No Clue What To Do After College? Career Assessment Tests Offer Some Insight

When anyone mentions career assessments, I think of a Friends episode. Chandler hates his job, quits and takes a career aptitude test, only to find out he’s perfectly suited for his former job… But after talking to Debra Ignelzi, a career consultant at Carnegie Mellon University, I’ve realized that career assessments are useful for more than just ironic plot twists. She prefers the term career assessment to aptitude test because it’s less loaded and more accurate. Here’s what I’ve learned from Debra; it’s information to keep in mind if you’re wondering which career path might be right for you. Career assessment tests are offered online and have a series of different questions. These questions seek to reveal personality traits and work patterns that in turn will help formulate career possibilities for you. The two tests outlined here are the most popular, but there are several other types of career assessment tests online.

Types of Tests

The Carnegie Mellon Career Center promotes two different tests, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and the Strong Interest Indicator. Debra explains that these tests can offer a wealth of information and are well researched and based on psychology. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator looks at individual preferences. Debra describes the test as trying to determine handedness; you have a certain preference for one hand or the other, but certainly can use both if needed. Expect questions like: do you prefer to write or speak? Based on your answers, the test places your personality into a bunch of different categories, like feeler vs. thinker or extroverted vs. introverted. These categories combine to provide an assessment of your skills, areas you might need to improve upon, and of course a list of career suggestions! The Strong Interest Inventory relies on many of the same techniques. Rather than placing you in different categories like thinker vs. feeler, the test determines which of six personality traits are most present in you. The six traits are realistic, investigative, artistic, social, enterprising and conventional (ability to organize, etc.). For example, Debra explains that an elementary school teacher will have a high social component but also possesses strong conventional characteristics as well, as she must be outgoing with children and parents as well as be able to organize class activities and trips. Just like the Myers-Briggs test, the Strong Interest Inventory outlines your personal skills; for example, it might tell you that you are a strong leader.

Why Take the Test?

Many students don’t know what they want to major in and can’t even imagine choosing a career. Debra says, “Assessments give you a lens to look through as far as some of things that might be a fit for you. Students in general will report having an ‘a ha’ moment. The test provides students with possibilities.” As the tests lay out your individual traits and several options for jobs, you will not be given one job, i.e., no Chandler moment awaits you. Carnegie Mellon junior Kate Smith enjoyed taking one of the tests. “Although it told me a lot of things that I knew, it confirmed things that I thought I was good at,” says Kate. “It gave me a purpose going through with the career process. It’s an outside, unbiased third factor telling you that you were meant to do something. If you buy into it, I think it is a confidence boost and a confirmation of what you already knew about yourself. Expect a couple helpful hints, a pat on the back, or at least a confirmation that you’re headed in the right direction.” Kate’s results? One career option was a CEO!

Where Should You Take the Test?

Debra recommends taking the test at your college’s career center so a professional can help interpret the results. Sometimes they can become technical and there are often detailed graphs and charts that accompany your results. Most career centers offer assistance for at least one of the tests. If that’s not an option, you can take several different tests online. Visit yourlifespath.com for a jumping off point.

What To Do With the Results?

The test will make several suggestions for you, but more importantly, it will highlight specific characteristics that will help you succeed in a work setting. Ultimately, if you have an idea of what you’d like to do and the test says something completely opposite, don’t abandon your dream! But keep the test’s suggestions as a back-up plan. You might receive results you never expected, so consider your possibilities and go with your gut. Remember, it’s just an assessment! I have taken the Strong Interest Indicator and am waiting on results and a career counselor to help me interpret them! Even though I’m nearly positive about what I want to do, I am excited to see the results. Sources: Debra Ignelzi, Carnegie Mellon Career Advisor Kate Smith, Carnegie Mellon Student http://www.stmarytx.edu/careerservices/photos/random/career%20fair%20image%201.jpg