It’s much easier to do a job you’re good at. But how do you know what career matches your strengths if you don’t even know what strengths you have, let alone how they’ll match up in the workplace? We made a career aptitude test that assesses strengths you already know about — so you’re not stuck researching “programming skills” and are instead getting the answers you need quickly, easily, and 100% for free.
Why Should You Take a Career Aptitude Test?
There are so many different career paths, each with its own set of roles that require specific skills.
>>MORE: Learn more about hard vs. soft skills in the workplace.
A career aptitude test is a helpful way to understand how your strengths align with potential career paths you might not even know about or would have considered before. For example, you may think that because you like logic, a technology career path is right for you — but did you know that there’s logical thinking needed for a career like project management?
When I was trying to figure out my career path, I knew that I liked writing. Many of the adults in my life assumed that because I was interested in writing, I should become either a teacher or an author — no in between. Once I started researching careers, however (including taking a career aptitude test!), I learned that there were so many different fields that required writing skills. I also learned how my other strengths, like organization, time management, and being data-driven, could benefit me in a fast-paced, audience-driven career like marketing. Understanding my strengths helped open up my career possibilities and find roles that allow me to leverage many different skills.
Before you start the career aptitude test, take a moment to “engage in self-exploration and introspection,” Matthew Warzel, certified professional resume writer and former Fortune 500 recruiter, says. “Take the time to identify your passions, interests, and natural talents. Reflect on the activities that energize you and make you feel fulfilled. Consider the tasks or challenges that you willingly invest time and effort in without feeling drained.”
>>MORE: ‘What Is My Passion?’ Quiz: A No-Stress Way to Learn What to Do in Life
To guide this self-exploration, Nathan Mondragon, Chief IO Psychologist at HireVue, recommends focusing on three main areas:
- Your overall interests: Begin by delving into your interests, hobbies, and activities that genuinely resonate with you. Reflect on what interests you in your academic pursuits, extracurricular activities, and leisure time.
- Your skills and competencies: List areas where you excel, be it problem-solving, communication, analysis, creativity, or technical proficiency. Recognize the strengths you’ve cultivated through education and experience.
- Your natural abilities: Think about traits that come naturally to you, such as critical thinking, empathy, leadership, or adaptability. These qualities can provide valuable insights into potential career paths.
Have a general idea about what you’re interested in and what you’re good at? Remember, you don’t need to think about job description skills like wireframing or business communication. Instead, all you need for this career aptitude test is a basic understanding of what you like and what you find you’re naturally best at.
Career Aptitude Test
Career Aptitude Test: The Bottom Line
Many career aptitude tests rely on you knowing corporate jargon and hard skills you might not even be familiar with. Yet you don’t need to know fancy words to figure out what your strengths are and how they might align with a career path that’s right for you.
Remember, your results are the beginning of your career exploration. Maybe you’ve never heard of those types of careers before — that’s great! You can start researching to understand what the roles are. Maybe you’re ready to start trying out the careers from your results, but don’t want to dive into an internship just yet. Job simulations can help you understand what different roles are like in just a few hours (and without leaving your room).
Whatever path you take from your results, know that you have unique strengths and abilities that are valuable to employers — when you find roles you’re passionate about that leverage these skills, the world is your oyster!
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FAQs
A career aptitude test measures your strengths, abilities, and skill set, particularly for skills that are valuable in the workplace. Typically, your results are different career paths that utilize your top skills.
Before starting a career aptitude test, take a moment to self-reflect and consider what you’re naturally interested in and what you excel at. Then, take the test as honestly as you can, without trying to manipulate the results toward one career or another — getting a result that surprises you might be for the best!
The best career aptitude test measures your skills and strengths without you needing to do additional research. It should be accessible and free, and your results should make you feel empowered in your career exploration.
