Several assessments useful in career planning include:  (a) interest, (b) aptitudes and skills, (c) personality, and (d) values.  An interest assessment can help students to identify preferences and discover what they want to do; aptitude tests can predict students' potential for doing the work, a readiness to acquire a given skills, or master a particular subject; personality assessment examines how students make decisions, how they think, how they view the world, and how they deal with others; while values assessment helps students identify their key motivators (high values) and de-motivators (low values) (Kennedy and Larramore, 1993, pp. 107-149). 

When reviewing the results of your assessment battery, it is important to look for patterns.  List your highest and lowest interests and preferred skills.  Identify your highest interests that match your highest preferred skills. 
 

Next look at your personality profile.  Note which are your highest assessed personality traits. 
 

Note which of your highest interests match your personality profile.  For example, the personal health care field is generally associated with caring for others.  A planner would generally gather data before making decisions.  There are no rules on which personality types are a good match in every field; however, certain personality profiles self select on a higher percentage into the field.  For example, a high percentage of dentists are ISTJ personality types.  Though individuals may show strength in certain personality traits, does not mean they can not function successfully using traits in which they are weaker, but it generally means they will have to expend more energy.

Next, look at your highest values.  Consider if these values could be satisfied in the fields matching your highest interests.  For example, individuals who value altruism may enjoy health care fields and those valuing creativity may enjoy fashion design.

If your highest interests and skills show a preference for more than one field, for example, art and medical fields, the values profile may support art if aesthetics and creativity are high values and not altruism and helping others.  If there is still no clear choice, combining the fields may be the answer to identify an occupation fulfilling both sets of values such as music therapist.

Meeting with a counselor trained in career assessment interpretation is important to affirm confirmation of possible occupational options to explore, or to assist in working through counseling issues that the assessment results identify when the results of the multiple measures are not consistent.

Now you are ready to begin identifying specific opportunities which will allow you to use some of your strengths and meet some of your most important needs.  Career Services has many resources available to help you.  Please check with the Career Center counseling staff for more information or materials.

Career Assessment