The 8 Best Career Aptitude Tests to Help You Thrive
What do you want to be when you grow up? From kindergarten through college, it’s a question we’re often asked, and your answer tends to change over time. Some kids grow up dreaming of becoming pilots or veterinarians. Others, however, have yet to find their passion or are interested in many different jobs, making it hard to choose just one.
While choosing a career path can be stressful and confusing, it doesn’t have to be as tricky, thanks to career aptitude tests. A career test looks at your skills, values, and personality traits to help you find the best job for you. We’ve reviewed the best career aptitude tests to help you thrive in both your personal and professional life.
What is a Career Aptitude Test?
Career aptitude tests are quick yet insightful ways to figure out where your career interests and skills lie and how they can translate into a fulfilling career. Most of the time, these tests are a series of questions that look at a person’s skills, abilities, and personality. There are many types of career aptitude tests, such as interest inventories, assessments of skills, and personality tests. Some are given in person by career counselors or psychologists, but can complete most tests online.
Most people can benefit from career aptitude tests, even if they don’t want to change careers or aren’t sure what they want to do now. First of all, these tests can help people find possible career paths they might not have thought of before. Also, they can give accurate information about a person’s strengths and weaknesses, which can help them make more deliberate, well-informed career decisions.
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Top 8 Online Career Aptitude Tests
When you type “online career aptitude tests” into a search engine, odds are hundreds of results will turn up. So how do you know which career aptitude tests are worth your time and money? We’ve reviewed the eight best online aptitude tests to help you hone in on the one that best suits your interests.
JobTest.org
JobTest.org is trusted by millions of working professionals from all over the world. It has a 15-minute questionnaire that looks at your interests, goals, background, personality, and work preferences to help you find jobs that align with who you are. The backbone of JobTest.org’s aptitude test is a powerful machine-learning algorithm. This AI/MI algorithm gives accurate and personalized results that help users understand their career options in detail.
The report gives you information about your career personality, your top job suggestions, and an overview of each job, including what you can expect to earn and how happy you will be with the job. It also gives users a list of steps to get back on track with their ideal career, like getting a Master’s degree in a particular field or making a better resume that shows off their skills. You will need to pay for a more detailed, premium analysis of your report. That said, JobTest.org also offers customers a money-back guarantee if they don’t find the results helpful or valuable.
Pros
- Utilizes powerful AI/ML algorithm
- Highly personalized
- A premium analysis is available with a money-back guarantee
- Provides step-by-step guidelines on how to transition to a new career
Cons
- Cannot take the test multiple times
Bottom Line: JobTest.org is a one-stop shop to help guide you to your ideal career path. JobTest.org uses a strong algorithm to give users a personalized analysis of jobs that match their background, personality, goals, interests, and workplace preferences.
Truity
Truity is a free personality profiler that offers scientifically proven career aptitude tests based on the Holland Codes system and Big Five Theories. Interested people can choose from many aptitude tests. These tests can help you find jobs, industries, and even college majors that fit your personality and character traits, as well as tasks, activities, and projects you will likely enjoy. Users can also figure out how they work with others, how they problem-solve, and what drives their motivation.
The most comprehensive of the tests, the Career Personality Profiler, has 94 questions that take 10 to 15 minutes to complete. While you will receive free preliminary results from this test, you must pay $19 for a more detailed report.
Pros
- Various tests offered
- Scientifically-proven tests based on the Holland Codes system and Big Five theories
Cons
- Must pay for the full report
- Results delete after two weeks
Bottom Line: Truity is a free personality profiler that offers scientifically proven career aptitude tests based on the Holland Codes system and Big Five Theories. While users can receive preliminary results for free, they must pay $19 for a full report.
MAPP Test
The Motivational Appraisal of Personal Potential (MAPP) is a test for students, recent graduates, and working adults who want to change careers. This 22-minute test was reviewed by psychologists and is incredibly accurate. It mainly focuses on your likes and dislikes and is designed to be taken quickly, so your answers are based on gut instinct. As soon as you finish the questionnaire, you’ll be able to see your results, which will include your career goals, areas of work, and possible careers.
MAPP has different packages, but you can take the test for free and get some preliminary results. For example, users can purchase its “starter package” for $90 to view their top 20 general career matches. MAPP’s “executive package” is $149.95, provides a 30-page assessment, and ranks matches for nearly 1000 careers.
