Four Facets Of Work/Life Balance
A career test will measure your interests and abilities to see which careers are a good fit for you. However, there are certain rules that need to be followed when taking the test. You may not realize it, but choosing any answer can affect your future and the career you end up with.
In this post we talk about four important rules in taking career tests - following these will improve the accuracy of your results and provide you with a better understanding of what career is a good match.
II) Transitional Words:
There are many types of transitional words, however some of the most common ones are "also," "on top of that," "furthermore," "in addition to that," etc. We need to be very cautious about these because the use of these words can change our answers.
For example, if we are asked a question such as "What is your favorite TV program?" and we see the list of options on screen, our brain will automatically start processing "also" and "on top of that." As a result, we might end up with an answer like "also Dora the Explorer," which is not what they want to hear.
III) A Word In The Question:
Often the word in the question can change the answer that people give. For example, sometimes they ask you to give your opinion on an issue by writing your name on a card and putting it down in front of you. That word, "your name," can be enough to sway many people.
Likewise, other words like "you" and "your" can be very powerful in some questions. If you see such a word in a question it can often change the answer you're going to give. It's best to take down notes on the question right away and write down how each answer could affect your future or what career is better suited for you.
IV) Not All Words Are Created Equal:
The use of some words will not only make your answers less accurate but they may even change your decisions. For example, when you see the word "new," or "different," or "improvement," your brain may start processing it and make you think that you have to improve the current situation.
"It is better to be faithful in little things than powerful in big things."
This could even lead you to a career that is not a good fit for your abilities and interests, like if you really enjoyed music and then start hearing about an insurance job, you may end up considering it. Likewise, some words might give inaccurate results for some people. For example, the word "good" will often lead many people to say yes when they mean no.
For people who are in sales, you'll need to be very careful with words like "buy," "purchase," and "sell." Some of these words might trigger you to say yes if it doesn't match your interests or ability.
V) The Length Of The Answer:
This point is also very important when taking a career test because the length of your answer can affect your results. This is something that companies who create these tests often overlook because they don't realize its impact on the accuracy of their results. We've seen that many people will often change the answers when they see it's too long to answer. For example, if you are asked "How many times a week do you go out with friends?" and the options are "Every day," "Once or twice," and "Less than once a week," some people might choose to go with the shorter options even though they go out more than that.
We have found that when people see a long list of options they tend to agree with whichever is at the top of their head. This is because we don't want to take too much time thinking about our answers, so we just choose whatever comes first without giving it much thought. Our brain is already working, so by the time we get to the end of the list our brain might not even remember if we chose one or two items, which results in a skewed result.
For that reason, you need to keep this tip in mind. There is nothing wrong with taking notes when you're filling out a career test and then using those notes when giving your answers.
VI) Time And Pressure:
How much time you have to answer some of these questions can also affect your results. For example, some tests are long and take up to twenty minutes. The longer the test is, the more stressed out someone will be while they're taking it. If they are under a lot of pressure, they'll be less likely to even think about taking notes.
As we mentioned before, the time limit will also affect your answers. If you have eight minutes to answer a certain question, but you have a lot of people or have to fill in another section you might end up choosing an answer that doesn't fit you because it's the first response that comes to mind.
VII) The Order Of The Questions:
It's very important to keep in mind the order of questions before they ask them so that you can know what information they are looking for and can prepare yourself accordingly. For example, if there is a section where you're told something like "Describe your best friend. Write him/her in your own words." and you find it difficult to describe your best friend, you will be prepared to this question because you will know that they want you to give such a description.
The order of the questions can also affect the answers and how they'll be interpreted. For example, if multiple questions are asked about your experience and abilities, the more straightforward they are the less likely you'll be influenced by them. For example, if someone is asked "Have you ever worked with people?" and then later asks "Have you ever worked with animals?" People might answer differently depending on which question comes first.
Likewise, when a section is headed with a title that can impact your answers, you should read the titles of each question carefully. For example, if you know that the section is about your parents' job and then you see other questions about your involvement in music programs and sports as well, you might end up giving different answers depending on what order they're asked in.
