For Job Seekers

Can a Career Aptitude Test benefit you?

WAI Staff
Last updated on March 30, 2022

boy taking career aptitude test

Are you just starting your career? Or looking to change jobs or industries? Taking a career aptitude test might give you some additional insight on where your strengths and weaknesses lie. A career aptitude test can help to narrow down your choices of career to what might be the most interesting or well suited positions.

Here are our top 5 reasons a career aptitude test might be worth a try.

1. You learn more about yourself. Through a career aptitude test, you get to know about your skills, strengths and weaknesses. This can allow you to explore different careers that you might be particularly suited for.

2. You discover traits you never knew you had. Career aptitude tests can help you find new talents and skills that you weren’t aware of before. You can use these new discoveries to enjoy life better, both in terms of career and leisure.

3. Career aptitude tests provide ways for you to work on your weaknesses. Everyone has weaknesses, but we may not realize where those weak points are. These tests enable you to identify areas of improvement, and work to manage or eliminate them.

4. It gives you a variety of options. Everyone wants their “dream job,” but the idea of an aptitude test is to expose you to various career opportunities; possibly some that you haven’t even considered. These tests are intended to be a guide and not to limit your options.

5. Career aptitude tests can be a great jumping off point for discovering careers that you want to learn more about. You can further explore through additional research on an industry, informational interviews or even an internship.

woman working on a laptop

There are both free and paid versions of career aptitude tests, so be sure to check before starting the test. Also, be aware that not all tests are created equal, it would be beneficial to read up on the particular test before diving in. This is a more comprehensive list of tests to choose from. From the Princeton Review to Myers-Briggs, try out a couple tests and see if they provide you with some personal or career insight.

Judging a Book by its Cover: How to Write a Cover Letter

WAI Staff

If your life were an autobiography, what would the dust jacket say about you? The cover letter is the dust jacket of your resume, and the recruiter’s first introduction to your voice.

Most cover letters are read last. But, before you stop reading this article, remember that any materials that make it as far as a “hold” pile will be read, from cover letter to references. It is then that cover letters matter most, as they have the power to distinguish intriguing possibilities from average, everyday candidates. Laura Gassner Otting suggests the following:

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Employment and temporary staffing agencies can be an excellent resource in your job search.

WAI Staff

Temp (short for “temporary”) agencies recruit and assign employees to short-term job assignments. They are sometimes known as staffing services or contract firms. When the employer no longer needs the staff member, a worker’s short-term assignment is complete. The temp agency then looks for another job assignment for the worker.

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How to Use Facebook to Land a Job

WAI Staff

Many people believe that Facebook is only for connecting with people you went to high school with or checking out a potential date’s profile. But consider this: 18,400,000 people claim they found a job through Facebook. If you are not utilizing your Facebook network to find a job, you are missing out on opportunities. Below are some ways you can use Facebook to land a job:

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How to Read a Job Ad

WAI Staff

For many job seekers, the strategy in their job search is to apply to everything and anything. This method is not only very time-consuming and mentally draining, but also sets you up for a wave of rejection. Instead, Brazen Careerist suggests improving at reading job ads, which will help you sort through jobs quickly and focus on those opportunities that are right for you.

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Facial Feedback

WAI Staff

First impressions are important when going on an interview. Body language and facial expressions can really make or break that first impression. A good attitude may warm the initial meeting between you and the interviewer. So, what if you’re having a rough day prior to the all-important interview? Smile!

Psychologists have theorized that smiling can actually help make you feel happy. If you’re feeling down, employers can smell it a mile away. Disguised contempt, weariness or frustration is not always as well hidden as you might think. By smiling, the theory holds that we activate neurotransmitters, which make us feel happy. If you are feeling blue, tired, or really nervous, smile and hold it for about 30 seconds. You’ll go into the interview looking and feeling great!