10 Awesome Free Career Self-Assessment Tools on the Internet
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“Only as you do know yourself can your brain serve you as a sharp and efficient tool. Know your own failings, passions, and prejudices so you can separate them from what you see.” – Bernard Baruch
You can’t succeed in life if you don’t know who you are. You’ll never be fulfilled in your career if you don’t know what career really gets you up in the morning and what values drive you. Self-assessment is important because it can help you feel more content when others assess you.
It might seem odd to think self-assessment matters for your career but it is one of the most important things. It helps you know what your skills are and which kind of jobs they align with. It guarantees you know where your interests are to ensure you end up in an industry you’re passionate about.
It also ensures you are aware of your values and your characteristics – you know what kind of work culture and environment would help you thrive.
So, if you are looking to enjoy your career more, you want to go on a path of self-assessment. The good news is that it isn’t even difficult – here are five career self-assessment tools you can find online and use them free.
THE LIFE VALUES SELF-ASSESSMENT TEST
What is it?
The Life Values Assessment Test (LVAT) is a great tool examining your personal priorities in life. With the test, you will notice which core values matter the most to you at this point in time – are you looking for work satisfaction, personal growth or better finances? It forces you to compare different life values to get a sense of what you are expecting from life right now and in the future.
How to use it?
You can access the test at https://www.whatsnext.com/life-values-self-assessment-test/.
You will need to subscribe to the email list. However, you can always unsubscribe later with a click of a button if you want to.
The LVAT test itself will ask you to compare 11 life values which each other to find out what you value the most. You will be faced with 55-paired comparisons and the test shouldn’t take more than 15 minutes to complete. If you are unsure about what the specific value means, you can click the question mark symbol on the value card to receive more information.
You can go back to change your answers if you want, although you don’t want to take forever thinking about your answers. The site actually recommends taking it a second time in a few days to see if thinking about the values has changed your answers.
When to use it?
This is great for people of all ages and career paths. The test will make you think about your core values, including what your career means to you. This will help you think if your current career is in line with your values or if you’d like to do something to change it.
Perhaps you’re in a progression-oriented role right now but you’re actually not that into progressing in your career or vice versa. The test will help you understand what your career means to you and therefore, make it easier to find the right career to fit your goals.
WHAT CAREER IS RIGHT FOR ME?
What is it?
What Career is Right for Me is exactly what the name suggests. A test to figure out which career might be the right one for you based on four different components. The test will look at your skills, interests, style and values and determines which different professions match these choices.
How to use it?
You can access the test at https://www.whatcareerisrightforme.com/.
The test is a 4-step process and you don’t need to sign up or subscribe to anything in order to take it. You will need to answer statements based on those four different areas:
- What kind of skills you have? Including skills such as logic, communication and physical skills.
- What are your interests? Including areas such as computers, law and culinary subjects.
- What kind of work style do you prefer? Including things like achievement, cooperation and self-control.
- What are your core values? Including things you value, such as support, independence and recognition.
You will be presented with these statements and topic matters and you then have to rank their meaning from no value to high value. The test is rather straightforward and short – you shouldn’t need to spend more than 15 minutes on it.
When to use it?
The test is best for those not yet at school or those who have just graduated. You can use it to figure out what subjects you should study to get in your most suited career. If you’re out of university, the test can be a good way to figure out where to direct your job hunt – you might find out your skills match a career you didn’t even think about before.
Of course, if you’re feeling lost in your current job and you don’t think it’s the right for you, the test can help see what kind of career path might be more suited for you.
MAPP TEST
What is it?
MAPP is a hugely popular personality and career type test with over 8 million customers. The acronym stands for Motivational, Appraisal or Personal Potential and it is designed to test which career path is the right for you based on your skills and personality.
How to use it?
You can find the test online at https://www.assessment.com/.
The test takes around 20 minutes to complete and you will need to register in order to access the test. You can register manually or use one of your social media accounts – Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and Microsoft account – to sign up.
Now, the MAPP test is not actually a free test. However, you can receive five top career matches free when you do the test. If you want more comprehensive results, you will need to make a one-off payment. So, it’s really up to you how much information you’d like to receive.
As mentioned, the test takes around 20 minutes to complete. During the test, you’ll be presented with 71 different questions and you will need to say whether you like or dislike those statements or activities. You shouldn’t spend too much time thinking about the answers – the intuitive answers are often the most accurate.
When to use it?
The comprehensive paid results are definitely good for anyone unsure about their current career path. It’s also a good tool for students – especially the free option of receiving five recommended career profiles. If you don’t know what kinds of roles suit you and what you want from your job, the MAPP test is definitely worth considering.
KEIRSEY TEMPERAMENT SORTER
What is it?
