Banker. These represent power, love, wisdom, and knowledge, respectively. Everything about the CVI revolves around your unique combination of these four core energies.

What are the six contribution types?

The six contribution types are calculated based on combinations of your four primary core values.

Intuitive: Builder + Merchant
Creative: Merchant + Innovator
Cognitive: Innovator + Banker
Practical: Banker + Builder
Independent: Builder + Innovator
Community: Banker + Merchant

These contribution types, available only with a full CVI, give you expanded insight about yourself in those categories. Your full CVI report provides strategies for how you can best utilize your contribution types.

If I take the free CVI now, can I upgrade it later?

Yes! If you take the free CVI, you can always upgrade to the full version later on, gaining access to your full report and your core value scores and contribution types. You only have to take the assessment once.

What do I get with the free CVI?

After taking the free CVI, you get the names of your primary and secondary core values, for example, Builder/Merchant or Banker/Innovator. You also see a quadrant graph showing the relative proportions of your four core values.

What do I get with the full CVI?

In addition to the information provided with the free CVI, you get your specific numerical scores for each of the four primary core values. You also get the values for your six contribution types. All of this information is included in a 17-page report showing powerful insights about your specific profile, conflict resolution strategies, and much more, including your vulnerabilities, learning styles, and how the core values work together.

I get numerical scores with the full CVI. Why do the numbers matter?

Simply knowing that you are an Innovator/Merchant, for example, isn't enough. The numerical scores provided with your full CVI report lets you know the relationship and proportions of each of the four core values that is unique to you. Are you a profound Innovator? Are your Banker and Builder energies in balance? Do you ever access your Merchant energy? Your scores will tell you!

Your CVI scores will be allocated across the four core value types: Builder, Merchant, Innovator, and Banker. For each of those four, your score will be a value between 0 and 36, with the sum of all four being exactly 72.

Scores for a core value energy below 12 indicate you rarely if ever spend any time within that energy. Scores above 25 are considered profound and indicate you spend the vast majority of your time in that energy.

I took the CVI using an old email address. Can I re-use that email address?

You can only take the CVI once per email address. It's not necessary to take the CVI again if you don't have a compelling reason to do so. Since the Core Values Index psychometric assessment has above 97% repeat reliability, you could take the CVI at the age of 18 and again at age 80 and get a score that varies less than 3%. No other psychometric assessment on the market today even comes close.

If you really want to take the CVI again, you will need to use a different email address.

Can more than one person take the CVI using a single email address?

No. Each CVI score is tied to a specific email address, so it is not possible for more than one person to take the CVI using a single email address.

Can I take the CVI more than once?

Yes, although you really don't need to. Your scores will differ by less than 3%. If you do feel the need to take the CVI again, you'll need to provide a new email address for the second test.

I would like my friend or family member to take the free CVI. Where should they go?

It is a great idea to encourage friends and family members to take the CVI! Not only does the CVI give you great insight about yourself, it also helps you understand others with tremendous insight.

(Be sure to read our FAQs regarding privacy and sharing of CVI profiles.)

We suggest sharing the URL WhatsMyCVI.com with friends and family, or anyone else you feel would benefit from taking the CVI (which we unashamedly admit is everyone).

My friend or family member took the CVI. Can I see their profile?

We consider an individual's CVI information to be private, so therefore we do not provide any way for you to see another person's CVI profile. Anyone with a CVI profile may choose to share some or all of their profile information with others as they wish, however.

Can others see my CVI profile? Is my CVI profile private?

Your CVI profile information is private unless you choose to share it with others.

However, if you apply for a job with an employer that lists their job through eRep.com, they will be able to see your CVI values as part of the screening process (this is a good thing because it tells them immediately if you are a good match for the position).

Other than the specific sharing scenarios listed above, eRep does not share or sell account holder information, including but not limited to their CVI profile, with anyone.

For full details, please read our Privacy Policy (https://erep.com/legal/privacy-policy/)

Do I need to take the CVI in order to search for a job on eRep.com?

Taking the CVI is not a requirement to search for jobs on eRep.com, although we encourage everyone looking for a job to take the CVI as it provides great insight into the kind of jobs where you would thrive.

