Career tests, or assessments, are instruments which measure different aspects of yourself as they relate to your career options. For instance, some tests measure personality traits while others may measure your interests. These types of tests can be a helpful tool in your process of exploring majors and careers.

 

Should I take career tests? • How do I sign up for tests? • Tips for taking the tests • Online Resources

 

What tests are available at the CEC?

The CEC offers several types of career tests, each measuring various aspects of yourself and providing different types of information. While there are many free or inexpensive career tests available online, these particular tests were carefully researched and chosen based on their test construction, validity and reliability statistics. Prices listed are offered only to currently enrolled UT students.

 

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and

The Strong Interest Inventory (SII) - $36 for both

 

The CEC has created a package of two career tests to begin identifying options. The cost of this package is for both the MBTI and SII. The MBTI measures your personality style and provides information on career options. The SII compares your interests and hobbies with those of professionals in various careers and provides suggestions for careers and majors. Tests are taken online and require approximately 30 minutes to complete each one. Results are obtained through a small group interpretation workshop, which are held weekly at the CEC. This MBTI-SII package may be helpful for students who are undecided about a major or career, or would like more career ideas generated for them. Please note: Tests must be paid for and completed as a package, and cannot be paid for or taken separately. To view sample reports of these tests, please click on the following links:

MBTI sample report (pdf)

SII sample report (pdf)

 

The Birkman Method - $65

This test identifies your motivational needs and stress behaviors within a work environment. While the strength of this test lies in its motivational assessment, the Birkman also measures interests and offers career suggestions. This test is taken online. Results are obtained by individual interpretation with a career counselor. The Birkman is best suited for upper-division or graduate students who have had previous work experience and already have a career direction in mind.

Sample Birkman Result (PDF)

 

Self-Directed Search (SDS)- $5

This test is a self-scoring workbook that measures your interests and helps to identify related career and major options. You will receive an Assessment Booklet, Occupations Finder, and Educational Opportunities Finder. This test is most helpful for students who want immediate results at a low cost, although the results are not as comprehensive as the other tests. Students are encouraged to schedule a follow-up meeting with their counselor to discuss the results.

 

Should I take career tests?

While career tests can offer valuable information, understand that no test can be comprehensive enough to give you a definitive answer to “What should I do?” The results you obtain from career testing can provide you with more information about yourself, offer new career ideas, and/or help confirm options you may have already been considering.  At the CEC, we view career tests as one of several ways to learn more about yourself and career options, and believe that testing is most beneficial when used as part of the career counseling process.

 

How do I sign up for tests?

Because the CEC views career testing as part of the career counseling process, you will first need to meet with a career counselor to address your questions and concerns. Together, you and your counselor can decide which test option may be most helpful for you. Once you have identified the test(s) to take, our front desk staff will assist you with instructions on how to take the tests online, including URL and password, and will set up the interpretation time for you to obtain your results (not applicable for SDS). See our calendar for available days and times when the weekly MBTI-SII workshops will be held.

 

The CEC currently accepts payment in the form of checks or money orders only. Unfortunately we cannot accept cash, credit cards, or Bevo Bucks. Please make checks or money orders out to “UT Austin.”

 

Tips for taking the tests

 

Other resources available online

If you are interested in learning more about other career tests, there are a variety of resources available online. The following websites may offer you a supplemental or alternative method for gaining more information about your career options. Please keep in mind that these tests may not have been researched as extensively as the ones the CEC provides, and thus we cannot assure the results of these assessments. You are welcome to bring in your reports and meet with a counselor to discuss the results of the online tests. As with most career tests, these online tests may be helpful in providing you with some information in your process of exploring career options.