Career Tests

Can’t I just take a test to figure this all out? 

While there are many tests available, they will not give you a magic answer.  However, they will give you a starting point to begin your career exploration.  The test results will provide you with suggestions of work areas and specific occupations that have potential for success and enjoyment based on your interests or personality.

Strong Interest Inventory (SII)

This test looks at career choice in terms of your interests.  It is based on John Holland’s theory that people search for environments that match their skills, abilities, attitudes, and values.  Your results can help you identify general areas of interest and occupations that you might want to explore further.  In addition, it compares your interests with those of people working in over 109 occupations.  This is a pencil-paper test that you take at home and return to the office.  It then needs to be mailed in for scoring.  It usually takes 1-2 weeks to get the results back at which point you will schedule a one hour appointment with a career counselor to review the results.

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)

This test looks at career choice in terms of your personality.  It was developed by Katharine C. Briggs and Isabel Briggs Myers based on the work of psychologist Carl Gustav Jung.  Your type is composed of your preference in 4 areas.  There are 16 possible combinations of the MBTI preference, leading to 16 different patterns of personality.  In addition to career planning, the MBTI is also used in team building, conflict resolution, and learning styles.  The MBTI is a paper-pencil test that you take at home and return to the office to be scored.  It usually takes 1-2 days for a counselor to score the test.  At this point, you would schedule a one hour appointment to review the results. 

Skill Scan

This test looks at career choice in terms of your skills.  There are 64 cards in the deck that you will sort in order to determine both your level of competence and your preference.  This will help you determine what skills you enjoy the most and that you would like to play a major role in your work.  In addition, it will help develop a list of skills to highlight in your resume and at job interviews.  This is a card sort that you will take in the office.  It requires an hour appointment to take the test and begin to interpret the results.  Follow up appointments are often recommended.

To learn more or to take a career testing contact the Office of Career Services