Career Preference Testing - The Key to Gaining Job Satisfaction

Introduction

Career preference testing is available for those looking for a direction to pursue in job hunting, deciding on a career path, or discovering their avocation. Career preference testing is a time-honored tool useful for people of all ages who are making decisions about choices in their job search. These individuals could be high school students who want to make a career decision, or seasoned professionals who are examining a new career direction. A career preference assessment report is generated from the testing results.

Description

In its most fundamental form, career preference testing is an adult version of the childhood "ah ha" moment in which we gain fresh insight into our personality. A report is generated from the test results which the client uses to explore interests, abilities, personality style and motivation. These factors interact to suggest one's best career fit.

A common technique within the field of career counseling utilizes personality preference testing (or Typing). The Personality Preference Testing Report identifies how a person psychologically processes life experiences. Personality preferences drive attitudes, affect motivation, and determines the relative emotional needs of a person when interacting with others both in personal life and at the workplace.

The most utilized personality preference assessment is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, or MBTI. The MBTI assessment identifies personality preferences that a client can then use in assisting with job search. Prospective employers also may use the MBTI as part of the hiring decision process. Based on the work of psychologist Carl Jung, the theory of personality preferences was quantified in the original MBTI assessment by the mother and daughter team, Isabel Briggs Myers and Katherine Briggs.

The MBTI pinpoints significant personality preference dichotomies which are then categorized in one of sixteen 4 letter personality preference codes. A number of reports can be generated from the results of testing with the MBTI, including the identification of career preferences. The MBTI assessment is a statistically significant instrument with a 70% validity rate. Consequently, is has become the standard in the industry for assessing an individual's career preferences.

The Process

Career preference testing assesses interests, personality preferences, and work values, all of which are key factors in choosing a career in which one can be successful and personally fulfilled. Test results in the form of a report will generate career options that may be a good match based on that combination of interests, abilities, personality, and work values Career preference test results can also be helpful in deciding which career will be the best choice by providing objective data you can use to compare options.

Outcomes

The MBTI Career Preference Assessment (test) determines a person's personal four-letter code and an extensive description of personality type. A list of common and popular career choices based on that type are provided, as well as categories of work to avoid. From the four groups of two letter dichotomies, the composite personality type is generated.

The four categories that determine personality preferences are linked based on the relative strength of each preference. Therefore, no two individuals will have exactly the same personality preference profile.

Just as particular workplace environments are a good fit for certain types, the combination of two or more personality types interact to form unique kinds of workplace group relationships. Career preference testing then is a basis for establishing and optimizing a group work-style.

The results of taking the MBTI can be combined with the results from testing with the Strong Interest Inventory, or SII: The Strong Interest Inventory determines work preferences, or what a person imagines would be interesting work. The assessment asks questions about work and career possibilities. The report generated from testing lists broad areas of interest as well as more detailed specific career fields to evaluate.

The combined Strong/MBTI Career Report pinpoints major categories of work: realistic (building, repairing), conventional (accounting, processing data), enterprising (selling, managing), artistic (creating or enjoying art), investigative (researching, analyzing), and social (helping, instructing),

If an assessment test uncovers career options that don't ring true, the client should discount that information. There are no right or wrong answers. Simply put, the client is the best judge of the validity of the outcomes.

Conclusion

Two and a half million MBTI assessments are administered per year-used by career counselors, educators, and companies to help clients better understand their personality and work preferences. Use the MBTI Career Report and the combined Strong/MBTI Career Reports to gain insight into career preferences as one tool in the search for greater career satisfaction.

Stephen R Tiebout has over 20 years experience helping people understand their personality preferences and career interests. He is the administrator of Ransdell Associates.com. For more information on career preference testing, visit http://ransdellassociates.com/.

How Can Testing Aid in Your Career Development

How many of us have felt lost or stagnate in our career direction? Whether you are just starting out and looking for some career guidance or well into your career and looking for more satisfaction, the use of career and personality assessments can be a valuable tool. Although these tests are not intended to be used alone in making career decisions, they can be essential when coupled with guidance from a career counselor or coach.

There are various types of career and personality assessments however, for the sake of this article I will focus on two major personality/career assessments: Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and the Strong Interest Inventory (SII).

