Personality Test For Career

Personality Test for Careers

Personality tests are useful in assessing the unique traits and characteristics that distinguishes one person from another. These tests evaluate values, perceptions, interests and skills both innate and acquired. Personality tests can be used in conjunction with other cognitive tests to determine a person's aptitude for different careers. One needs to consult a career counselor in order to obtain an accurate personality profile. However, a number of websites offer both paid and free career personality tests, that may provide one with a basic understanding of one's personality profile, and the choice of a career path that is typically influenced by one's traits and characteristics.

Katharine Cook Briggs and her daughter Isabel Briggs Myers developed an indicator that was supposed to help chart personality preferences and subsequent career choices. The aim was to foster an understanding of the psyche of women, who were most likely to enter the industrial workforce for the first time following World War II, and identify jobs that would be best suited to their personalities. The theory of peoples' perception of the world around them and their subsequent decisions, was originated by Carl Gustav Jung. The psychometric questionnaire, that came into existence as a result of the culmination of the works of Briggs, Myers and Jung, is popularly known as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) assessment.

Understanding Personality Types

The Myers-Briggs test attributes random variations in behavior to basic differences in perception and judgment. Since discernment is a function of perspicacity and people perceive the world differently, it is only logical that conclusions inferred on the basis of perception will also differ. This personality test classifies personalities into one of the following 16 personality types thereby helping us develop an understanding of personal preferences. The personality matrix is developed using a system of questions and answers that classifies people into one of the sixteen personality types. This is done with the aid of a set of 4 psychological preferences, viz. Extroversion (E) or Introversion (I), Sensing (S) or Intuition (U), Thinking (T) or Feeling (F) and Judging (J) or Perceiving (P).

People, who draw energy by active involvement and participation in events and thrive by energizing others, belong to the 'E' category. Individuals, who feel comfortable in small groups, prefer solitude in order to reflect upon life and develop clarity of thought and expression, fall under category 'I'.

The second pair in the list of psychological preferences is 'S and U'. People, who devote time to physical realities and solve confounding problems by working through the maze of facts rather than focusing on mere patterns and possibilities, can be classified as 'S' personalities. People, who are good at relating to abstract concepts, patterns and possibilities rather than the hard facts of the physical plane of existence, can be classified as 'U' personalities.

A 'T' personality likes to delve into the pros and cons of various situations and take decisions regardless of personal feelings and impressions. Such people are generally more consistent and logical. 'F' personalities arrive at conclusions on the basis of feelings and emotions and find it hard to avoid inconsistencies in the decision making process. Such people are more approachable and tactful.

The final pair, viz. 'J and P' refer to how people are perceived by the outside world. A 'J' personality should not be confused with a person who is judgmental. People, who seem to prefer planning in advance and like to have issues settled, are seen as living an orderly life, generally, preferring situations that are under their control. 'P' personalities, on the other hand, appear spontaneous and open to new experiences.

Peoples' preferred world, their mode of processing information, their decision making prowess and their chances of being accepted as a part of a group, that has its own philosophy, can be gleaned by analyzing their personality type. For instance, an 'EUFP' personality may be good at social work since the person tends to prefer interacting with people, is intuitive and makes decisions on the basis of feelings and impression, rather than hard facts. Moreover, the person is viewed as someone who does not need to be in control of the situation to feel at ease. This example clearly illustrates the importance of personality test for careers. In addition to taking a couple of personality tests for jobs, one may refer to the article on 'How to Choose a Career' for further pointers.