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Self-Assessment Tests

Assessments can increase your awareness of your interests, values, and educational goals. They will also provide suggestions for occupations, which seem well suited to the type of person you are today. However, they DO NOT make decisions for you, hunt for your next job, or provide an authoritative list of those careers you should consider. Assessments are tools to use with your career planning but should not be used as a deciding factor. You owe it to yourself to gather additional information about your options so that continued evaluation and clarification may occur.

Strong Interest Inventory

The Strong Interest Inventory (SII) is an instrument designed to assess your interests. It compares your preferences to those of people in various careers, so that you can see what types of work you might enjoy most. It also matches your preferences to six broad areas of work environments and provides you with a 3-letter code that you can use to further research careers of interest. The SII costs $10.

To take the Strong Interest Inventory, you must first speak with a UCS counselor, either during walk-in hours or through an appointment. A counselor will review your results with you during a follow-up appointment.

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) suggests that there are 16 different personality types. This instrument will give you an understanding of personality variables which can be important in determining a “fit” when researching your career options. The instrument will also give you insight into your interactions with others-both at work and outside of work. The SII and MBTI make a good package: the SII broadens your ideas of fields in which to do your career research; the MBTI helps you recognize what personality factors to consider as you plan for the future. The MBTI Form M costs $17 and Form Q costs $38.

To take the MBTI, you must first speak with a UCS counselor, either during walk-in hours or through an appointment. A counselor will individually review your results with you during a follow-up appointment.

Self-Directed Search

Self-Directed Search (SDS) enables individuals to choose careers and fields of study that best match their self-reported skills and interests. For some, it helps to narrow down the number of career options they are considering; for others, it helps to increase the number of options they might consider. Individuals answer questions about their aspirations, activities, competencies, occupations, and other self-estimates and discover occupations that best fit their interests and skills.

To take SDS, come by the UCS front desk between 8:00am and 4:00pm. This assessment will be reviewed with you by a UCS career counselor. You will also receive an occupations finder booklet and a majors finder booklet. The SDS costs $7.50.