Using Career Quizzes to Narrow the Search
Jun 20th, 2011 | By Editor | Category: Career AdviceIf you’re struggling to decide on a career path, career quizzes can be a useful and fun way to begin. Even if quizzes don’t lead directly to a quick decision, they can help you get to know both your aptitudes and your needs in a job.
What Are You Into?
Most people have a good idea of their general interests, but lack the variety of experience they need to identify their ideal working conditions. Career quizzes give you a good idea or whether you prefer things like lots of interaction with people, a dynamic work environment, quiet time for solo work, or a certain level of structure.
You can find lots of different types of work in just about any field. Almost all fields have careers that require different kinds of activity. Think of it this way: a writer could write novels alone or rush around a busy city reporting on the news. One line of work requires longs periods of intense focus and solitude, while the other calls for endless energy and constant interaction with strangers. A reporter and a novelist both write, but have drastically different working styles. If you can find the one that works best for you with career quizzes, you’ll have a much greater chance of success.
What They’ll Tell You
Career quizzes can help you figure out what activities you would most enjoy, and why you prefer them over others. Both aptitude and personality tests together will give you a pretty clear picture of what you want in a job. The help us get a clear idea of our strengths or our interests. Use several different kinds of tests to get the best-rounded portrait of yourself that you can.
Where to Find Them
There are lots of self-assessment tools in career-related and job-hunting books, and even more on the Internet for your specific career. Quizzes aren’t enough in isolation, though–they cannot take the place of talking things out with experts like university advisors and career consultants. It’s also very helpful to discuss your career decision with friends and family who know you well and can point the traits and skills that they observe in you. Everyone is susceptible to discounting their own strengths (and weaknesses!), and other people often have a clearer view of the possibilities available and risks involved. Don’t let anyone discourage you unnecessarily, though–sometimes, you’re your own best judge. Tools like career quizzes can help you be your own objective observer.
Other Uses
Another use for career quizzes is helping you determine problem areas or ways you might improve your work habits. If you’re changing careers, keep in mind that the change you’re looking for is probably very specific–don’t let aspects you don’t enjoy follow you into your next venture.
Tests and quizzes may or may not lead directly to a new job or career, but they are a good way to start you thinking. Career quizzes can be a lot of fun and potentially life-changing–stay open to surprising results!
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