So you’re trying to determine which career is best for you. You consider the areas in which you have expertise. You think about the things you like to do, and the things you can see yourself doing a lot more often. Have you ever thought about your personality, and how that might impact your career search? Maybe you have thought about becoming a pilot, but feel a bit nervous about making high impact decisions. Maybe you have thought about a career in teaching, but don’t really like children that much. Personality tests can help you to narrow your search by providing you with a framework of careers that may be a good match for you.

Working with a career counselor, they can help you to assess your personality to determine your values, interests, and specific skills. This can help you to examine your ability to be successful in a particular occupation or career. Many tests are available and can be performed either by yourself, a career counselor, or by a potential employer to measure intelligence, aptitude, personality style, skills, and ability to ultimately be successful in that particular field of work.

Aptitude Tests – These tests measure your ability to do a certain job, or the likelihood that you can acquire the skills to do that kind of work. Employers often use these kinds of tests to narrow their search down from a large group to a “short-list” of individuals who appear better able to pick up the skills required. These tests can also be done with a career counselor to determine if you would theoretically be able to be successful in a career you are considering.

Intelligence Tests – These are often known as IQ tests, but do not have to be used in the traditional sense of the word. These tests are used to measure a person’s intellectual capacity, and although this may not directly relate to a specific career match, it can help to narrow the field to a more academic or intellectual one. Some jobs may match better with individuals who have a high intelligence, and some others may prefer an individual with a lower IQ.

Inventories – These tests are used to measure how your interests match the interests of other people employed in particular fields. You are asked to rank certain statements based on how much they do or do not relate to you individually. Your specific rankings are then compared to the ranking of others in certain jobs, and you can be assessed for suitability in that job. This can also help to narrow down your job search to areas that would be a reasonable match for you.

Career Tests – These tests can be used to assess which career path would be a good match for you. Your own individual likes and dislikes and your specific personal attributes can group you into a category that may be best suited for the service industry, health care, aviation, etc. These tests group your responses to provide the best matches for your specific tastes.

Personality Tests – These are often done with counselors to help measure your emotional makeup and personal stability. These help to determine how you might interact with others in the job field, and assist in choosing a field that would work best with your particular personality.

Choosing a career is a big step, and can have a huge and lasting impact on your life. To ensure that you are making the right choice, enlist the assistance of a career counselor. These individuals can help you to assess your own personal skills and interests to help you find a career that matches your personality perfectly.


RDG Careers - Job Search Helpful Tips Part 1
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