Find the Best Career for You
You know it's out there - you just have to discover it! Use the assessment tools, personality tests, career information, and online education resourcesto help you in your career planning:
Career Assessment Tests
Career assessment used to be a process of simply following your gut feelings and doing a little research into your fields of interest. Today, career assessment is much more refined and looks not only at job fields but also spotlights the focus on you, the individual. This is critical to finding a career that will bring you happiness and satisfaction.
Key to jobs that are motivating and rewarding
Testing is an integral part of the process. Each of us is unique and career assessment tests help us identify personal traits that match up with skills and competencies for various fields of work. Your talents, abilities, values, likes and dislikes are all measured to narrow down the choices to jobs that fit your lifestyle interests. As a result, the feedback will give you an opportunity to explore careers that you'll enjoy and find highly motivating and personally rewarding.
How career assessment tests work
Testing methodologies vary but in general, career tests ask a battery of questions that attempt to:
1. Clarify your interests
2. Match your skills and competencies to specific fields
3. Identify your strong points and individual work style
4. Determine whether you like people jobs, analytical jobs, hands-on jobs, etc.
5. Point you to jobs that will lower your stress
6. Guide you in your education
A sense of purpose in your job search
After you've taken a career test and have identified particular career paths, you can begin exploring and investigating jobs in each field knowing you're not going about it blindly. Instead of being overwhelmed by the choices and possibly ending up in a career of drudgery, you'll be looking at specific jobs that will give you satisfaction and a sense of purpose. Your exploration should include:
1. Reading job descriptions to learn required skills, and competencies
2. Identifying education paths
3. Talking with employers in the field
4. Talking with people already working in the field
5. Learning about the typical work environment in your chosen field
6. Learning about related jobs
7. Reviewing compensation and advancement opportunities
8. Gauging the future
The competitive advantage
By testing first and then exploring jobs you'll save countless hours and will be focused in your efforts. After you've completed your investigation you'll be prepared to make informed decisions about your education and which jobs you'll apply for when you're ready.
Career assessment tests and your subsequent investigation of the job market will give you an edge on landing the job of your dreams because your personality, skills, and interests will line up with what the employer is looking for in a new hire. This competitive advantage, combined with the knowledge that you'll be embarking on a career likely to bring lasting happiness and satisfaction, makes testing a very sensible part of your personal career development plan.
Are you ready to "test yourself"?
Browse the listings below to find a test that's right for you:
Career Assessment Tools
Thursday, September 27, 2007
How do I use my personal job matches?
1. To see how your job results differ based on education, use the education drop down list.
2. Sort Jobs by clicking on the column heading. This will order jobs alphabetically or from highest to lowest.
3. Compare jobs by checking 2-3 jobs then clicking Next or Compare at the bottom of the page.
For detailed job information, click on the Job Title.
4. Click on Find Jobs to see current job openings in your area.
5. Use Advanced Options to select jobs based on salary, job growth, education or job category.
6. Back to initial matches link shows your original job matches based on your test results and the education level you entered during the registration process.
2. Sort Jobs by clicking on the column heading. This will order jobs alphabetically or from highest to lowest.
3. Compare jobs by checking 2-3 jobs then clicking Next or Compare at the bottom of the page.
For detailed job information, click on the Job Title.
4. Click on Find Jobs to see current job openings in your area.
5. Use Advanced Options to select jobs based on salary, job growth, education or job category.
6. Back to initial matches link shows your original job matches based on your test results and the education level you entered during the registration process.
I would like to come to the U.S. to work.Can you tell me how to do that?
LiveCareer does not provide information about immigration or visa services. You may find the information you need
What about salary and job growth data for other countries?
At This time, we are not able to provide salary or job growth data for countries besides the U.S. You may find international salary information
When I click Find Jobs I don't get any valid results.
You may have entered the wrong area code. Please update your profile with your area code and try these links again.
What do the different scales mean?
Salary and job growth data are collected by each state through the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) survey, conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) at the U.S. Department of Labor. National trend estimates are developed by BLS. Job details are provided by the Occupational Information Network (O*NET), a comprehensive, database of worker attributes and job characteristics.
Context - includes a variety of scales with some unique and specific work context variables.
Extent - indicates the degree to which the value affects the nature of a job.
