Dear B,
Well - interviewing for mid management and above changes the game completely - doesn't it!
It brings in a lot more variables, metrics - quantitative and qualitative - as well as a lot more F2F time.
In this context, my view is that regardless whether the personality assessment is conducted online or F2F, it MUST be a test whose purpose is clearly understood.
What I mean is that some tests are designed to test a person's personality fit within an organisation but not their competency fit and vice-versa.
Ideally, for a mid mgt candidate, the employer would want to get a snug fit for both - personality and competency - for obvious reasons. The former to ensure a cultural fit and cultural leadership (moving forward) and the latter to ensure deliverables are met within established framework and constraints. Also, some tests are designed to compare scores of competing candidates, whilst others only offer a subjective (individual-centric) assessment for a particular role.
With this in mind, my suggestion is to DEFINITELY opt for an established and reputable assessment that is backed up by a qualified interpretor. After all, getting the test data is only 15% of the game. The remaining 85% is making sense of it and applying it within the context of the task at hand within the broader organisational context.
Like everything else on the internet, there are a number of free or minimal charge personality tests available online that many organisations self-administer.
In my view this is playing with fire. While it may seem like an upfront cost-saving measure and keep certain employers' egos inflated, the mid to long term ramifications of such self-conducted assessments are next to disastrous. Especially for mid management and above positions.
After all, they are going to steer the ship, order the sails up or down, and turn into or away from cross-winds and cross-currents.
It just makes more sense to invest as much as possible into ensuring that the best skipper is behind the wheel rather than one who appears to be the best.
I hope this helped you! All the Best!