This week, I start a new series based on cases and common questions (names and exact details are changed for client privacy).
The assessment results show Social Worker as my best-fit career, but I have no interest in that field. Does this mean that I won't be successful in my career unless I pursue Social Work? No
But That Career Isn't on the Assessment Results?
Client: I want to be an engineer.
Me: It's great that you have an idea. Why do you want to be an engineer?
Client: My father is an engineer, I have learned a lot about what it takes to be an engineer from his experience, and I think this field will work for me.
Me: Many naturally consider career choices of family members with which they are familiar when beginning evaluating options. The top careers listed on your assessment are Pastor, Teacher, Social Worker and other helping professions. Have you ever considered any of these.
Client: No, I don't like any of those professions? Why does engineer not show as a strong fit (client becoming frustrated). These assessments are worthless - why did I even do this?
Interpretation = Fit
Our experiences with tests and exams have typically involved reading results as absolute truths. The beauty of assessment results lies in the wide range of information revealed, all of which may be appropriately used employing a great deal of interpretation. First, the assessments are meant to show you what thousands of others over decades who responded just like you indicated that they preferred in terms of professions, work-related values, tasks, etc. Additionally, the results also present one's learning style, preferences about interacting with and leading others and much more. With interpretation, assessments provide insight for career decision-making rather commandments to rigidly follow.
How Can You Find Your Fit?
For the engineering student, the results showed his preference for practical learning gaining skills that can be immediately used. They also revealed his preference for understanding and listening to the needs and feelings of others, enjoying group work and feeling quite comfortable taking charge and leading others. In my experience, results of those who enjoy Engineering are usually different. While engineers design things that we use everyday (implying a desire for practical learning), their reports typically show a preference for understanding concepts theoretically leaning on their talents in science or math. While engineers work with others, their results don't usually show a preference for taking great time to understand and listen to the feelings of others, as one might expect from a Pastor, Teacher, Social Worker, or similar professional.
What Should This Client Do?
I would suggest that the client research and review many of the professions on the results, including many he had never before considered. If this client chose one of the helping professions discussed, he would likely work with many colleagues with personality preferences and interests that are very similar to his. Because of this, he would likely understand others and be understood reasonably well most of the time by professionals in his field. The drawback is that he may have a hard time standing out to employers and showing how his talents are unique relative to other job candidates.
If he chose Engineering, he would likely find that most of his colleagues would like him to be the member of the firm who develops and maintains relationships with clients. Having been trained in engineering by that point, he would likely enjoy coupling his talent of listening to client needs and working closely with his fellow engineer colleagues to meet those needs. To be clear, I am not saying that engineers do not enjoy working with their clients or other people! I am, however, saying that in my experience, I have found that they typically exhibit primary satisfaction at using their scientific and mathematical skills toward solving practical problems over striving to understand and manage the challenges inherent in interacting with others as a central work task.
Are you unsure about a career or college major choice and would like decades of research to affirm your career-related decisions? At EPIC Career, we are here to help.
The assessment results show Social Worker as my best-fit career, but I have no interest in that field. Does this mean that I won't be successful in my career unless I pursue Social Work? No
But That Career Isn't on the Assessment Results?
Client: I want to be an engineer.
Me: It's great that you have an idea. Why do you want to be an engineer?
Client: My father is an engineer, I have learned a lot about what it takes to be an engineer from his experience, and I think this field will work for me.
Me: Many naturally consider career choices of family members with which they are familiar when beginning evaluating options. The top careers listed on your assessment are Pastor, Teacher, Social Worker and other helping professions. Have you ever considered any of these.
Client: No, I don't like any of those professions? Why does engineer not show as a strong fit (client becoming frustrated). These assessments are worthless - why did I even do this?
Interpretation = Fit
Our experiences with tests and exams have typically involved reading results as absolute truths. The beauty of assessment results lies in the wide range of information revealed, all of which may be appropriately used employing a great deal of interpretation. First, the assessments are meant to show you what thousands of others over decades who responded just like you indicated that they preferred in terms of professions, work-related values, tasks, etc. Additionally, the results also present one's learning style, preferences about interacting with and leading others and much more. With interpretation, assessments provide insight for career decision-making rather commandments to rigidly follow.
How Can You Find Your Fit?
For the engineering student, the results showed his preference for practical learning gaining skills that can be immediately used. They also revealed his preference for understanding and listening to the needs and feelings of others, enjoying group work and feeling quite comfortable taking charge and leading others. In my experience, results of those who enjoy Engineering are usually different. While engineers design things that we use everyday (implying a desire for practical learning), their reports typically show a preference for understanding concepts theoretically leaning on their talents in science or math. While engineers work with others, their results don't usually show a preference for taking great time to understand and listen to the feelings of others, as one might expect from a Pastor, Teacher, Social Worker, or similar professional.
What Should This Client Do?
I would suggest that the client research and review many of the professions on the results, including many he had never before considered. If this client chose one of the helping professions discussed, he would likely work with many colleagues with personality preferences and interests that are very similar to his. Because of this, he would likely understand others and be understood reasonably well most of the time by professionals in his field. The drawback is that he may have a hard time standing out to employers and showing how his talents are unique relative to other job candidates.
If he chose Engineering, he would likely find that most of his colleagues would like him to be the member of the firm who develops and maintains relationships with clients. Having been trained in engineering by that point, he would likely enjoy coupling his talent of listening to client needs and working closely with his fellow engineer colleagues to meet those needs. To be clear, I am not saying that engineers do not enjoy working with their clients or other people! I am, however, saying that in my experience, I have found that they typically exhibit primary satisfaction at using their scientific and mathematical skills toward solving practical problems over striving to understand and manage the challenges inherent in interacting with others as a central work task.
Are you unsure about a career or college major choice and would like decades of research to affirm your career-related decisions? At EPIC Career, we are here to help.
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