Importance - indicates the degree of importance a particular descriptor is to the job. The possible ratings range from "Not Important" (1) to "Extremely Important" (5).
Level - indicates the degree, depth or point along a continuum, to which a particular knowledge, skill or ability is needed to perform the job.
Context - includes a variety of scales with some unique and specific work context variables.
Extent - indicates the degree to which the value affects the nature of a job.
Importance - indicates the degree of importance a particular descriptor is to the job. The possible ratings range from "Not Important" (1) to "Extremely Important" (5).
Level - indicates the degree, depth or point along a continuum, to which a particular knowledge, skill or ability is needed to perform the job.
How are jobs matched to Education, Training and Experience information?
Jobs are matched education and training levels based on the following:
1. A job is mapped to the level that best describes the education or training needed by most
workers to become fully qualified.
2. Postsecondary awards, if generally needed for entry into the occupation, take precedence over work-related training even though additional skills or experience may be needed for a worker to become fully qualified.
3. The length of time an average worker generally needs to become fully qualified through a combination of on-the-job training and experience is used to categorize jobs in which a postsecondary award is not needed for entry.
1. A job is mapped to the level that best describes the education or training needed by most
workers to become fully qualified.
2. Postsecondary awards, if generally needed for entry into the occupation, take precedence over work-related training even though additional skills or experience may be needed for a worker to become fully qualified.
3. The length of time an average worker generally needs to become fully qualified through a combination of on-the-job training and experience is used to categorize jobs in which a postsecondary award is not needed for entry.
What does New Job Openings include?
New Job Openings includes both turnover that results from people who leave the occupation (e.g. quit, retire, death) and new jobs that are created.
Job Growth Trends – What does % Change mean?
Percent change indicates how fast employment is expected to increase or decrease during the specified period. The larger the positive percent change, the faster employment is growing. A large positive percent change is generally an indicator of favorable employment prospects. Likewise, the larger the negative percent change, the faster employment is declining, and the more unfavorable the employment prospects.
Do job growth trends take outsourcing into consideration?
The model used to produce the job and industry data does include outsourcing. The data reflects current outsourcing (in the current employment data) and any expected trends (trends analysis built into the model of estimation). However, the model is limited by the interpretation of the current data and assumptions about trends made at the time the data is produced. Recent economic indicators will not be reflected in this data
What do the job growth trends show?
Job growth trends show the estimated change in total employment over the period 2004-2014 and is relative to the average national growth rate across all jobs.
BLS % change in total
employment from 2004-2014 Job Growth
31+ % FASTER
21-30% FAST
10- 20% MEDIUM
0-10% SLOW
0 and below NO GROWTH
BLS % change in total
employment from 2004-2014 Job Growth
31+ % FASTER
21-30% FAST
10- 20% MEDIUM
0-10% SLOW
0 and below NO GROWTH
What do the salary percentiles mean?
Salary data provided for occupations is given in an annual salary amount or an hourly wage rate. On the job details page, it is provided at the following percentiles: 10, 25, 50, 75, and 90. The dollar value given at a percentile shows the salary distribution for the job and can be interpreted as follows:
At the 10th percentile, ten percent of workers employed in that occupation earn less and 90 percent earn more than the estimated wage value.
At the 25th percentile, 25 percent of workers employed in that occupation earn less and 75 percent earn more than the estimated wage value.
At the 50 percentile (also referred to as the median), 50 percent of workers employed in that occupation earn less and 50 percent earn more than the estimated wage value.
At the 75th percentile, 75 percent of workers employed in that occupation earn less and 25 percent earn more than the estimated wage value.
At the 90th percentile, 90 percent of workers employed in that occupation earn less and 10 percent earn more than the estimated wage value
At the 10th percentile, ten percent of workers employed in that occupation earn less and 90 percent earn more than the estimated wage value.
At the 25th percentile, 25 percent of workers employed in that occupation earn less and 75 percent earn more than the estimated wage value.
At the 50 percentile (also referred to as the median), 50 percent of workers employed in that occupation earn less and 50 percent earn more than the estimated wage value.
At the 75th percentile, 75 percent of workers employed in that occupation earn less and 25 percent earn more than the estimated wage value.
At the 90th percentile, 90 percent of workers employed in that occupation earn less and 10 percent earn more than the estimated wage value
What does average salary mean?
