Start Fresh With the Help of Career Assessments
cbjen | Nov 13, 2008 | Comments 0
In today’s challenging economy, many job seekers are looking for reliable work with solid industries, or looking to change careers altogether. Getting and keeping the job that will take you and your family successfully into the next chapter of your lives hinges on discovering the best career match for your talents and passions. As you begin your search, let a career assessment help light your path
Career testing is designed to guide you to the right job for your individual talents, tendencies, and preferences. In order to achieve this result, not all assessments measure the same things. Some assessments measure your personality type, some attempt to identify your interests, and others rely on skill surveys. These factors are then matched with common occupations or employment sectors. While not all tests may lead you to your ultimate career, they can provide valuable information about the way you interact with others and why you may or may not have been successful in particular jobs.
Consider carefully before choosing a career assessment, and try to look at the information objectively. Although online testing has become very popular and can be extremely useful, not all career tests are intended to be self-administered. In many circumstances, it may be to the job seeker’s benefit to consult a professional career counselor for assistance, or take assessment results to a counselor for evaluation.
If you do decide to take a self-administered online test, use the information provided wisely. The assessment should describe you. If your result sounds like a complete stranger, you may choose to start over or consult another test.
Interest Inventories
The most well-known interest-based assessment. The Strong Interest Inventory is not intended to be taken without the help of an experienced career counselor. Available for a fee.
Matches people with the same or similar interests to similar work environments. Available free online (requires a printer) for self-directed assessment.
Personality Inventories
Myers-Briggs Personality Inventory (MBTI)
A personality test which identifies your 4-letter personality type out of 16 possible combinations, which can then be matched up with jobs most compatible with that personality type. The MBTI foundation recommends administration of this test through consultation with a professional, or through their own site. However, there are many sites which administer tests with the same or similar methodology at no cost, for example, the Jung Typology Test. Keep in mind that professional assistance is recommended.
Skills Assessments
Match a list of your skills to the Occupational Information Network’s exhaustive list of occupations.
From CareerOnestop. Select your desired job and identify needed skills, or start with your skills profile and identify matching jobs.
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