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Assessments

Self assessments are a fun and helpful way of getting to know yourself better. A number of well-respected tools have been designed by specialists and can be administered and interpreted by trained professionals. Others are available free on the web, although many experts question the reliability of these free assessments. You are encouraged to take advantage of the service and professional guidance offered by the staff of the Learning Resource Center and the Center for Career Planning and Development. Additionally, you are encouraged to take numerous assessments and compare the results to see if patterns emerge.

Remember, assessments are not mind readers or fortune tellers. The cannot magically suggest your dream job or ideal major. They can only provide you with information that you can then use to make informed decisions. Do not automatically reject information simply because you have never considered it. Conversely, trust your own instincts about yourself. If an assessment indicates that you have similar interests to those who are accountants, but you dislike working with numbers in that way, you should trust your instincts. Resist the urge to feel "pigeonholed" by the suggestions or to use the results as an excuse for not researching your options. Remember, you alone are responsible for your choices.

Assessments Offered by Butler

Contact an Exploratory Studies advisor to set up an appointment for one or more of these assessments:

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator: A personality assessment that examines your preferences and explores various career options based on natural tendencies and preferences. Personality types are determined by preferences in four different categories including:

• How do you get and give energy?
• How do you take in and process information?
• How do you make decisions?
• How do you react to the outer world?

The Self-Directed Search: An inventory that allows you to explore what you like to do and provides you a list of possible career options based on these interests.

The Career Values Card Sort: A fun activity that allows you to clarify what is important to you in your work.

The Strong Interest Inventory (SII): An assessment that provides general information about your career interests and how they compare to those of people in various occupations. Results include a list of careers that may be of interest, as well as general interest "themes" to consider when planning your career.

The SkillScan Professional Card Sort: An interactive card game that allows you to identify your abilities and sort these abilities into eight categories.

Internship and Career Services provides links to a number of other tests and informative sites.

Assessments Available Online

MyMajors.com: This website provides a free, 15 minute survey to help students focus on educational goals. The survey includes questions about course work, activities, environment, and work type preferences. Based on your responses, the tool provides six majors to consider as well as related links.

Career Development eManual: This extremely thorough self assessment is designed around several steps, including identifying interests, writing "pride stories", and taking self-administered questionnaires. The site is designed and maintained by the University of Waterloo.

The Career Key: Short 10 minute questionnaire that asks about your interest level in career types and work settings. Provides lists of careers that match your interests and then provides links to the Occupational Outlook Handbook.

testingroom.com: Provides a collection of self assessments on topics such as career, interests, career values, study styles, and personality index.

RHETI Enneagram Test: Personality type assessment. Not directly related to majors or careers but provides insight on personality and preferences that can help make decisions. A free sample version of the test is available.

Kirsey Temperament Sorter II: A series of questions regarding values and work preferences. The tool then determines your temperament; your predisposition toward certain attitudes and actions. It is related to the information in the MBTI tool. The report includes suggestions for the type of work you may enjoy or be interested in researching. A more thorough report can be purchased for a small fee.

Princeton Review Career Quiz: This online "quiz" consists of 24 questions regarding your work preferences and values. Based on your answers, the quiz provides you with an analysis of your interest type and working style preferences along with suggested fields of study for you to research.