When we’re young, most of us have no idea what we should do with our lives. When we go to college, most of us have no idea what we should do with our lives. When we graduate from college, most of us have no idea what we should do with our lives. Enter the aptitude test, which tells you exactly what you should do with your life.
Aptitude tests are all over the place and not necessarily the most trustworthy career steerers in the world, but, as with most things, they can be hugely helpful if you take them with a grain of salt. With that in mind, here’s a roundup of our favorite career aptitude test websites. You’ll find a silly one from Buzzfeed, a very serious one called the Myers-Briggs, and a couple options in between. Sharpen those pencils, ready your mouses, and dive in!
- The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator test, commonly referred to as MBTI, is likely the most famous of all aptitude tests, and while you have to shell out some money to take the real thing, there are a bunch of mostly on-point knockoffs online. One of the best of the free copycat versions is available at a website called Human Metrics. Like plenty of other tests of its kind, the MBTI is a self-report questionnaire and will spit out its results in a 4-letter formula. While it shouldn’t be your only steering wheel, the MBTI purports to help you find your place at work, school, and beyond.
- Another free test, the O*NET Interest Profiler is actually sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor. The site, which carries the tagline “My Next Move,” advertises itself as a tool to “help you find out what your interests are and how they relate to the world of work.” The test itself is fairly quick and simple, and the results page conjures up some fantastic career choices compatible with your interests. Even better? The site allows you to do some simple research on whether or not your compatible careers will require lots of schooling and training or if you’ll be able to jump into an industry as a novice.
- Unlike our first two options, the StrengthsQuest test is a paid tool that will set you back $9.95, but the moola buys you some great features. Firstly, the test breaks down your talent themes in the form of a top five list. The second part of the results page gives you some personalized insight into your paths to success in school, work, and in your personal life.
- So this BuzzFeed quiz isn’t gonna be quite as effective as our first three options, but it’ll no doubt be the quickest and most fun of the bunch. The short “test,” which is called “What Career Should You Actually Have?” offers some silly prompts like what your favorite movie trilogy is. For whatever it’s worth, after taking the test my recommended career path was a CEO. It told me, “You are a visionary.” Which sounds about right to be honest.
