How to Choose a Career Path Test

A good career path test will make you reflect on your personal qualities.

Choosing a career may be one of the most difficult decisions you ever make. Many people feel they need some outside, unbiased advice as they decide what to do with their lives. There's no shortage of career tests that claim to be able to reveal your ideal path in life, but it can be hard to determine who's giving the best advice.

Instructions

1. Set a budget for how much you want to spend on your career test. You will find literally hundreds of free "check the box"-type tests on the Internet; you can spend $100 or so on a webinar-style online assessment session; or you can lay out up to $1,000 personally attending a seminar with a tailored test and a series of career counseling sessions.

2. Find out who devised the test you're considering, and ascertain his experience and credentials. Any reputable testing organization should be able to explain how their test was put together, and the accreditations they hold, as well as provide biographical information on their senior staff.

3. Ask how long it will take to complete the test, and what areas it will cover. If it can be completed in five minutes the test is not covering anything in depth, and is unlikely to yield very scientific results.

4. Pick a test that will consider both your interests and your aptitudes. Some tests focus only on what you want to do, and not what your skills are; others may look more closely at your skills, but ignore what you want to get out of a job. Ideally a test will balance the two.

5. Sign up for a test that matches your career stage. Some tests are tailored specifically for college graduates or new entrants to the job market; others are more helpful for candidates looking to switch careers later in life.

Tips & Warnings

• Take the results of any career test with a grain of salt. Remember that you're the person who knows you best, so if the recommended career paths don't fit with your gut instinct, you should consider another test.

• Before you actually lay out cash for a career path test be sure to check out the bona fides of the company you are considering. Several states have warned of bogus career counseling services that are taking advantage of the unemployed by charging high upfront fees, but failing to deliver services.

References

• College Surfing: Should I Take a Career Aptitude Test
• Degree Directory: How Important is Taking a Career Placement Test
• Arizona Attorney General: Be Wary of Fake Employment Offers