The Keirsey Temperament Sorter is one of the most popular self-assessment tools in the world. The personality test is widely in use and its aim is to divide people into four temperament groups:
- Guarding
- Idealist
- Rational
- Artisan
These can then be further divided into four subcategories:
Artisan |
Guardian | Rational |
Idealist |
Promoter (ESTP) | Supervisor (ESTJ) | Fieldmarshal (ENTJ) | Teacher (ENFJ) |
Crafter (ISTP) | Inspector (ISTJ) | Mastermind (INTJ) | Counselor (INFJ) |
Performer (ESFP) | Provider (ESFJ) | Inventor (ENTP) | Champion (ENFP) |
Composer (ISFP) | Protector ISFJ) | Architect (INTP) | Healer (INFP) |
How to use it?
The test is available at https://www.keirsey.com/sorter/register.aspx.
You will need to provide an email address at the end of the study in order to access your results. However, you can then use this User ID to access the results at any time you want.
The test itself is a compilation of 70 statements that give you two options for an answer. You will have to pick between these two options – they are mostly behavioral questions. You’ll need to pick the one you’re more comfortable with, even if both answers seem to apply.
Once you’re done answering the questions, you’ll receive your ‘score’ and personality type. You’ll also get to explore the personality type in-depth. Now, the test can take anything from 15 minutes to 30 minutes, depending on how hard it is for you to pick the right option. Don’t spend too much time analyzing the answers but go with your intuition.
When to use it?
The self-assessment tool is perfect for people in different stages of their life. It can help you understand what kind of personality you are and therefore, could make it easier to:
- Pick the right career path
- Make adjustments in your current career path
- Help you perform better at your job
You learn valuable information about how you perform, how you respond to things and what kind of leader you are – these are all valuable skills that can help you perform better at work, as well as find what sort of roles are the right fit for you.
CAREERFITTER
What is it?
CareerFitter has a comprehensive career test that will provide you with a full career profile. The profile includes information regarding:
- Careers that fit your personality, interests and skills.
- Your work personality.
- Your strengths at work.
- Your preferred management style.
So, not only do you learn more about what kinds of career paths might be right for you, you’ll also learn the kind of work environment and culture that suit you the best.
How to use it?
You can find the test online at https://www.careerfitter.com/.
Now, you can find a free test on the website, which is comprehensive enough to give you a good indication over your preferred careers. However, if you want a more comprehensive look at what kind of career path and work environment you are most suited for, you can also take a paid test. This is a one-off payment of around $12.
The free – and the paid – test has 60 questions with two statement answers as your options. You will have to select the statement that best fits your values, interests and skills.
You shouldn’t take too long answering the questions – you’ll probably complete the test within 15 to 30 minutes. In the end, you’ll get to view your results and suggestions on your most suited career path.
When to use it?
The CareerFitter test is great for anyone looking to learn more about which type of jobs might be the most suited for them. But the test doesn’t just provide you with a list of suitable career options; you’ll also learn more about the kind of employee you are and what kind of work environment best suits you. Therefore, it’s a great tool for understanding your preferred company culture.
PROSPECTS PLANNER
What is it?
The Prospects Planner is a basic career test that will identify your current skills and interests. It will compare these skills and interests with different career profiles and provide you with a list of suitable career paths.
How to use it?
You can take the test at https://www.prospects.ac.uk/planner.
In order to take the test, you must register with the website. You can sign up to an email newsletter if you want but this isn’t mandatory. You can also change your preferences later.
The test itself is a straightforward questionnaire about your skills and interests. You will be evaluating different statements that will help the test match you with the best jobs based on your answers. This super quick test only takes around five minutes to complete. After, you’ll have a list of suitable job profiles matching your skills and personality.
When to use it?
This is a perfect self-assessment for those still studying or about to venture into university. It will help you understand what kind of roles are available for your skill set and understand more about your personality in terms of different job profiles. The job profiles itself can be helpful in determining whether you’d like to work in a specific field or not – a great source for understanding what different roles entail.
myIDP
What is it?
MyIDP (Individual Development Plan) is the most particular career self-assessment tool on this list. However, if you happen to work in academia or you are pursuing a PhD, this test is definitely worth taking.
It’s focused on examining your skills and personality in terms of what kind of scientific career path would be right for you. Furthermore, it doesn’t just test you but provides you with a development plan for achieving career goals and staying on the right path.
How to use it?
You can find the test online at http://myidp.sciencecareers.org/.
You will need to sign up for the service but there is no cost for registering or taking the test. Aside from the handy little test, you can also find plenty of resources for sticking to your career path and improving your skill set.
The process will include four steps and you should take as much time as you need to complete each step. You’ll first need to evaluate your own skills, values and interests by answering certain questions. This is the self-assessment part and the most important part of the process.