Pros
- Tested by psychologists
- Time efficient
- Various packages available
Cons
- Packages are relatively expensive
Bottom Line: This 22-minute test is tested by psychologists and is incredibly accurate. It mainly focuses on your likes and dislikes and is designed to be taken quickly, so your answers are based on gut instinct.
Keirsey Temperament Sorter
The Keirsey Temperament Sorter is a career personality test based on the Keirsey Temperament Theory. This aptitude test measures how people communicate and what their actions are likely to be. The Keirsey Temperament Sorter doesn’t give specific career advice. Instead, it helps people learn more about their personality and temperament type. This test has 70 questions and takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes to complete.
After you fill out the questionnaire, you will be put into one of four groups: the artisan, the guardian, the idealist, or the rational. These four temperaments are split into four character subtypes based on the Myers-Briggs model. Users can take the test for free but also pay for more specific information about their personality type.
Pros
- Available in various languages
- Preliminary information is offered for free
- Based on Keirsey Temperament Theory
Cons
- It does not provide exact career advice
- Must pay for further information about temperament type
Bottom Line: Based on Keirsey Temperament Theory, the Keirsey Temperament Sorter is a great way to dive deeper into your personality and temperament. Users can use the results of this test to do their own career analysis, but this aptitude test won’t tell you exactly what jobs are right for you.
123 Career Test
The 123 Career Test is a 10-minute free career test that helps users answer one overarching question: What career best fits your personality? The test is based on the Holland Codes, John Holland’s theory of personality types and careers. This aptitude test has been around since the 1950s and is still one of the most popular ways to help people choose a job.
Throughout the test, you must go through 15 questions and scenarios depicted through visuals. Every question provides users with four options, and individuals must select both their favorite and least favorite activity using the green tick and the red X. Rather than assigning you to one of the six personality types in the Holland model, the test ranks how these traits apply to you from most to least dominant. After you finish the test, you will get a list of job suggestions based on how you did.
Pros
- Catered toward visual thinkers
- Free
- Based on Holland Codes
Cons
- Not as extensive as other personality tests
- Based on preference rather than skills
Bottom Line: Based on Holland Codes, 123Test helps users discover what career best fits their personality. Tailored toward visual learners, this test is not geared toward those looking for jobs based on their talents or skill sets.
CareerFitter
CareerFitter has been around since 1998 and is among the oldest and most popular personality tests. This personality and career test examines how your energy, perception, planning style, and decision-making style affect you at work. This is a 60-question quiz that will take approximately 10 minutes to complete.
Users can take the test for free and receive a general assessment of their potential career. By the end of the free test, users will learn what careers are compatible with their personalities and how much they can earn from those careers. Users will also learn more about their “work personalities” and their leadership and management styles. You can also opt to purchase the $29.95 premium version. This 10-page report includes a personality chart, personality details, ideal business environments, management approaches, preferred team-building approaches, and the best career choices for you.
Pros
- Established personality test
- Some information is available for free
- Profile progressively takes shape through the questionnaire
- Relatively affordable
Cons
- You must pay for a detailed report
Bottom Line: Career Fitter has been around for 20 years and is widely used by respected companies, universities, and HR departments around the globe. It mostly looks at your “work personality,” which is made up of your energy, how you see things, how you plan, and how you make decisions.
Career Explorer
Created by Sokanu, Career Explorer is a 30-minute career test that uses machine learning to match your interests, goals, history, and workplace preferences with potential careers. The test consists of three main sections: personality, career matches, and degree matches. One unique aspect of this platform is that the system updates in real-time. Anytime an individual uploads a new piece of information, Career Explorer will adjust all of your career recommendations on the spot. Sokanu is also constantly updating the algorithm to remain accurate and relevant.
Users can opt for the free version, which gives them access to career matches, insights, and a preview of your full report. There’s also a $48 yearly membership option, which includes 800+ career matches from over 40 areas of study, a personality report, and a career coaching session.
Pros
- Innovative technology
- Access to a free Discord community
- Career coaching session included in the membership
Cons:
- Very time intensive
- Free version offers limited benefits
Bottom Line: This aptitude test takes a fair amount of time, but it uses cutting-edge technology with advanced machine learning that changes and gets better over time. Choosing the $48 membership also gives you access to a career coaching session.
