Whether you’re looking for your first job right out of school or trying to change careers midway through life, trying to decide what career path best suits your personality can be stressful. Fortunately, you don’t have to go it alone. Don’t worry about high-priced career consultations or confusing books of career profiles. Try one (or all) of these fast online career aptitude tests that can narrow down your options to a manageable selection in just a few minutes each.
1. Self-Directed Search
John Holland’s SDS test is considered to be one of the best around. It’s based on the Strong Interest Inventory, which was developed by E. K. Strong in 1927 to help with job placements for soldiers leaving the military. John Holland’s version of the test is very thorough, containing about 290 questions and lasting around half an hour.
It works by classifying both work environments and personality types into six basic categories in order to match each person with a suitable career path. Unlike some of the other SHL Tests on our list, the SDS is not free. It costs around $10, but that fee comes with a thorough report and guidance on what steps to take next. If the cost is a deal-breaker for you, keep reading to see some free options below.
2. Princeton Review
You’ll have to go through a lengthy sign-up process to take this five-minute test, but it’s all completely free. While the test is short, it’s fairly detailed, and it’s followed by an in-depth report as well as overviews of the recommended careers and the educational steps required to reach each of them. With the information that comes with this test, you’ll be able to quickly judge hundreds of potential careers to see which jobs best fit your personality.
3. Jung Typology
Another personality-type quiz that uses both Carl Jung’s work and the Briggs-Myers topology to create an incredibly detailed look into your psyche. Armed with this information, the test provides you with data about the strength of your preferences and a list of suitable occupations. It also gives advice about the career pitfalls that your personality type may be susceptible to. This test is free, but the site has enough confidence in its usefulness to provide a donation link for those who found it useful.
4. True Colors
The True Colors Test was developed by Carolyn Kalil and comes recommended by Richard Bolles, author of What Color Is Your Parachute. It works by dividing personalities into four primary aptitude types – Orange, Blue, Green, and Gold. It will determine both your dominant color and the amounts of each supporting color in your personality. Each combination comes with a proclivity for a particular career field. The basic test is fast and free, but the site also sells a variety of e-books with detailed career information for each of the personality subtypes.
5. University of Missouri
Based on Holland’s work, the University of Missouri’s test is completely free, surprisingly fast, and quite fun. It divides personalities into Conventional, Social, Enterprising, Realistic, Artistic, and Investigative, and each person can be solidly in one category or in a combination. After the test, detailed career information is provided for each category, complete with recommended courses of study and entry-level jobs.
Beyond interests and obvious skill sets, many people aren’t aware of how their personality traits can drive them in the right career direction. If you are someone just entering the work force from college or maybe just looking for a career change, these aptitude tests can help to point the way to a fruitful and unique career path you may not have thought about previously.
Alex Faubel enjoys writing about topics related to business and technology in career-focused education programs.