One of the most unrealistic aspects of capitalism is the idea that you should know what career path you want to commit to for the rest of your life by 18 years. Most of the time it is not the actual workload that causes matriculants the most stress – it is all the life-altering decisions that have to be made by them. There is a need to acknowledge that most 18-year-olds really do not know what they want to do for the rest of their lives and the expectation that they should is quite impractical.
The harsh reality is that, due to a lack of career advice and counsel, most people are still asking themselves what they would like to be “when they grow up” years after finishing high school. We would hate this to be you, so we have put together some career aptitude tests that offer some guidance for which career would be best suited to your personality, interests, and skills.
Career Aptitude Tests:
These tests are designed to guide you into which careers you should consider, based on your motivations, personality traits, interests, strengths, emotional intelligence, and skills. Career Aptitude Tests consider other factors to jobs such as which work environments you would thrive in. In order to generate the most accurate results for you, the tests require honesty and a certain level of self-awareness.
123test:
This aptitude test consists of fifteen pictures that display specific work activities. It requires you to choose the work activities best suited for you. The aim is to generate career suggestions based on the answers you give. Please visit www.123test.com/career-test/ for more information or to even take the test.
Career Values Test:
This test offers the user “cards” with statements about different aspects of work. It requires you to read and rank the cards into groups based on how important the statement in each card is to you and your ideal job.
Career Cluster Interest Survey:
Based on the activities you enjoy, Career Cluster generates groups of careers that might appeal the most to you. You are advised to stay true to yourself and not choose your answers based on which activities will make you the most money. Please visit www.careerwise.minnstate.edu/careers/clusterSurvey for more information or to take the test.
Holland Code Career Test:
This quiz uses the Holland Code scientific model to show you which jobs are compatible with your interests, talents, and aptitude. The test shows you activities and requires you to rate your interests in each activity shown. Please visit www.123test.com/holland-codes-career-tests/ for more information or to take the test.
Big Five Personality Test:
This Personality Test consists of fifty statements which you are required to rate based on how true they are about you. It takes about 3 – 8 minutes to complete and the aim is to identify which learning styles and work preferences might work best for you. Please visit www.bigfive-test.com/ for more information or to take the test.
iPQ Career Planner:
This app works like a career coach to help you identify your ideal career path. The app requires you to answer fifty-two assessment questions that check your strengths and weaknesses. This test is used by 90% of the world’s biggest companies.
School counsellors:
You do not always have to have all the answers – there are older, more qualified people who understand the job market better than you. If your school does not have school counsellors, you can seek some direction from one of your teachers or family members.
Conclusion:
Understanding yourself is a very significant part of planning your career. Aptitude tests encourage self-awareness and introspection, which might allow you to understand what exactly draws you to a certain career path.
Despite these tests, be open to change. As people we are constantly developing, and the truth is – what interests you today might be completely different from what might have interested you five years ago. A lot hinges on the career decisions you make or made as a teenager and because you know very little about yourself at that stage of your life, it is important to give yourself grace while making these difficult decisions.
Luckily these free aptitude tests might just be the guidance you need.