The Princeton Review
The Princeton Review offers a career quiz consisting of 24 multiple-choice questions. Each question includes a pair of statements, and you must select the statement that best describes you. While this short quiz only takes a few minutes to complete, you must sign up for a free account before you can view your results.
After you finish the quiz, you’ll get a list of jobs that match your “work personality” and your interests. The results are color-coded, with each color representing expediting, planning, communicating, or administering. You will also receive a list of specific fields you are well-suited for, which you can click on for a longer description of each profession.
Pros
- Fast quiz
- Offers detailed and easy-to-understand insight
Cons
- Not to the most thorough
- Must register for an account
Bottom Line: Despite needing to register for a free account, The Princeton Review’s career quiz is relatively quick. Users will receive an extensive list of career recommendations and easy-to-understand results for free.
Why are career tests important?
You may be wondering, “Why do I need to take a career test?” Rather than go at it alone, there are many ways that free career tests can serve you and your career.
Valuable insight
You may have a good grasp of your strengths and weaknesses, but do you know how those skills translate to the workplace? Free career aptitude tests can help you better understand your abilities, interests, and values and how they connect to various career routes.
Time-efficient
Scrolling through multiple job boards and websites to “find” your dream job can be time-consuming. A career assessment test is a great starting point for job exploration. After taking a quiz, you can efficiently narrow down your job search to positions that are a good fit for you.
Eliminate stress
Like choosing what college you want to attend, selecting an occupation is a monumental and anxiety-inducing decision. Career exams offer a structured method for job search and decision-making, which can reduce some of the stress surrounding this choice.
Additional pathways
There are many open job positions, many of which you might not know about, waiting for the right person to take on the role. Career tests can broaden your horizons and introduce you to potential work opportunities you may not have already explored.
Provide step-by-step assistance
You may already know your “dream job” is. But what are the steps that you need to get that job? Career tests frequently include individualized action plans and tools to help you achieve your professional objectives.
Justify choices
You may be passionate about a particular field or industry, but are your character traits and skills compatible with that profession? Career tests can provide the reinforcement and assurance you need to know you’re on the right path.
Increase awareness
You will constantly strive for growth for your entire working life. Career tests can give you a better sense of your work style, preferences, and personality, equipping you with the necessary tools to continue improving and progressing professionally.
Gain assurance
Career tests can give you the knowledge and insights you need to make wise decisions about your future, equipping you with confidence and direction in your career decisions.
Personalized guidance
Many factors must be considered when finding the perfect job for you, and values are one of them. Career tests can help you locate positions and companies that fit your values and a sense of purpose, leading to greater job satisfaction in the long run.
Allow you to live up to your full potential
To succeed professionally, you must be in a job compatible with your background, skills, and interests. Career tests can help increase your chances of career satisfaction and fulfillment by providing direction and clarity.
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Benefits of taking a career test
There are many ways that working professionals (or soon-to-be working professionals) can benefit from taking a career aptitude test. Here are some of the many advantages:
Clarification
Are you still trying to figure out what your strengths, weaknesses, passions, and values are? That’s okay. Career tests can help you identify what these are and help you find a career that aligns with these factors.
Identify new options
You hear about jobs like doctor, pilot, author, and singer as you grow up. But these are just a handful of occupations in a sea of industries and professions. Career tests can introduce you to new pathways that you may not know about.
Hone in on one path
You may be a talented writer who also loves working with kids. Should you go down the publishing route or try your hand at being a teacher? Career tests can help you confidently select the best career path for you.
Be practical
Many people have career dreams and aspirations, but it’s essential to be realistic too. Aptitude tests can help you set attainable goals and sketch out a professional path aligning with your ambitions.
Discover your work personality
You may be social and outgoing with your friends, but a work environment may entirely bring out a different side of your personality. Aptitude tests help you discover what type of work environment you would thrive in and your preferred pace and communication style.
Increase self-esteem
It can be challenging to make monumental career decisions without the help of an expert. Career tests can confirm and reassure you that you are making the right decisions and moving in the proper direction.
Make better choices
It can be difficult looking at a job description and knowing if it’s the right fit for you. Aptitude tests offer a framework for assessing job opportunities, which can help you make more informed career decisions.
