A career planning test serves a variety of purposes. It can improve your self-awareness. It can help you determine if you are mature and ready enough to begin your own career management. A career planning test can help you identify your abilities and areas of aptitude and clarify your values. All of this can help you and an employment counselor match you to occupations for which you are best suited. A career planning test is not a form of magic. It cannot point you toward the “perfect” job, and it does not reveal the “real” you. It is a directional aid.
A career planning test is also known as a standardized assessment instrument or inventory, and there are several types. Some are done with pencil and paper, while others are done on a computer. These tests are usually given by professional people such as career counselors. Most students do a battery of these tests. Students at the elementary school level are not given these tests, because their interests and values are not set.
One career planning test deals with values inventories. It focuses on work values and lifestyle values. It helps students identify what types of jobs they might want to explore. There are no right or wrong answers on this test. The test measures your responses in such areas as creativity, independence, achievement, security, altruism, variety, economic rewards, intellectual stimulation, physical activity, risk, and social relationships.
Another career planning test explores interest inventories. This basically has to do with activities that you like or dislike. Would you, for example, rather fix the engine of a car or write a long letter? Sometimes the accuracy of this type of test can be limited if students have had little or no experience with some of the activities listed in the test.
The next type of career planning test is the achievement and aptitude test. These tests measure not only the skills you already have, but also your potential to acquire new skills. These tests are used by educational institutions, by employers, by licensing agencies and by the military, among others. Students often have to take courses to prepare for them. You might, for example, be required to take an English Proficiency Test before you can enter a post-secondary educational institution.
Personality assessments help career counselors to examine a person’s preferences and relate them to occupations. Again, there are no right or wrong answers on these tests. The questions are often in True or False format, or they might ask something like, “Would you rather sit on the beach and read a book, or ride on a roller-coaster?”
Career maturity testing indicates a person’s ability to undertake career management. There are versions of this career planning test for both young people and adults. They help you to focus on strengths and weaknesses so you can increase your understanding of career management and development.
Career planning portfolios are like resumes in scrapbook form. They are collections people put together to show their abilities, skills and achievements. Career planning portfolios are extremely useful marketing tools because they are solid evidence of accomplishments. Traditionally career planning portfolios have been used by creative artists, actors and photographers. But they can also be used by journalists, business people and technicians. Today many people have their career planning portfolios on computer disc. Career planning portfolios have become so important to modern job applicants that many high schools and colleges require students to assemble portfolios as a requirement for graduation.
What can career planning portfolios do?
• Demonstrate what you have accomplished in previous jobs or assignments, or even as a volunteer.
• Showcase your skills and abilities.
• Give you extra confidence as you prepare for an interview.
What should be included in career planning portfolios? Of course, this depends on what skills, abilities and accomplishments you want to bring to the potential employer’s attention.
Here are some suggestions.
• Educational transcripts
• All diplomas, degrees and certificates
• Letters of recommendation
• Awards and certificates of merit
• Letters of commendation, letters of thanks
• Newspaper or magazine articles about your achievements
• Professional licenses, registrations and certificates
• Photographs
• Work performance records and job evaluations
• Programs from conventions or conferences you helped organize
• Work samples
When people are assembling career planning portfolios, they should keep in mind that portfolios must be flexible, and can be customized to suit the interview situation. There are a variety of options for packaging. Some people use photo albums or binders. Others prefer accordion folders. Some portfolios can be stored on disc. If you do use a computer disc, take your own laptop to the interview and be sure the battery is charged.
Be sure to write clear and concise captions for each item contained in your portfolio. The caption should help specify the skills used for that particular accomplishment. Example: This is the certificate I was awarded by a local charitable organization for raising $5,000 for the town hospital. Next to the certificate is a photograph of me with fellow fundraisers at the dance and dinner I organized.
Highlight your achievements. When you prepare for the interview, be sure you can easily access those materials you especially want to show the interviewer. It’s a good idea to have a table of contents in your portfolio.
For information on how to construct a portfolio, check with the Educational Resource Information Center (ERIC). You can also get assistance from the Portfolio Library and other websites that are sponsored by university career centers and offer help to job seekers.
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