Charting a New Career Course: Assessments to Find Your Perfect Fit
Considering a career change can be a significant decision. It’s not merely about switching jobs; it’s about finding a new path that aligns with your evolving interests, values, skills, and personality. Thankfully, several assessments can guide you in making a well-informed choice.
- Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI): This is one of the world’s most widely used psychological assessments. It’s based on Carl Jung’s theory of psychological types and can give you insights into your personality traits and how they can affect your career choices.
- Strong Interest Inventory (SII): This assessment helps you understand your interests in a broad range of occupations, work activities, leisure activities, and school subjects. It’s based on the theory that individuals are more satisfied and productive when they work in jobs or at tasks that they find interesting and when they work with people with similar interests.
- Holland Code (RIASEC) Test: This test is based on Dr. John Holland’s theory of career choice and helps you understand where your interests lie and which types of careers you might enjoy.
- CliftonStrengths (Formerly StrengthsFinder): This assessment focuses on identifying your natural talents to leverage them into strengths, helping you discover what you naturally do best.
- Career Values Scale: This assessment helps you understand your work-related values, an essential part of job satisfaction and career success.
- Self-Directed Search (SDS): This career interest test allows you to explore careers that match your personality and interests. It’s based on John Holland’s RIASEC theory (Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional).
These assessments are tools intended to guide you toward understanding more about yourself and what you may enjoy or excel at in a new career. They are not designed to make definitive decisions but to inform your decision-making process. As you contemplate a career change, consider your own insights and experiences, as well as factors like the current job market and your personal life situation.