Devise a plan
Once you have an idea about what job you want, how do you go about getting it? Frequently, aptitude tests provide you with more than just a list of compatible jobs; these platforms will also equip you with a customized action plan for reaching your career goals.
Learn how to convey your thoughts to others
Whether you are networking or interviewing for a job position, you are often asked to talk about your skills, interests, strengths, and weaknesses. You can utilize the results from various aptitude tests to communicate facts about yourself to potential team members or hiring managers.
Find work happiness
Finding a job that aligns with your skills, passions, and values will lead to increased long-term satisfaction, both personally and professionally.
How to choose a career test
With so many career tests available online, how should you select the right one for you? Here’s what you should keep in mind when making that decision:
Purpose
Every career test has a different mission in mind. Some are made to help you figure out your general working style, strengths, and weaknesses, while others are made to give you specific jobs and career paths. Depending on what stage of your career you are at, some tests are going to be more valuable than others. Think about what information is going to benefit you the most right now.
Format
Aptitude test formats vastly differ. While many of the ones listed in this roundup are available online, there are also tests that you can take in person. There are even tests administered by career counselors that involve a verbal Q&A. Think about what format would work best for you and what you would get the most out of.
Cost
While many aptitude tests can be taken for free, many free tests offer limited information and results. Consider how much you can afford to spend on a career test. Because an aptitude test is typically a one-time expense, it’s also essential to think about whether it’s worthwhile to splurge on the best one for you.
Validity and reliability
How established is the exam you are taking? Do some research before paying the price for a career aptitude test. Is it utilizing an algorithm? Has it been scientifically proven to yield accurate results? You want to consider these factors to guarantee that an aptitude test is worth your time and money.
Credibility
Before paying for a career aptitude test, consider the company behind the test. How established is this company, and what do you know about it? Check out its website and any previous customer reviews you can find. Finding first-hand feedback from individuals who have already taken the test is a great way to discover whether or not the test is worth its price tag.
Customization
The more personal an aptitude test’s results are, the more helpful they will be. In some tests, you will discover your “working personality.” In other tests, you will get a full report detailing what careers you would excel at. Strongly consider opting for a package with more customized feedback and information.
Tips for taking a career test
Now you are ready to take your career aptitude test! Here are things to remember before, after, and during the assessment.
Read the fine print
Before you start the assessment, check and see if there are any associated instructions. To get the most out of the test, you want to ensure you are answering all the questions correctly and to the best of your ability.
Eliminate any possible distractions
You’ve invested in this aptitude test, so you want to get the most out of it. Some tests are based on gut instinct; others have questions that involve thoughtful introspection. Regardless, you want to make sure you can focus on each question without any noise or chaos going on around you.
Be candid
Regarding aptitude tests, there are no right or wrong answers. Avoid trying to present yourself in a certain way, and don’t second-guess yourself. Instead, answer questions in a way that’s most truthful to you.
Go with your gut
More often than not, your first instinct is the right one. If your gut is telling you one thing, don’t overthink it. It’s telling you to answer each question in a certain way for a reason.
Don’t rush
Aptitude tests can take a few minutes to an hour to complete. Regardless of how long your test is, take each question as it comes and treat each answer with equal importance. Give yourself ample time to get the test, so you don’t need to rush through it.
Take your results with a grain of salt
Aptitude tests are not meant to tell you everything you need to know about your career. At the end of the day, you know yourself better than a test. If your results point you toward a career path you don’t want to be on, that’s okay. Pay attention to the valuable information, and disregard anything that doesn’t align with your goals or interests.
Reflect
Take some time to think about your results before you make any big decisions about your career. What new information did you learn about yourself? What takeaways were you most excited about?
Use your feedback as a launching pad
If you’ve been at a standstill with your career, use your aptitude results as your latest launching pad. Are there any industries you want to explore or positions you are excited to apply to?
Final Thoughts
Choosing a career is an important decision that will significantly affect the rest of your life. Picking the right job can improve career satisfaction, financial stability, personal growth, and professional fulfillment. Because it is such a monumental decision, it can also be an overwhelming one. Thankfully, you don’t need to make this choice on your own—there are resources to help you get there.
JobTest.org is made to help people figure out their natural skills, interests, and preferences and then use that information to look into careers that might be a good fit for them. Using a powerful algorithm, JobTest.org provides each individual with customized feedback and insights, as well as a step-by-step process on how to get where they want professionally.