Average salary gives you a general idea of earnings you would expect in this profession. It is presented here in annual terms, or in other words, the average earnings in an entire year for a particular profession.
Average salary has been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly mean wage published, the annual salary has been directly calculated from reported survey data.
Average salary has been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly mean wage published, the annual salary has been directly calculated from reported survey data.
What is included and excluded in salary estimates?
Salary estimates include base rate, cost-of-living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (e.g. commissions and production bonuses), and on-call pay. Salary estimates do not include back pay, jury duty pay, overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, health insurance benefits and tuition reimbursements.
What does ‘-’ mean?
The dash mark indicates where data is currently unavailable. Data collection and quality assurance is ongoing.
Why is some of the data a few years old?
An extensive data gathering process involving high data standards ensures that data estimates are accurate, while protecting the privacy of the participants who provide the data. As a result of this process, there is a lag in time between when the data is gathered and when it is released.
Where does the data come from?
Salary and job growth data are collected by each state through the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) survey, conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) at the U.S. Department of Labor. National trend estimates are developed by BLS. Job details are provided by the Occupational Information Network (O*NET), a comprehensive, database of worker attributes and job characteristics.
How long does the test take to complete?
For the average reader, the test takes about 25 minutes to complete. You can stop and restart the test whenever you like but we recommend completing the test in one sitting.
I’m a career counselor. How can I get more information about The Free Career Test?
Please visit our we'd love to hear from you.
Tell me more about The Free Career Test.
The Free Career Test is a LiveCareer company. LiveCareer’s mission is to help people make important career and educational decisions at key points in their lives. LiveCareer Limited is a Cyprus based company that was founded by a group of leading US and Canadian career professionals and investors in conjunction with Sigma Assessment Systems, Inc. Sigma has been in business since 1967. Over a million people have successfully taken the LiveCareer Test.
Is the test accurate?
Yes, quite accurate. The scoring of your Free Career Test results makes use of complex algorithms in which your answers are compared to those of a large sample of people representative of the general public, as well as people from a wide variety of occupational and educational groups. Your response patterns are further analyzed to determine how consistently and carefully you responded. Research has shown that the results have a high degree of reliability.
How was The Free Career Test developed?
The more scientific name for The Free Career Test is the Career Directions Inventory or CDI. The development of the CDI took place over a period of years using extraordinary measures to foster careful item development and selection. The construction of the CDI involved a number of specifications that make the CDI unique among career interest assessments.
What's the difference between The Free Career Test and other tests that try to map your career?
There are many different tests available on the internet, but most are of poor quality. If you want to learn about your career potential, you need a career test. The Free Career Test is exactly that. Unfortunately, some companies have taken personality tests, personal potential tests and others and skewed their reports to focus on career. These other tests can be valid but are better suited for teamwork analysis and dating.
To find a career where you will find the most satisfaction, you need to take a test that reliably measures your career interests, like The Free Career Test.
To find a career where you will find the most satisfaction, you need to take a test that reliably measures your career interests, like The Free Career Test.
Who created The Free Career Test?
The Free Career Test was created by Sigma Assessment Systems which has been developing psychological career tests since 1967. The test's author, Dr. Douglas N. Jackson, is a nationally acclaimed assessment expert. Among his many achievements, he is the former chairman of the American Psychological Association Division of Measurement, Evaluation, and Statistics and the 2004 reward recipient for the Samuel J. Messick Award for Distinguished Scientific Contributions. This is the highest honor bestowed by the American Psychological Association's Division of Evaluation, Measurement, and Statistics. He has published over 200 research articles and developed an intelligence test used to select NASA astronauts.
Why is career assessment so important?
Working in an unsatisfying career can dramatically reduce happiness, productivity, self-confidence and self worth. Career assessment helps you learn about yourself and your interests so that you can make better career decisions, market yourself to your best advantage, and avoid spending money on the wrong education. Most people can only name a few career possibilities even though there are thousands from which to choose. With assessment you uncover the tasks, experience, education and training needed for your next career move. Career tests are essential tools in opening up new possibilities and helping you to make important career decisions at key points in your life. The Free Career Test is here to help you.
What kind of people take The Free Career Test?