It is also to your advantage to take the CVI as most employers that advertise job listings through eRep.com will require applicants to take the CVI as part of their screening process. This is a good thing, as it accurately and efficiently matches candidates to the position.

Do I need to pay for the full CVI when searching for a job on eRep.com?

No. Applicants are not required to pay anything to search or apply to jobs listed through eRep.com.

Do I need to complete the Resume Builder when searching for a job?

This is not a requirement, but it highlights your skills and experience to prospective employers, thus increasing your chances of getting hired.

Do I need to complete the Industry Qualifications section when searching for a job?

Like the Resume Builder, the Industry Qualifications section is not a requirement but it highlights your skills and experience to prospective employers, thus increasing your chances of getting hired.

Can I search the available job listings even though I have marked myself as not looking for work?

Yes. We do not track or share your job search activities with anyone, nor do employers receive any of that data, either. They do hear about you when you apply for a job, of course, but only what you choose to share with them.

How do I retrieve my eRep.com password if I forget it?

On the eRep.com login screen, enter your log-in email in the box provided and click the 'forgot password' link. A temporary password will be sent to your email on record.

How do I change my eRep.com account password?

Log into eRep.com and click Settings. In the default Account Information tab, look for the 'Change Password' link and follow the instructions it provides.

What if I forget which email I used to create my eRep.com account?

Due to privacy issues we are unable to give out information associated with accounts. You will have to create a new user profile.

One tip: Go through your current or any old email account's Inbox or other folders where you organize emails. Do a search for received emails from the '@erep.com' domain. If you used that email account to create your eRep account, you just might have one or more of your original notification emails from eRep in your account.

What is eRep.com's refund policy?

We offer a 10-day money back guarantee for full CVI purchases.

How do I manage my email notification settings with eRep.com?

Log into your eRep.com account and click Settings. Click on the Notifications tab. Check or uncheck email notifications based on your preferences. Click Save.

What is the Happiness Index?

The Happiness Index is a free service offered to all eRep.com users with a CVI (free or full).

The Happiness Index is a revolutionary way to measure the level of satisfaction you experience in your life. Because the Happiness Index integrates with your personal CVI, the results are accurate, insightful, and unique to you.

The Happiness Index functions by asking you to respond to a series of questions by indicating how you feel on a range between strongly agree to strongly disagree. The index takes about 5-10 minutes to complete. You receive a report showing your happiness measured in five areas, Connectedness, Processes, Fairness, Challenges, and Inspiration. You receive a percentage score in each of these five areas of measurement between 0 and 100%, with 100% indicating maximum happiness and engagement. You also receive a total happiness core from 0 to 100%.

Is the Happiness Index included with a free CVI?

Yes! Plus, you can take the Happiness Index as often as once per day, although we recommend only taking it once every 3-6 months.

What is the relationship between the Happiness Index and the Core Values Index?

Your core values index, or CVI, describes the fundamental, unchanging nature of who you are. Your Happiness Index score accurately measures how fully you are living within those core values at the time you take the assessment.

Another way to think about this relationship is:

Your CVI score represents the target of your individual potential;
The Happiness Index measures how close you are to hitting that target.

What are some ways I can use the Happiness Index?

Using the Happiness Index assessment tool is very easy. You can take as many individual assessments as you wish, although we recommend no more than once per quarter as this can lead to survey fatigue. If your employer subscribes to the Happiness Index application, they may invite you to take assessments based on a particular schedule.

You can take a happiness index assessment when thinking about a career change or when considering which college degree to pursue. Take a follow-up assessment six months later to gauge how well it's going.

Your employer may ask you to take a happiness index assessment at the beginning of a big project at work, and again when it's complete. Or, it may be part of an annual or biannual performance review.

The Happiness Index is a great way to measure and evaluate the effectiveness of life changes or work progress. It answers the question:

'How close am I to reaching my full potential of happiness, engagement, and fulfillment?'

Are my Happiness Index assessment results private?

