Personality Assessment

Johannes Gumpp (1626–1646), Self-portrait, 1646.

The first key to making a successful career choice is to know yourself and what makes you happy. Is it important to work closely with other people, or are you happiest working alone? Are you a detail-oriented person, or do you like to focus on the big picture? Are you comfortable taking the lead, or do you prefer a less visible role in your work? Do you like to see immediately how your work makes a difference, or is it okay to wait awhile, even years, to see the ultimate results of your work?

There are a number of tools available that can help you assess yourself — your strengths, your weaknesses, and what motivates you in your work and life. The most popular tool is called the Myers-Briggs Personality Assessment. This test will indicate whether you are an introvert or an extravert, how you assimilate information in your environment, whether you are detail-oriented or big-picture oriented, and many other preferences that make up who you are. Most career centers have this assessment available, but you can also find a list online of where you can take the assessment. While the Myers-Briggs test will not tell you a definite career path to follow, it is a first step in making a choice that will help you be the happiest in your career.

Some people find personality tests to be touchy-feely but I cannot emphasize enough how important it can be in setting yourself up for long-term happiness. The consequences of making a choice that turns out to be a poor fit with your personality can affect all aspects of your life. I know a person who was accepted into a prestigious graduate program in molecular biology, but once she started graduate school it didn't feel like the best fit for her. She nevertheless continued with the program because she didn't know what else to do with her life. After several years, she ended up depressed and confused about what to do. After seeking help, she is now pursuing another career in winemaking that uses her best skills. She's lucky that she was able to listen to her inner voice and reassess her career choices while she was still relatively young.

The more carefully you ask yourself now who you are and what you value in life, the better the chance that you'll make a career choice that will be satisfying and fulfilling, so please start your career planning by taking the Myers-Briggs assessment!