Taking Charge With a Free Career Test

While choosing a career can be interesting and exciting, after awhile it is not uncommon for many wonder if they have chosen the right calling. Everything has its ups and downs in life but when a career gets into a rut, the average individual starts reevaluating his or her decisions. Sometimes the cure for this is the use of a free career test, found either online or at a local career center. By answering the questions truthfully, one may be able to determine if it is a career change that is necessary or if it is just time to take the career in a new direction.

One can find a free career test just about anywhere. The most common venue is of course the internet. These assessments are often simple, easy to navigate and can be part of a career center program. However, it is important to read the small print when taking this type of assessment. Many free career tests are actually devised for entertainment purposes only. Even if the free career test is legitimate, the results should still only be used as a reference, not as a concrete answer to an individual's career question. Those who find themselves wondering if they chose the right career may be comforted by the results. Those looking for a career may finally get the direction they've been looking for.

Sometimes a free career test is just an abbreviated version of a much larger test. While a general summary of the results is often given, to get a more in depth look at the results the test taker is required to sign up to a site or pay a small fee. While a career test is a very valuable tool for choosing a career, it is only part of what's available. Sometimes signing up to a career center website can help further the search by providing helpful career information. One can then explore if the occupations from their free career test offer what they are looking for in the way of daily duties or salary.

Everyone reexamines their career choice from time to time. A free career test can be extremely helpful as it does not require any fees or a great deal of time to complete. For those just beginning their career search, a free career test can still be helpful in getting the ball rolling. Using this type of resource can help prevent the costly mistake of choosing the wrong career. It can also help define if one would be better suited to a different occupation in the same industry.

Become Career Explorers

Teachers and Counselors, Help Your Students Become Career Explorers

As teachers and counselors, you help students explore careers.

You aid your students as they search for meaning, purpose, and direction.

You see their talents.

You know their interests, abilities, and skills.

You help students plan for the future.

You understand students. You know that students -

• Are curious
• Love colorful, multimedia presentations
• Use their senses and imaginations in career exploration

You have searched for tools that will help you unlock their potentials.

Tips for Finding the Right Career Tool

Career tools help your students explore who they really are. Career tools include career tests, assessments, games, web sites, and books. Career tests answer the question "Who am I?" Career assessments point out your students' likes, dislikes, or interests. Kid career tools should be fun, educational, and not boring.

Search for the resource that meets your students' needs. Look at the benefits. Find tests, assessments, games, web sites, and books that are -

• Eye appealing
• Easy to use
• Full of resources

With the right resource, students are ready and willing to -

• Explore
• Investigate
• Learn
• Ask questions
• Enjoy discovering who they are
• Gain knowledge, wisdom, and understanding

An effective career tool motivates your students to explore careers. Creative career tools build a foundation for more detailed career exploration.

Step One: Select a Career Test

How do you choose the right career test? Look at 3 major areas -

• Format, e.g. Printed, CD-ROM, or on-line
• Cost -$10, $12, $15, $20 or more
• Resources - Information on interests, skills, and careers

When you look at a career test, ask yourself the following questions -

• What do your students prefer? Printed or on-line career test?
• What is your budget for the tests?
• What resources do you have? Do you have a computer lab?

Find career tests that your students are interested in and that provide valuable information about careers and your student's interests. Look at career tests that use well-known career models. Match students' interest clusters to career or job codes. Use newer color-coded career tests that simply career models. The use of colors improves attention span, concentration, memory skills, and understanding. As students grow older, continue to use career models expand their knowledge of careers and college majors. There are a variety of career tests for youth, college students, and adults.

Step Two: Explore Career Web Sites and Books

Career tests prepare students to explore careers. Gather information about fun, informative, and attractive career exploration web sites and books. Look for web sites and books that provide career information about -

• Tasks
• Wages
• Career outlook
• Interests
• Education
• Knowledge
• Skills
• Similar careers

Examples of kid career exploration web sites and books are -

• Career Ship
• What Do You Like
• Eek! Get a Job
• GetTech.org
• LifeWorks
• Young Person's Occupational Outlook Handbook
• Career Ideas for Kids Book Series
• I Want To Be Book Series

Career exploration is a process. As teachers and counselors, use resources that make your journey enjoyable, educational, and effective. Plan successful kid career exploration expeditions.