I don’t use assessments in my career coaching practice, but I don’t have anything against them. I always come back to this quote:
All models are wrong, but some are useful. — George Box.
Sometimes people who’ve done the MBTI or the Strong Interest Inventory or any number of other tests present them to me expectantly. They seem to have the belief that their assessment has predictive value — as though I will peer at it with special eyes, like a fortune teller gazing into a crystal ball — and see the vision for their happiness. I can’t do that, and I don’t think anyone can.
On the other hand, I do think some of these tests can give people a new way of seeing themselves. They give us a vocabulary for understanding things we know but we rarely talk about. The best ones help us see our uniqueness, and appreciate that our combination of traits, interests, strengths.
With that said, here are two free, scientifically valid tests that might interest you, produced by positive psychology experts I respect and admire.
Dr. Martin Seligman, the father of positive psychology, suggests in this terrific 25 minute video that people can be happier in any job by taking this free (registration required) Signature Strengths test and then committing to use your top strengths as you tackle the parts of your job that you don’t enjoy. I think it’s a great approach.
Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman has a few free (no registration required) tests that are fruitful ways to think about self-actualization. His work extends Maslow’s “heirarchy of needs” model, and I find it credible and instructive as a way of thinking about challenges and contentment. Here’s an 18 minute video explaining his approach.