Our users include a broad cross-section of the population at all levels of age and experience, including students and both salaried and hourly workers:
1.Students planning their university major or post-secondary education
2.New graduates who are weighing different career and job alternatives
3.Career changers who are interested in changing careers, either because they are dissatisfied or simply want a change
4.Returners to the workforce after an extended absence due to travel or raising a family
5.Early retirees who are interested in finding rewarding ways of spending their time or are simply too young to retire
1.Students planning their university major or post-secondary education
2.New graduates who are weighing different career and job alternatives
3.Career changers who are interested in changing careers, either because they are dissatisfied or simply want a change
4.Returners to the workforce after an extended absence due to travel or raising a family
5.Early retirees who are interested in finding rewarding ways of spending their time or are simply too young to retire
How van I get more information about the free career test ?
Details
Learn which careers are best for you
The Free Career Test identifies your career interests and then tells you what jobs are out there for you. Uncover the tasks, experience, education and training needed for your next career move. It's an essential tool to make tough career decisions and find careers you might not otherwise explore.
Quickly focus your efforts
Our report was built to be presented on the Web. It displays both a graphical and text based interpretation of your results and enables you to access a wealth of career information. There are 36,729 possible careers in North America and 284 academic majors. You need The Free Career Test to narrow your search.
Get career advice from a source you can trust
The Free Career Test was developed by Dr. Douglas N. Jackson, who has published over 200 research articles and is the Former President of the American Psychological Association's Division of Measurement, Evaluation, and Statistics. Over 1 million people have successfully taken our test to plan their future.
The Free Career Test is managed by career experts with over 40 years of combined experience. We are founding members of the Association of Test Publishers and members of the Better Business Bureau online reliability program.
Now available to the public
Until now, quality career tests like The Free Career Test have not been widely available to the general public. The Web allows us to provide a tool that was previously only available through certified career counselors. The Free Career Test under its more technical name, the CDI, is the only career interest test mentioned in the best selling book, Monster Careers.
Takes only minutes to complete, and your results are saved for future reference
The Free Career Test uses an efficient question format that allows it to be short without sacrificing accuracy. Many tests of this caliber can take over an hour. Our unique test format, respected by career counselors world-wide, takes only 25 minutes to complete. Plus, we save and password protect your results to assist your decision-making process.
Help prevent costly career mistakes
Working in an unsatisfying career can dramatically reduce happiness, productivity, self-confidence and self worth. Pursuing unclear career objectives or stagnating in dead-end situations costs you money.
Be happy
The Free Career Test measures career interests, which research has shown are related to career satisfaction and happiness.
Learn which careers are best for you
The Free Career Test identifies your career interests and then tells you what jobs are out there for you. Uncover the tasks, experience, education and training needed for your next career move. It's an essential tool to make tough career decisions and find careers you might not otherwise explore.
Quickly focus your efforts
Our report was built to be presented on the Web. It displays both a graphical and text based interpretation of your results and enables you to access a wealth of career information. There are 36,729 possible careers in North America and 284 academic majors. You need The Free Career Test to narrow your search.
Get career advice from a source you can trust
The Free Career Test was developed by Dr. Douglas N. Jackson, who has published over 200 research articles and is the Former President of the American Psychological Association's Division of Measurement, Evaluation, and Statistics. Over 1 million people have successfully taken our test to plan their future.
The Free Career Test is managed by career experts with over 40 years of combined experience. We are founding members of the Association of Test Publishers and members of the Better Business Bureau online reliability program.
Now available to the public
Until now, quality career tests like The Free Career Test have not been widely available to the general public. The Web allows us to provide a tool that was previously only available through certified career counselors. The Free Career Test under its more technical name, the CDI, is the only career interest test mentioned in the best selling book, Monster Careers.
Takes only minutes to complete, and your results are saved for future reference
The Free Career Test uses an efficient question format that allows it to be short without sacrificing accuracy. Many tests of this caliber can take over an hour. Our unique test format, respected by career counselors world-wide, takes only 25 minutes to complete. Plus, we save and password protect your results to assist your decision-making process.
Help prevent costly career mistakes
Working in an unsatisfying career can dramatically reduce happiness, productivity, self-confidence and self worth. Pursuing unclear career objectives or stagnating in dead-end situations costs you money.
Be happy
The Free Career Test measures career interests, which research has shown are related to career satisfaction and happiness.
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