Assessments that you initiate on your own are private and cannot be seen by anyone but you. If you have an eRep account provided by your employer, assessments assigned to you by your employer can be seen by your employer in summary - they cannot see the details of your assessment responses, however.

eRep gathers broad, aggregate statistics about happiness results by industry and profession, but only at a high level that is not attributable to specific individuals. Here is a hypothetical example that explains what we mean: we know that accountants working for construction companies have an average happiness score of 82%, but we don't know anything about the individuals that make up that demographic group.

We never share individual Happiness Index data with anyone. Period.

What is a Top Performer Profile (TPP)?

A Top Performer Profile is a process that produces the ideal CVI profile of a role. Employers use a TPP to ensure they are hiring candidates who are psychometrically most likely to become top performers in the position. Candidates with highly matched CVI and TPP profiles often outperform their unmatched colleagues by 200% and often experience 50% or lower turnover.

What are the advantages of posting job openings through eRep.com?

eRep offers cost-effective job listings that provide nationwide exposure through ZipRecruiter integration with an easy-to-use listing management tool. For a low monthly cost, you get national exposure across dozens of nationally syndicated job boards including ZipRecruiter. It takes just a few minutes to get a job listing set up and management of candidates is a snap.

Which core value energy is most common?

After analyzing over 1 million CVIs, we have found that each of the four core value energies - Builder, Merchant, Innovator and Banker - are evenly represented. Roughly speaking, there is no core value energy that is more common than the others.

What is the rarest core value energy?

We have analyzed over 1 million CVI assessments and discovered that all four core value energies - Builder, Merchant, Innovator and Banker - are evenly represented. Roughly speaking, there is no core value energy that is more rare than the others.

Is it possible to change your CVI profile?

The short answer is no. You can change your behavior at will, of course, but you can't change how you are hardwired. Your core value profile is fixed and does not change over time. However, with practice and understanding of how the four core value energies operate, it is possible to act within any of them when needed. The lower your score in a particular core value energy, the more of a challenge it will be and the more uncomfortable it will feel.

What does it mean to have a profound CVI profile?

When one of your four CVI scores is 25 or higher (out of a maximum of 36), that core value energy is considered to be profound. It is possible for someone to have more than one CVI scores above 25, but it is very rare. Having a profound core value profile means you operate within that primary core value energy the vast majority of the time.

What is a CVI conflict resolution strategy?

Each core value energy within you has an associated fear that is sort of the opposite of its strength. Builders are all about power, so their greatest fear is being powerless; Innovators are all about wisdom, so their greatest fear is being foolish or unwise, etc. The conflict resolution strategy for each core value is how you react when that energy's fear is activated. For example, when a Builder feels powerless, their conflict resolution strategy is to intimidate. An Innovator's conflict resolution strategy is to interrogate. Bankers act with aloof judgment, and Merchants manipulate. Your full CVI report has very helpful information about your particular conflict resolution strategies.

Do I have an optimal learning style based on my CVI profile?

Yes! Because the CVI defines how you see and emotionally connect with the world, it also influences how you learn. For example, Builders like to be hands-on and prefer to learn with methods that provide immediate feedback. Bankers like to soak up information and data. Be sure to read your full CVI report for insights about the optimal learning style for your profile.

Can the CVI help me find a satisfying job or career?

Using the CVI to determine one's ideal job or career path is the single most common reason people take the assessment. It won't give you specific answers by naming particular occupations, but it will help you determine the kind of activities that will suit your particular personality profile. For example, Builders don't often enjoy jobs where they have to sit in place and analyze data for extended periods of time, but Bankers can really thrive in that kind of job. Merchants love connecting with other people and can feel restless in careers that involve a lot of isolation. Innovators are happiest with lots of problems to solve.

Do some CVI profiles gel or clash more than others?

Although some energies can initially feel contrary to others, every core value profile can get along and even thrive with others with a degree of understanding and knowledge. First, read about your own CVI profile and learn how you see the world. Next, read about the other core value energies and with that knowledge you can learn what communication styles work best. Everyone has a part to play, and knowledge about the CVI makes us more effective working together.

Are certain CVI profiles more compatible than others?

