In the second of a 4-part series, we are going to look at different types of personality assessments
Personality style assessments are probably the most common type of assessment. Although they go by different names, are administered in different ways, and present their findings differently, most are rooted in the Holland theory, the best known and most widely researched theory on the topic of personality and career choice.
John Holland made it his life’s work to look at people and work environments. In 1985, he developed a classification system of personalities and work environments.
According to Holland, in our culture, most people fall into one of six personality types:
- Realistic
- Investigative
- Artistic
- Social
- Enterprising
- Conventional
Each personality type has a parallel work environment. People of the same personality type working together create a work environment that fits their type. People who choose to work in an environment similar to their personality type are more likely to be successful and satisfied. Holland created a hexagon model that shows the relationship between the personality types and environments.
Assessments developed around the Holland theory link vocational interests to job families. For most people, two or three styles are stronger than the others. Like people, careers often reflect a combination of two or three of these areas. When you complete an assessment developed around Holland’s theory, you are presented with a three-letter RIASEC — or Holland Code — that represents the three personality types that best describe your work personality. For example, you might be EAS, which means enterprising, artistic, and social, or CEI, which translates to conventional, enterprising, and investigative. There is also a list of related careers and fields of study that correspond with your code.
To benefit from this theory, you must use the following:
- An assessment tool that measures Holland’s personality types and has been validated through published research.
- A list of careers that are accurately assigned to the correct personality types.
John Holland’s Self-Directed Search (SDS)
Perhaps one of the simplest assessments developed around Holland’s theory, the SDS career assessment and exploration tool matches your aspirations, activities, and talents to the career choices and educational opportunities that fit you best. The online assessment takes about 20 minutes to complete and a customized interactive report is generated at the end.
The fee for the online test and comprehensive, customized report is $9.95.
Learn more here:
http://www.self-directed-search.com
Keirsey Temperament Sorter (KTS)
Also developed around the Holland theory, the KTS is a self-assessed personality questionnaire designed to help people better understand themselves and others. One of the most widely used personality assessments in the world, the KTS links human behavioral patterns to 4 temperaments and 16 character types.
Keirsey’s four temperaments are referred to as Artisans, Guardians, Rationals, and Idealists. These four temperaments can be further subdivided, often referred to as “Character Types.”
The assessment consists of 70 questions, with two choices for each question. Once the assessment is scored and your personality type is revealed, there are detailed profiles which describe the characteristics of that type.
You can take the KTS for free online and receive a free temperament report. You can also purchase the Career Temperament Report that provides suggested career matches, tips on communication/interpersonal skills, and insight on navigating the job market based on your personality type. Retail Price: $19.95
Learn more here:
https://keirsey.com/sorter/register.aspx
