Self-assessment is a wonderful process for evaluating whether you are on the right track in your career and your personal growth goals. There is no “right” or “wrong” in this process. The ultimate goal is heightened insight about yourself, strengthened motivation to succeed, and compassionate self-regard.
On this page you will find an array of self-assessment resources that should enlighten your wisdom about who you are, what your goals and dreams are, and new ways to evaluate whether you’re following a road that’s taking you to “higher ground.”
>> Self-Assessment Tools
Here are some of the most valuable resources utilized by career development professionals for promoting self-awareness. Please note that many of these tests are best carried out with interpretive help from a professionally-certified career assessment specialist at a university or college.
- My Next Move
A tool from the U.S. Department of Labor’s O*Net research site, this resource enables you to identify your personal interests and how they relate to the world of work - Via Character Strengths Assessment
Based on a foundation of scientific research in positive psychology the Via Character Strengths Assessment is one of my personal favorite tools for enhancing your deepest self-awareness. Its emphasis is on “accentuating core strengths and virtues in order to enable individuals and communities to thrive.” Take the test free, then invest in the affordable Via Pro Reports for further analysis - Holland Code Career Aptitude Tests
Holland Codes are one of the most popular models used for career tests today. Holland argued that the choice of a vocation is an expression of personality. The Holland Code assessment enables further matching of personal and career interests with specific occupations. A free edition of the Holland Quiz is available from Rogue Community College - Strong Interest Inventory
The Strong Interest Inventory® test is an assessment that helps people match their interests with potential educational, career, and leisure activities, using an individual’s preferences in a variety of areas to aid them in discovering what they’d most enjoy doing with their work and their free time. Further details are available here - Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
The MBTI has long been considered to be one of the most effective tools for assessment of personal preferences and personality traits. A full version of the MBTI is available from the Myers-Briggs Foundation and costs $49.00 to complete. A free version of the MBTI, though limited in its interpretive information, is available here - Keirsey Temperament Sorter
The Keirsey book Please Understand Me provided a popular utilization of the foundational work with the Myers-Briggs Indicator. A free version of the Keirsey sorter is available here - Highly Sensitive Person Test
I am a highly sensitive person (HSP) and I have learned much from 20 years of studying HSPs based on the research work of Dr. Elaine Aron. She estimates that approximately 20% of the overall population would classify as HSP. A strongly recommended book for examining HSPs in the world of work is Dr. Barrie Jaeger’s book Making Work Work for the Highly Sensitive Person
>> Graduate Student Resources
For current graduate students, especially those pursuing a Ph.D., frequent career planning and evaluation is an essential practice, especially for learning about career opportunities in their fields inside and outside of academia. There are several highly-rated career management websites for graduate students that you will find on this page. One that particularly stands out for me is the downloadable UCLA Career Preparation Toolkit.
>> Return to Careers
Gradmentor: Research, Consulting, Counseling 