In general, those who share primary or secondary core value energies naturally get along better with each other than those who don't have those energies in common. It's about the commonality between energies that matters, not the energies themselves.

Are there any tricks to identify the likely CVI profile of other people?

The best thing to do is share your experience with the CVI and encourage the other person to take the CVI as well. Even if they never share their profile with you, they will personally benefit from its profound insights about their own psychometric profile. Beyond that, the next best thing is to read The Core Values Handbook or Choices, both written by Lynn Ellsworth Taylor, the creator of the CVI. These books provide valuable information about the Core Values Index and after reading them, you will have the knowledge you need to more easily identify core value energies in other people.

Can I be successful in a job that doesn't seem to match my CVI profile?

The CVI doesn't determine what you can or cannot do, it determines how much you'll enjoy the activity. With that in mind, how successful will you be in the long run working at a job that isn't aligned with your profile? It will feel like a struggle and your happiness will likely suffer - and your productivity will likely suffer, too.

Do I need to be a subscriber at eRep.com to post a job listing?

Monthly subscribers gain access to a broad range of valuable employer services at eRep.com. Those who wish to post job listings on an a la carte basis may do so at any time for a low-cost flat fee, without obligation or commitment.

What is Apex by eRep.com?

Apex, or our Advanced Pay Equity Compliance System, is a tool that lets employers analyze their employee compensation to ensure their staff are compensated fairly and equitably. It combines a powerful yet easy to use audit and data gathering tool with amazing reports that reveal valuable comparisons between the compensation employees receive. This robust system helps employers comply with some of the most stringent pay equity laws in the country.

What is the Performance Fuel Formula?

Developed by eRep, the Performance Fuel Formula is as straightforward as it is powerful. Combine clarity and purpose, tied together with feedback, to empower and energize employee productivity. Clarity means the employee knows their objective without ambiguity. Purpose means the employee knows that what they do is valuable and will be appreciated. Feedback provides them the honest and helpful information at the right time to do their job most effectively. The Performance Fuel Formula is tied together into an integrated system called Performance Fuel, available at eRep.com.

What sets eRep's Happiness Index apart from other employee happiness surveys?

Happiness Index by eRep measures employee engagement and happiness in five areas of measurement: Connectedness, Processes, Fairness, Challenges and Inspiration. What sets Happiness Index apart is results are calibrated to the individual's specific CVI profile, using a standard 0-100% scale. There is nothing else like it on the market today.

Can I try out the CVI within my organization for free?

Yes! We offer a CVI Discovery Program for curious employers who want to see if the CVI can help them achieve their operational goals. With this program, new employers can get 3 CVIs to use in their executive or leadership team free of charge and without obligation. In addition to the 3 free CVIs, they also get a one-hour consultation with a CVI expert. It is the perfect no-risk way to discover the power of the CVI within your organization.

How does the CVI compare to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)?

The effectiveness and accuracy of psychometric assessments can best be measured by their repeat reliability score. Repeat reliability refers to how similar an assessment’s results are over time. If you take an assessment at age 25 and again at age 45 and get the same score both times, it has a repeat reliability of 100%. The Core Values Index (CVI) has the highest average repeat reliability score of any psychometric assessment on the market today, 97.7%, as determined in longitudinal studies. MBTI, in comparison, only has 50-70% repeat reliability.

Can the CVI help my organization make better use of our existing staff?

Although the CVI and Top Performer Profile are perhaps most effectively used before a hiring decision is made, the CVI+TPP can be used to determine if existing team members are appropriately matched to their role. Adjustments can sometimes be made to the role's requirements and tasks to better suit individuals, or individuals can be reassigned to other positions where they are more likely to shine.

The CVI has 4 energies. Does this mean that the population can be broken down into just 4 groups?

There are four core value energies, called Builder, Merchant, Innovator, and Banker. Everyone's personality contains a specific combination or ratio of these energies, represented by scores between 0 (none) and 36 (maximum). Although every CVI profile scores sum to be exactly 72, it is the unique combination or relative presence of these energies that make up your personality. Instead of 4 personality types, there are actually tens of millions of different CVI profiles! An example CVI profile might be 27-Innovator, 17-Banker, 15-Builder, and 13-Merchant. This person's profile would commonly be referred to as an Innovator/Banker.

