Testing the Waters: Career Tests that Work for You!Yes, this is an accounting blog so at least you a...

1. Career Tests For Everyone
Testing the Waters: Career Tests that Work for You!
Yes, this is an accounting blog so at least you are pretty clear that you want your career to focus on
accounting. Good start! The English majors don't even know this much yet! ?
Whatever it is that you do, when your personality, abilities, and values align with the organization
which hires you, your chances for workplace happiness are much higher. For instance, a non-
smoking CPA might not be happy working for a tobacco company lobbyist because their values
probably will not align. Similarly, an accountant who is a fan of the Boston Red Sox baseball team
might feel very uncomfortable working for George Steinbrenner of the New York Yankees. The first
step is helping you identify your personality, abilities, and values. For that, the world of on online
career testing comes into view. Why are these tests becoming so popular?
The tests are very accessible, free, and can be done in the privacy of your own computer instead of
entering the office of some neck-tie ninny who will pontificate about your career path. The tests
listed here are free. You can complete the tests quickly: the Princeton test has only 24 questions and
no essay questions. (I can hear your sigh of relief from here.) After you finish, the test not only
makes observations about your personal qualities, but also your career strengths and skills versus
the career options from which you should probably run away in abject horror.
Caveats: 1.Most of the free tests are abbreviated versions of the more extensive (and expensive)
tests. The website's goal is to get you to pay for the more extensive test. This is the land of
capitalism after all. Read carefully before you sign up for any test. 2.The website may try to capture
your data so they can happily inundate your mailbox later. While the test may ask for your name and
address, be alert to any opportunity to opt out of receiving future marketing blurbs. 3.The test may
not necessarily be accurate. If you didn't read the question correctly, your answer may not display
who you really are. If the results don't feel right to you, they probably aren't. On shorter tests, they
may have categorized you where you shouldn't be because they did not have enough data to make a
decent observation. Forget the test and take another one or two or three. Listen to your heart. If the
ideas ring true, great! Learn from the results and let them guide you on your career path. 4.There
are no external standards for these tests. No one has to pass the career counseling version of the
CPA Exam before they post a career test online so there are no quality controls.
For this reason, you may wish to take at least six tests in the hope of getting overlapping/confirming
results. Here is a short list of free online career tests. These represent a good sampling of the tests
which are online.
Similar Minds Free Online Career Tests
Answer 71 questions in approximately 20 minutes. View your sample report. See which job tasks you
prefer and the top 11-20 jobs that suit you. You may wish to follow a link to more research material
where you are offered the chance to purchase a more detailed report. The Princeton Review Career
Quiz This is a shortened version of The Birkman Method. After answering 24 questions, you receive
a description of your interests, skills and preferred style using the Birkman color approach, plus a
list of the careers this points to.
Web Tickle You have to register as a member to take part. This site offers various "Ph.D. certified"

2. tests which offer thought-provoking test questions. Web Tickle's Career Personality Test pinpoints
your workplace strengths and directs you to a profession that best compliments your unique
personality. It is similar to the well known Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Instrument.
Prospects Planner Free Online Career Tests This test, a shortened version of the longer test for
university graduates, helps you clarify your ideas. If you would like to take this test, you'll need to
register. Answer questions about your skills and what you want from a job. The results show what
you might want to do as your career. You don't have to explore all the options at once since you can
return and view the results again on your next visit.
MAPP Assessment - free online career assessment tests This assessment (MAPP stands for
Motivational Appraisal of Personal Potential) is designed to reveal your motivations, interests and
talents for work. You'll need to register with the site first. The free mini-analysis is a sample of the
larger analysis you can purchase and includes five job matches with occupational documentation, a
selection of real job matches and a free resource guide for career changers. (Note: many websites
offering career tests are offering the MAPP assessment.)
iVillage Free Online Career Tests This website for women offers a career evaluation test. Answer 30
questions by selecting one of two options. At the end, you'll receive a list of about 20 career options
and a one page report on your personality and career type.
Careerlink free career online placement tests I admit it: I liked this test because of the cute little
frogs in the sidebar. This site, run by Monterey Peninsula College in California, asks you to respond
to a series of questions by picking one of two options. After working through four pages, you will
receive a list of job categories along with percentage matches to your results. The CAREERLINK
Inventory is designed to match the way you see yourself with available career information from the
United States Department of Labor.