Benefits of Taking a Career Aptitude Test

Benefits of Taking a Career Aptitude Test

Career aptitude tests can help you discover a lot of things about what kind of work you'd be best at, what types of skills you possess, and what type of work environment is best for your personality type.

Most of us took a career aptitude test in high school.  While it's a good starting point for a teenager to assess where his or her strengths are, it's important to continue that assessment throughout our careers.

If you haven't taken one since high school, or you've never had the opportunity to take one at all, this is the perfect time to take a career aptitude test.  By taking it, you may discover things about yourself that never would have been uncovered.

In reality, who we are as high school students changes over time.  We encounter many life experiences in our late teens and early 20's that shape us as we enter into adulthood.  So many teens don't even know what's important to them as they graduate and face the world.  As a high school student, you've been told for most of your life what to do, how to do it, and when to do it.  When you're making a big decision such as what to do with the rest of your life, it can be overwhelming and most students haven't had the chance to prepare for a major life decision.

That's why it is recommended to take a career aptitude test every few years.  Some people are perfectly happy with the career choice they made early in life.  Others struggle with it their whole career and often wait too late to do something about it.

Even if you've recently been laid off or been a victim of "underemployment", taking a test could help you to discover some hidden skills or opportunities that you hadn't thought of before.  This may help you to enhance your resume or look for employment in a different field.

There are various types of tests out there that can help point you in the right direction.  Some are free while others can be a bit expensive.  If you do decide to take a career aptitude test, make sure you meet with a career counselor or professional who can help you to analyze the results and tailor them to your situation.

Have you taken a career aptitude test?  Did it help you in choosing your career?  Share your stories with us in the comments below.

 
**NOTE - Visit our blog next week for our series on Job Searching.