Feeling Lost? Take an Aptitude Test
Jolene Pilgrim
Is your current job leaving you feeling like a square block trying to fit into a round peg hole? Do you find yourself spinning your wheels on a daily basis in your current position? Or maybe you just feel underappreciated or like despite your best efforts you still haven’t made advancement in your current job position.
If these feelings sound familiar, chances are you’ve considered that you may be in the wrong career field or position. This determination, however, is the easy part of the equation. The harder aspect for those who are feeling lost in their job or career is determining just what is the best alternative path that fits both their skills and personal ambition and desires.
Enter the aptitude test as a valuable tool for helping increase job and career satisfaction for workers in need of a change of scenery. The various tests on the market use every day questions and scientific and social analytics to help identify core personality traits and values. These can then be applied to common traits of various jobs or industries to help find just the right fit for your particular needs. Intrigued? Read on! We break down the most popular aptitude tests out there today and weigh the pros and minuses that’ll help you figure out just the right equation for work/life happiness.
What Color Is Your Parachute?
If you’ve spent any time online or perusing social media, you’ve probably come across dozens of personality tests. While the “what is your inner spirit animal” quiz probably won’t go far in helping you pick your ideal career path, there are numerous science and research based resources with long standing track record that may provide real help.
The book, What Color is Your Parachute, has been in publication continuously for decades. Updated annually, this well written and researched resource breaks down essential personality characteristics to help job seekers and those looking to excel in their current careers develop proven strategies for finding work satisfaction and happiness. An initial personality assessment through self-quizzing is followed up by a variety of personalized recommendations and approaches. In addition to the book, an online course is also offered for those looking more in-depth analysis or interactive features.
Myers Briggs Personality Types
Perhaps one of the most well-known and longest established tests of the personality persuasion, the Myers Briggs has been analyzing your innermost workings since the early 1900’s. Developed by an experienced psychologist, the test is regularly updated to account for modern trends and developments in social and personal interactions. Myers Briggs focuses less on individual traits, instead grouping people into one of 16 basic personality types based on four main personality traits, their presence or lack, and the various combinations they may form. The Myers Briggs website and various resources from supporting companies and services may provide helpful insight into not only your inner motivations but just what careers or job tasks can help keep you fully satisfied with your work.
CareerOneStop.org
While the other resources on our list of personality tests may require you to shell out a few clams to delve into the depths of your job aptitude, the U.S. Department of Labor has a totally free service available for those looking for an initial overview. CareerOneStop.org not only lists a variety of positions, including open government positions, it also offers a handy “Interest Assessment” feature where you can answer a few straightforward prompts and questions for instant feedback on potential careers that may be up your alley. While not quite as in depth as the other sites, if you’re on the job hunt and short of funds this easy to access resources is a great place to start on your road to job self-discovery.
While we’ve listed a few of the most commonly used personality assessment sites, feel free to break the mold and take a DIY approach using the numerous resources available online and in print. Industry publications, chat groups and homepages often provide in depth reviews of various job positions, including the types of people that tend to excel in their roles. Don’t forget that mother know’s best, either. Quizzing friends or family over what they see in your personality or as a career field that may be a great fit is an excellent way to get a fresh perspective if you find yourself in a rut. Whatever route you take, as in most areas of life, a little self-examination will go a long way towards your individual and career growth and towards helping you find long term happiness in the work world.
Article Updated from Original on August 26, 2017
