Deciding on the right career can be a formidable challenge. Today, there are so many career choices and it is difficult to know the one for which you are best suited. One way to identify possible career options is to take tests to learn more about your skills and job-related personality traits. Career testing is a way to help you explore your strengths and abilities that may help you excel in certain lines of work. Test results can shed new light on traits you may not be able to see on your own.
Step 1
Explore the available types of tests to learn more about your personality, job skills and interests. According to the website Employment Spot, personality tests, including the Myers Briggs Type Indicator, Keirsey Temperament Sorter and the Motivational Appraisal of Personal Potential test may help you identify possible career choices based on your personality type. Many online job search boards also provide various quizzes and career assessment tools that can help you recognize job-related aptitudes and traits.
Step 2
Locate places and websites that administer career and personality tests. If you are a college student, check with the careers services center on your campus for free or low-cost career testing. Look for local job search workshops that include career assessments for participants. Many career tests are available for free on the internet. Other tests have a fee that can include expert interpretation of results.
Step 3
Keep an open mind while taking tests. Schedule testing at a time you know you will be mentally alert. If you decide to take several tests, spread them out over a few days. Answer questions truthfully and honestly, without worrying about how your answer will influence the test results.
Step 4
Compare the results from the assessments. Look for common themes across different tests that affirm findings. If some results seem to contradict one another, think about which results you or close friends believe are the most accurate.
Step 5
Use what you have learned from the tests to explore career options. Learn more about possible occupations with tools, such as the Career Guide to Industries and the Occupational Outlook Handbook provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Step 6
Create or revise your resume to highlight the skills and aptitudes the tests reveal you have that relate to the career you wish to explore. Submit your resume with a cover letter to companies that offer the type of position you are seeking. Look for posted job openings in the employment classifieds and online job search boards.
Tips and Warnings
- Do not be discouraged if test results show you are not suited for the career you want to pursue. You should not abandon your career goals solely on the outcome of a career test. Look at the career assessment as a tool to learn more about yourself and gain a different perspective on your natural strengths.
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