After, you’ll be able to view different career opportunities based on your answers. You can choose your preferred career, with the third step being about identifying the goals you need to achieve in order to follow down the chosen career path. The final step is about executing these goals.
When to use it?
Since the test is such a scientifically-focused test, it is only suited for those who already have an interest in the scientific fields and who are pursuing a PhD degree (or have just received it).
If you are in a science field but you don’t quite know what to do next, the test will help you identify the career paths that might suit you the most. It’s also a great tool for those looking to set career goals.
HOLLAND CODE
What is it?
The Holland Code is a theory of careers and vocational choice based on the theories outlines by John L. Holland. The test is also referred to as the Holland Occupational Themes or RIASEC. It’s essentially a personality test that focuses on career choice and it will group you into one of six occupational categories.
How to use it?
You can find a test based on the Holland Code here at https://www.truity.com/test/holland-code-career-test.
You will be presented with different activities and you need to decide whether you like them or not – you can also choose neutral. The idea of the test is not to base your answers on whether you are good at doing the particular activity or whether you think it would make a lot of money. You are simply answering whether you like doing something or not.
The test is divided into six pages with around 16 activities on each page. These are based on activities in those six different categories in the following way:
- Realistic – including activities such as building, working outdoors and fixing things.
- Investigative – including activities such as thinking, researching and experimenting.
- Artistic – including activities such as creating, designing and expressing things.
- Social – including activities such as helping, teaching and encouraging.
- Enterprising – including activities such as persuading, leading and selling.
- Conventional – including activities such as organizing, categorizing and recording.
By the end, you’ll receive information on the primary career interest area and a list of different jobs that fall under this category. You will also be able to see how you ranked in the other five areas and what jobs are a part of those categories.
You can register at the end of the test in order to save your test results. However, you can view the results without registering – you just won’t be able to come back to them later.
The test itself won’t take much longer than 15 minutes to complete.
When to use it?
The Holland Code is great for new graduates or people pondering their career path. It is a useful tool for understanding what kind of work you enjoy doing and what kind of work appeals to you the most. It’s a good indication of the kind of career path that might best suit you.
MY NEXT MOVE
What is it?
The My Next Move platform has a career test that examines your interests and analyses how they relate to the different fields of work. You will be rating different tasks and you’ll receive suggestions on the kinds of career paths and roles you might enjoy doing.
The test is done in collaboration with the US Department of Labor. It’s developed by the National Center for O*NET Development.
How to use it?
You find the test here: https://www.mynextmove.org/explore/ip.
The test will have 60 questions about work activities. You will need to rank your dislike and like accordingly. The test will take around 15 to 30 minutes, depending on your speed.
Again, it’s important to not think about your actual ability to perform the specific task. The purpose is to see what your interests are rather than determining what you are already good at doing. By the end of the test, you’ll see yourself placed in different job zones and a list of career options suited for you.
The website recommends doing the test again in a few days to see if your interests have varied.
When to use it?
If you are curious about the kind of jobs you’d actually like doing instead of being good at, the test can be a revelation. It is good at helping you understand more where your motivation is when it comes to work – if you’re struggling in your current career or you don’t know what you’d want to do, the test can help you figure out where your true interests are.
SOKANU
What is it?
Sokanu has a career test that will test four different dimensions to find the perfect career match for you. The four different areas measure your interests, personality, workplace preferences and your career history and goals.
It will match your personality with career models taken from job sites and industry brochures providing you with the most suited career match.
How to use it?
You can find the career test here at https://www.sokanu.com/career-test/.
You need to register in order to get access to the career test. You can also sign up with your Facebook account. The registration and the test are free.
During the test, you will focus on answering questions based on the four components of:
- History and goals – including things like your work experience, your salary expectations and where you live.
- Workplace – including things like whether you enjoy working in an office environment or if you prefer working outdoors.
- Personality – including things like what kind of attitudes you have towards cooperation and leadership.
- Interests – including things like which careers and subjects you find interesting.
After completing one component, you will unlock another component. The test will take around 20 minutes to complete, although it is possible to view preliminary results as you keep progressing on the test.
When to use it?
If you are not quite sure whether your current career path is the right one or you want to get a comprehensive idea of what career path might be suitable for you, the test is a good option.
It looks at career matching a little differently to the other tests on the list so it can be a good tool to figuring out what kind of jobs actually fit your personality.
USING CAREER SELF-ASSESSMENT TOOLS ONLINE
If you are in the midst of starting your studies or just about to finish them, entering the workforce, you should use the above tools to find out more about your dream career. You should also test yourself if you are struggling in your current profession, not knowing what you want from life.
These tools can help you understand your skills, interests and characteristic better and help you find a career path that’s more fulfilling and rewarding.
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