VIII) Other People:
Other people can also have an impact on the results of such tests. For example, if you have a significant other who has a different occupation, their answers might default to the top of your mind and become your own when you're answering those questions. This is something that many people do not realize unless they are told about it.
The same thing can be said for parents and teachers. If you don't learn about doing well on such tests beforehand, you will end up repeating them during your adulthood, which can affect your own answers.
IX) The Time Of Day:
The time when you take these tests can also alter the results dramatically. This is because our minds work differently when we're tired or sleepy than when we're in good moods or full of energy. Therefore, the questions that we answer at certain times of day can also be affected by how we're feeling at the time. This is just another reason why you need to be very careful when taking these tests, and why you should always take them multiple times.
X) The Size Of The Print:This is not something that most people think about when they take these tests, because it's assumed to have no impact on the results. On some tests where the print is small, however, people are more likely not to pay attention to each word and skim over the questions since they have to rely on their memories rather than reading them carefully.
This also applies to the size of the text in general. Using sentences that are too long or small print can also change how people perceive them and decide on their answers.
XI) The Number Of Choices In Each Section And The Length Of Each Answer:
The number and length of each answer is crucial when taking career tests, because it can affect the way people view these tests and respond to specific questions. For example, some questions might give you only two possible answers while others give you five, which can make a huge difference in your answers. Likewise, some questions might have three options while others have eight, which can turn even a seemingly simple question into a very complicated one.
Another thing that people will overlook is the length of your answer. Sometimes questions might be short, but they'll be asking for a lengthy response. Some tests will even tell you how to answer a question and then turn around and add another layer of question behind it. This can confuse people and cause them to give answers they normally would not give, thus skewing the results of the test.
The best way to avoid this is to know what they are asking beforehand, so you can prepare yourself accordingly. For example, if you know that a section is about your hobbies and whether you enjoy them or not, you might try giving short answers. However, if you're asked to talk about your favorite hobby in depth, you'll have to prepare a lengthy reply.
XII) The Title Of The Test:
The title of each test is also important because it can help people subconsciously decide on their answers. For example, if the subject line says "What Career Should I Pick?" people are more likely to pick careers that they've heard of or that they consider simple or easy. Likewise, if the title includes phrases like "Tell Us What You Want To Do With Your Life" or "Which Job You Feel Is Right For You," then people will generally select something that appeals to them and makes them feel as though they are answering the questions as well as possible.
However, this indirect approach is only effective if the title makes people feel as though they are answering the questions honestly. For instance, if there's a section titled "Are you happy" or "Would you choose to do this again?" people will subconsciously be persuaded to pick a career that they want. This happens because it makes people feel as though they are answering the questions sincerely and openly.
XIII) The Subject Line:
The subject line is also important because it can help people recall details that can come into their minds at different times when they're taking these tests. For example, if the subject line is "Which Job Interests You Most?" people will be more likely to remember this information and recall it during the test than if it described something else.
Likewise, if the subject line tells you to discuss something that you're interested in like "Describe A Time You Were Excited" or "Tell Us About A Day When You Were Genuinely Happy", people will be more likely to remember this information and thus answer the questions honestly.
XIV) The Format Of The Test:
The format of each test can also influence your answers. For example, some tests might ask you simple yes or no questions while others might ask you complicated ones. Likewise, some tests might ask you questions that are easy to answer while others require you to make decisions between a few different options.
This is why it's highly recommended that you make sure you know exactly what the test is asking of you before taking it, so you can make the best possible results.
XV) The Questions Described In The Test Itself:
The questions that each test asks of its users can have a huge impact on the results. For example, if the question states "What Career Do You Want?", people will be more likely to pick a career that they've heard about or one that they've always wanted to do because they think those are the right answers.
Conclusion:
These are the sixteen most common mistakes that people make when taking career tests, and they can all have a huge impact on the results. By following these tips, you'll be able to avoid these mistakes and get the most accurate and honest results possible, thus making them a more valuable source of knowledge.
1) Being too tired or sleepy when taking career tests: If you're tired or sleepy when taking these tests, then the answers you give will be very different than normal answers and will have a much larger impact on your results. Therefore, it's highly recommended that you ALWAYS take these tests in the daytime or at least after breakfast because this will reduce the amount of sleep you need to get in order to maximize your ratings.