Tests can help you pick a career

Don’t know what you want to do with the rest of your life? Maybe a test can help. No, not like a math test. These are tests designed to help steer you on a career path. But remember that it’s better to take a mix of tests because no one test is infallible.

What to look for: The tests can have names like “career interest inventory,” “personality test” or “career assessment.” The best of these tests are usually labeled “normed” or “validated.” It’s a fancy way of saying that the tests have be tracked over the years and that they actually work.

Beware: The vast majority of tests on the market today are not validated. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use them, because they may suggest directions that you hadn’t thought of.

Use a counselor: It’s best to work through the test in conjunction with a qualified career counselor who is experienced in the use of the test you take. You can find qualified counselors online at the National Board for Certified Counselors (www.nbcc.org; click on Find a Counselor and then click the Career Development box). Another source: National Career Development Association (www.ncda.org; scroll down to Do You Need a Career Professional? and search by locale).

Online tests: If you merely want to take free or fee tests online, here are a handful of possibilities: CareerLab (www.careerlab.com), Keirsey Temperament Sorter (www.keirsey.com) and Self-Directed Search (www.self-directed-search.com).

At Richard Bolles’ Web site (www.jobhuntersbible.com) click on Take an Interactive Test. The site offers good advice and links to several tests, including the Princeton Review Career Quiz, a simple, free 24-question test that reports your results in a profile description of interests and styles.

-- Joyce Lain Kennedy, Tribune Media Services