Test your professional aptitudes

The methodology is intended for selecting different types of professions. It can be used for career guidance for young people and adults.

The respondent must choose only one type of activity from each of the 20 pairs of proposed activities and put a „+” sign in the corresponding cell on the answer sheet. The viewing time is not limited. However, the questions should not be thought about for a long time and the test usually takes 20-30 minutes. It can be used individually and in a group.

Instruction

Please read the descriptions carefully and first choose for yourself the type of activity you prefer to do. 

Then you have to rate each of the two descriptions:

+++ if you really like the type of activity 

++ if you definitely like it 

+  if you like it more than you don’t like it

–  if you don’t like it 

– –  if you definitely don’t like it

– – – if you don’t like it at all. 

The ratings of the descriptions in a pair do not have to match, since you previously preferred one of them. Moreover, both evaluations can be both negative and positive. Description marks are entered on the answer sheet in the cells with the corresponding numbers.

As you answer, complete Table 1 by marking the appropriate number of „-” or „+”. Then transfer all the „+” and „-” from table 1 to table 2. Calculate how many „+” and „-” you have under each column of table 2. The dominant number of „+” will show you which type of professional activity fits best to you.

Questionnaire

I prefer: 

1a. Taking care of animals1b. Servicing machines, instruments, tools (servicing, adjusting them)
2a. Taking care of the sick2b. Compiling tables, diagrams, documents on the computer
3a. Checking the quality of illustrations in books, posters, artistic postcards, brochures3b. Monitoring the condition and development of plants
4a. Processing materials (wood, plywood, metal, plastic, etc.)4b. Delivering goods to the consumer, advertising, offering and selling
5a. Discussing popular science books, articles5b. Discussing artistic books (or plays, concerts)
6a. Caring for young animals (animals of any breed)6b. Teaching others (including young people) to perform various actions (work, education, sports)
7a. Copying drawings, images (or adjusting musical instruments)7b. Managing various means of transport (lifting, transport) – cranes, tractors, forklifts, etc.
8a. Repairing various household items (furniture, appliances, etc.)8b. Organizing and keeping records (papers, documents, etc.)
9a. Planting and growing flowers, trees, vegetables9b. Selling goods, products, services to the public
10a. Giving presentations, lectures, speeches10b. Writing articles, reports, reviews
11a. Cooking, baking11b. Doing manual work (welding, carpentry, etc.)
12a. Doing laboratory research, experiments12b. Providing medical care (nursing, etc.)
13a. Playing musical instruments13b. Dancing
14a. Doing sports, physical exercise14b. Watching sports, physical exercise
15a. Creating designs, plans15b. Building, constructing
16a. Maintaining and repairing vehicles (cars, motorcycles, etc.)16b. Operating vehicles (cars, buses, trains, etc.)
17a. Taking care of children, babies17b. Teaching children, students
18a. Advising, counseling18b. Persuading, influencing others
19a. Investing money, managing finances19b. Handling money, making financial transactions
20a. Managing people, organizations20b. Leading, directing activities 

Table 1

     
1b2b
3b4b5b
 6b 
 7b 8b
  9b 
10а  10b 
11а11b12а12b13а
13b14а14b15а15b
16а 16b 17а
 17b18а 18b
 19а 19b 
20а  20b 

Table 2

PТNSA
1b2bЗа
4b3b5b
6b7b9b
10а10b8b
12а11b11а12b13а
14b14а13b15а15b
16b17b16а19b17а
18а19а20а20b18b
     
Total +Total +Total +Total +Total +
Total –Total –Total –Total –Total –
     

The obtained result is an indicator of the degree of expression of the conscious tendency to one of the five types of professions, which are coded in the questionnaire with the letters P, T, N, S, A.

P — professions of the „person – person” type; the main object of labor is man.

T — professions of the „man – technique” type; the main subject of work is technology, technical systems.

N — professions of the type „man – nature”; the main subject of work is nature.

S — professions of the type „man – system of signs/symbols” (for example, computer operators, workers in a printing house, etc.).

A — professions of the „man – artistic image” type.