Career, aptitude tests helpful in matching people to professions

Now that the economy is officially slumping, reports say some people are re-evaluating their careers. Perhaps it is a good time to take an inventory of what you’re doing for a living, especially if you’re laid off and have the time. And many in the career-counseling profession say career- and aptitude-assessment tests can help.

?Aptitude testing helps discover which needs your natural gifts create; having unused aptitudes creates boredom and frustration,? said Ortrun Neidig, lab director of the Denver center of the Johnson O’Connor Research Foundation, which provides career counseling. ?So, what most of our clients get out of testing is an explanation of why some tasks are boring and others fulfilling. And with this knowledge (they) can make a more informed decision when presented with the myriad choices out there.?

Neidig said more than 95 percent of her clients find the testing helpful.

Rosemary Arp, career service manager at the YWCA of Boulder County, estimated that the YWCA gives about 150 assessments a year. Two tests the YWCA offers are the Strong Interest Inventory and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.

The Strong Interest is widely used and tells people how their patterns of interests compare to happily employed people in more than 200 different occupations. The Myers-Briggs measures people’s preferences on four aspects of personality. From their scores, the test takers can see which of 16 personality groups they’re most like. Arp said that although many different personality preferences can work in a job, people with certain types tend to enjoy some occupations more than others.

The Myers-Briggs also helps people who aren’t sure why they prefer particular tasks or work environments over others. Many counselors say understanding personality preferences can also be helpful in working through conflicts and improving communications in the workplace.

?Personally, I have found that my aptitudes have helped me more than any other test to choose a career,? Neidig said. ?Personality often helps with what kind of company and atmosphere, and explains your communication style. But it is very important to have an overlap of interests, abilities, knowledge, skills, personality and values. They are all a piece of the puzzle; the more pieces, the better the career fit.?

Arp said the YWCA gets public funding, so it can offer the assessments at a lower cost. YWCA fees run from $20 to $140, depending on family size and income. Neidig said the foundation’s testing fee is $500.

Some say it’s the person more than the test that counts toward finding a fulfilling career.

?Many mature adults I deal with do not ask for or care what their aptitude is because they have confidence and belief in themselves,? said Jane Grogan, proprietor of Career Match Inc. in Littleton. ?Most important of all indicators of success, I believe, is the level of self-confidence, commitment and perseverance to one’s goals.?

Grogan said tests should not be forced on anyone. She said tests are helpful for people who need to know that their skills are adequate to perform their assigned duties.

?They can be helpful to confirm their performance,? Grogan said. ?I don’t think tests should be forced on anyone, but they can give a person a good understanding of their strongest abilities.?

Many counselors agree that before any tests, people should talk to a counselor. ?I would recommended talking to a test administrator or counselor before spending money on a test,? said Arp. ?I think it’s very important to talk to the client first before any career assessment is assigned, as the assignment needs to be appropriate for the client’s situation.?

Neidig said her office ?makes an effort to make sure we can provide what the client is looking for before they come in for testing.?

Of course, one option is to simply volunteer in a profession or interview people in different occupations.

?Volunteering and testing the waters is an excellent way to find a career direction,? said Grogan. ?If you still need help after testing, reading books and talking to people in the field, then a career counselor or coach is the way to go.?

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