The MBTI is the mostly wide used personality assessment that provides an accurate picture of an individual's personality type. This assessment brings insight into how we interact with the world, gather information, make decisions and if we prefer to live in a more structured way or spontaneous way. The MBTI produces a four letter code that represents your best-fit personality type. If used properly this assessment can be a powerful tool in making career decisions.

The Strong Interest Inventory is a tool that millions of people have used for guidance in exploring careers and college majors. Research suggests that people tend to be happier and more productive in careers that align with their interests. This instrument measures your interests to help identify optimum career choices and increase your life/career satisfaction.

What Can Testing Do For You?

The power of personality and career assessments such as the MBTI and SII can make a major impact on your career and individual development. Below is a list of uses that these assessments can provide:

o Career change

o Choose a career

o Explore the world of work

o Increase self awareness and job satisfaction

o Understand different learning styles

o Improve individual or team performance

o Boost self esteem

o Increase conflict management skills

o Identify college majors and choose appropriate education/training

o Better work-life balance

o Reduce stress

How to Use Career Assessments?

Whether you take the MBTI or Strong Assessment it is vital to use these results in conjunction with a career coach or counselor. A personality/career test alone cannot give you the proper guidance to make career or life decisions. Also keep in mind that no single test can tell you what you should do or should be.

MBTI

When using the MBTI and learning about your "type" you can understand yourself better and value other people who act and think differently from you. When you understand yourself better you can deepen your knowledge of the type of work that is best suited for you. Learning about what is stressful or uninteresting in a work environment will bring more insight into your work preferences. Understanding your type can make you more aware of work activities that are satisfying and also help pinpoint specific sources of dissatisfaction.

The MBTI can also help you understand others better which can lead to enhanced relationships and collaborative environments. In the workplace, understanding your type as well as others can help improve overall team performance and make your interactions more effective with people of other types.

Once you learn about your MBTI type you can then start to research various career options that are most satisfying for you. After gathering this information you can then make a more informed decision based on your personality type and take the necessary steps to achieve your goals.

Strong Inventory

The Strong interest inventory measures your interests in a broad range of occupations, work and leisure activities and school subjects. You can use this tool to help identify careers related to your interests and choose education or training options that best match your interests. The SII can help improve your career direction by providing more insight into your leadership, risk-taking, learning, working and teamwork preferences.

Based on your responses the SII generates a three letter code that takes into consideration your interests, work activities, potential skills and personal values. You will also receive scores on 25 basic interest scales, 211 occupation scales, 4 personal style scales and 3 administrative scales.

Once you receive your scores from the SII you can then explore careers in areas of your interests. This inventory will not only reflect your interest in specific job activities but leisure interests will also be outlined. This can be helpful in finding work that is satisfying but also identifying hobbies or activities outside of work that can bring about much satisfaction. The Strong can help find your dream job and achieve overall satisfaction in your life.

Keep in Mind

As you consider various career and personality tests please bear in mind that most tests only measure your interests not skills or abilities. You must also consider your mood and environment when taking these assessments. If you are under a lot of stress, results may vary and will require the help of an expert in interpreting these results.

As you strive for growth and balance throughout your life span, these tests can be useful for understanding various lifestyle options and identifying potential blind spots. It can help us discover what motivates and energizes us which can help seek out the "right" work environments.

Erin Suess is a life and career coach and creator of http://www.lifecoachingdesigns.com She works with individuals who are seeking to enhance their personal and professional lives through gaining clarity and achieving goals. She also offers MBTI and Strong Interest Inventory testing on her site. If you are ready to live your best life then contact Erin. You can go to her website at: http://www.lifecoachingdesigns.com

Testing Kleefisch claim on accuracy of monthly jobs numbers

Wednesday 4th January, 2012

PolitiFact: Testing Kleefisch claim on accuracy of monthly jobs numbers   
     Wednesday 4th January, 2012  Source: Journal Sentinel

PolitiFact Wisconsin : Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch says the state's counts of jobs added or lost each month have a "margin of error" of 75 percent and are routinely "way off."
Barack Obama may well be down in the popularity polls, but not because of the Republican Party. Indeed the incoherent Republicans are struggling to come up with a viable candidate to take on Obama in the 2012 U.S. presidential election.

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