What emotions are represented by the four core value energies?

We use the labels Builder, Merchant, Innovator, and Banker to represent the emotional energies of power, love, wisdom and knowledge, respectively. Each person has a unique combination or ratio of these energies within their psychometric profile, with millions of different combinations.

Does a person's CVI profile develop as they grow up?

Evidence and research shows that a person's CVI profile is highly fixed from an extremely young age. Although experiences shape our personality to a great degree, the way we are psychometrically hardwired, as measured by the CVI, is largely fixed in place at birth.

What is the best resource to learn about the CVI in greater detail?

We recommend two books, both written by the creator of the CVI, Lynn Ellsworth Taylor: Choices, and The Core Values Index Handbook. The Core Values Index Handbook is included with a full CVI at eRep.com. Choices is available as a $19.95 eBook or in paperback format.

What is the minimum age to take the CVI?

Since the CVI asks the individual to choose between groups of words, the minimum appropriate age to take the CVI is limited by the individual's vocabulary. We suggest 13 years or older as a good starting point.

Can the CVI be used by teenagers to find the best career path?

The Core Values Index psychometric assessment is highly appropriate for young people who want to understand how they are hardwired. This provides tremendous insight into what career path would most align with how they are hardwired. We strongly encourage all high school students to take the CVI and review their results with their parents or guidance counselor.

I'm in the middle of my career. Can the CVI help me?

Many adults already established in their career use their CVI profile to better understand where they fit in their professional career. Sometimes it indicates the path they're on is in good alignment with their psychometric profile. Other times they discover a new path might be an appropriate consideration. Either way, the knowledge they gain about themselves and how they are hardwired is invaluable.

What is repeat reliability and how does it apply to the CVI?

One of the best ways to measure the efficacy of a psychometric assessment is to measure its repeat reliability. Simply stated, if you take an assessment today and again in the future, a reliable assessment will yield very similar results regardless of the time lapsed between them. 100% would indicate a perfect repeat reliability rate. In the case of the CVI, it has been determined in longitudinal studies to have the highest repeat reliability rate of any psychometric assessment on the market today, 97.7%. No other psychometric assessment or personality test even comes close.

Are the free CVI and full CVI different assessments?

No. Whether you take the free or full CVI, the assessment is the same, only the amount of information provided afterward is different.

If we implement the CVI within our organization, what training exists to get the most out of it?

An unused tool is a useless tool. We highly recommend all organizations, large and small, schedule a CVI Foundations Course to ensure everyone is firing on all cylinders with the CVI as quickly as possible. This three-part course is as entertaining as it is informative, so your team will be well engaged throughout the sessions. It is the most cost-effective way to get your organization up to speed and using the CVI to maximum effectiveness right away. Visit our Employers section at https://erep.com/employers/ for more details.

Do my CVI results expire? Will I always have access to my CVI?

Your CVI results do not expire, and we don't purge accounts or CVI results after a certain period of time. As long as you have access to the email account you used when you took the CVI assessment, you should always be able to access your CVI report.

Do my CVI results expire? Will I always have access to my CVI?

Your CVI results do not expire, and we don't purge accounts or CVI results after a certain period of time. As long as you have access to the email account you used when you took the CVI assessment, you should always be able to access your CVI report.

Are CVI results based on large amounts of data, similar to how many AIs are trained?

Your CVI results are based solely on your responses to the individual questions presented to you during your assessment using a proprietary algorithm developed through decades of painstaking research. Unlike many AIs using Large Language Models (LLM) and other methodologies, we do not collect and analyze data from other sources in order to produce results. This completely eliminates the "garbage in, garbage out" problems associated with the way many AIs are trained and developed.

Do children inherit their CVI profile from their parents?

We have a great deal of evidence that shows there is no inheritability in the hardwired psychometric profiles between parents and their children. In fact, we've seen families with children raised in the same household possessing entirely different CVI profiles from each other and from their parents.