If you’re looking for a job for the first time or you’d like to switch careers, you may be wondering where your talents lie. The one thing you know is that you want to find a job that you enjoy, but how can you tell what you would be good at before you get the job?

The best way to determine a job worth pursuing is by doing a job skills assessment. A self-assessment will allow you to explore your personality type, find out what you’re good at, and determine your values. Here’s one in the resource section of my website to get your started.

Here’s a list of questions that may be a part of a self-assessment:

• Do you tend to be introverted or extroverted?
• Do you generally remain calm, or do you get nervous easily?
• How organized are you?
• What is your general temperament?
• What are your general interests?
• Do you enjoy risky situations?

Formal Job Skills Assessment Tests

There are many job skills assessment tests available online that may even be several hundred questions long. These tests are designed to determine answers to the questions above. As part of my 30-day online course, Successfully Ever After, it’s one of the first things I have participants do. Inside the course, I share some of the ones I think give the best advice.

Sometimes a potential employer will want you to be evaluated before your interview. However, if you can compose a list that combines your personality traits with skills that you’re good at, you can assess your potential careers yourself.

The Answer is in Your Interests

By reflecting on your hobbies, you may be able to determine a viable career choice. Try answering these questions and consider the recommendations:

• Do you tend to like working with tools and objects, or working with other people?
  • If you like working with tools or objects you may be suited for a career in building, repair, or engineering.
  • If you enjoy working with others perhaps you’d make a good sales representative, team leader, or manager.

• Do you prefer things to be concrete and organized, or do you prefer the creative?
  • Most career choices will involve organization to some degree, but if you prefer creative options you may be suited for a career in art, music, advertising, or photography.

• Do you like projects that involve a finished physical product, or a social result such as improved self-esteem?
  • If you prefer to see a finished product, you could be suited for a career in sales or product creation. You may even like science and experimenting.
  • If you prefer social results, you could consider some form of counseling or social work.

• Do you tend to enjoy business or science?
  • This is an easy question, but understanding yourself can help you determine whether you would be suited for a career in entrepreneurship or experimentation and research.

• Do you prefer when things are the same everyday or different?
  • If you prefer a consistent day-to-day routine, you may want to consider office work like accounting, or repair and construction work.
  • If you like to see differences in your day, you might be better suited for a creative profession like writing, directing, or designing.

• Do you prefer to follow or take charge?
  • If you’re a person that tends to take charge, you could be a great team leader someday. Look for a career where you get to manage people and lead everyone to a common goal.

• Are you good at interpreting feelings?
  • If you have proven to have a high emotional intelligence, you may be suited for teaching or counseling. These careers require you to understand what your students or clients are feeling and understanding.

Choosing your Career

You should now have a better idea about what kinds of jobs to look for in your career search. If not, you should at least be able to narrow down your choices to a few categories. You always have the option of reading books or taking classes in order to get a better understanding of your career choice and to develop your skill set.

Remember that you can do anything you want when you’re determined. Finding a job in line with your personal preferences helps you take advantage of your passion so you can achieve greater success.