Career Assessments

Purpose of Career Assessments

Do use career assessments:

  • As a starting point to learn more about your interests, values, skills, abilities, and personality types
  • To sort out thoughts and ideas about possible majors, career paths and occupations
  • As a source to compare results with other information gained in self-discovery activities

Don’t use career assessments to:

  • Be your only source to tell you what career or field of study to pursue
  • Determine by yourself which assessment is best for you; schedule an appointment with a career counselor to discuss which assessment is most appropriate based on your situation
  • Interpret the results by yourself; schedule an appointment with a career counselor for a professional interpretation

Types of Assessments Offered

Focus 2 Cost: Free to currently registered UIS students

  • 7 online assessments including areas associated with interests, skills, personality and values
  • Self directed, easy to use, online career planning system
  • Includes extensive occupational information and allows you to compare info side by side
  • Access Focus 2: login to UIS CareerConnect, select link under Online Toolbox.

Self-Directed Search (SDS)   Cost: $22

  • Career interest inventory used to assess potential gratifying career paths that match your interests.
  • Based on John Holland’s theory that both people and work environments can be classified in 6 basic types including Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional
  • Online format: administered and interpreted by a career counselor

Strong Interest Inventory (SII)  Cost: $30

  • Interest inventory that measures interests in a wide range of jobs, work tasks, leisure activities and school subjects
  • Compares your interests with individuals happily employed in a wide variety of occupations
  • Use to explore majors and careers, ideal work environments, and preferred work styles
  • Online format: administered and interpreted by a career counselor

Career Thoughts Inventory (CTI)  Cost: $12

  • Gain information about misconceptions and barriers related to career planning
  • Use information to develop strategies to maximize strengths and overcome barriers
  • Online format: administered and interpreted by a career counselor

Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) – Career Report  Cost $30

  • Personality inventory used to identify preferred manner of taking in and evaluating information and preferred style of working, decision-making and communicating
  • Provides feedback on work settings or situations where personality type might be complemented or challenged
  • Online format: administered and interpreted by a career counselor