Psychometric tests for career development
Introduction
Psychometric tests are very useful in career planning, helping you understand more about your strengths and how these might shape your career and personal choices. There are several types of psychometric tests that can be useful to you:
• Personality tests. These can measure personality traits that have an effect on
your performance at work.
• Ability or aptitude tests. These can measure abilities such as verbal, numerical,
abstract, diagrammatic, or spatial reasoning skills.
"Profiling for Success" personality & skills assessments
A series of online psychometric tests entitled "Profiling for Success" are available free of charge to University College Dublin students, recent graduates and staff, covering both personality assessment and skills tests.
Click here to go directly to the test site.
How does it work?
When you complete a test(s), a report is automatically generated and emailed to you. It is recommended that, when prompted, you enter your UCDconnect email address. This report comes in the form of a .pdf document attached to the email, and includes an explanation of your results.
Can I take the test again?
Yes, you can take each test as often as you wish. Practice does increase your proficiency, so if you are preparing to attend an assessment centre, this is an excellent opportunity to practice.
What tests are available?
Assessments that are available are:
- Learning Styles Indicator questionnaire
The questionnaire is designed to identify fundamental differences in the way people think, communicate and learn. Understanding more about your learning style might help you to:
1. choose topics, areas and qualifications which are more likely to interest you
2. understand how you communicate, how this might come across and how you
learn best select the teaching style and learning environment that most
3. suits you and keeps you motivated
4. judge which situations require you to adapt your style - Type Dynamics Indicator (TDI) personality type questionnaire
The questionnaire is designed to identify some fundamental ways in which you differ from other people, and has implications for your career development by helping you understand more about the way you approach your work and your relationships. This test can help you develop ideas about your style, values, motivations and talents which, combined with your experience and circumstances, can help you to make better short / long-term career decisions.
Both of these assessments will generate reports on your own preferred behaviour which could be helpful to you in planning your career and your personal development.
- Ability Reasoning Tests
• Numerical Reasoning Skills Test
The Numerical Reasoning test looks at your ability to solve numerical problems.
• Verbal Reasoning Skills Test
The Verbal Reasoning test looks at your ability to think logically about written
information
• Abstract Reasoning Skills Test
The Abstract Reasoning test looks at your ability to identify relationships between shapes. This ability is related to testing out new ideas and solving
problems.
These three tests will give you some information on your abilities in areas which many recruiters consider to be important in graduate jobs. Taking these tests will also enable you to practice the kinds of tests which are often used in job selection and to receive feedback on how to improve your performance.
How do I access these tests?
You will be prompted for:
o Client Code
o Access Code
o Password
You need to call into the Career Development Centre in UCD, and ask for these codes.
Access to these tests was purchased by UCD Career Development Centre as a resource for current UCD students, recent graduates and staff of UCD. Therefore we cannot post the access codes on this open access site.
It only takes a second, and is free to UCD students, recent graduates and UCD staff. Call today!
Before you take a psychometric test, read the following pages:
Applications of Assessments in Higher Education
Discover how psychometric tests can be used
Test-Taker's Practice Booklet
Introduction to Numerical, Verbal, and Abstract reasoning tests.
Learning Styles Indicator Feedback Report
See a sample example of the LSI report. Your own report will be sent to you automatically by email when you complete the test.
Type Dynamic Indicator Feedback Report
See a sample example of the TDI report. Your own report will be sent to you automatically by email when you complete the test.
Numerical Reasoning Skills Feedback Report
See a sample example of the Numerical Reasoning Skills report. Your own report will be sent to you automatically by email when you complete the test.
Verbal Reasoning Feedback Report
See a sample example of the Verbal Reasoning Skills report. Your own report will be sent to you automatically by email when you complete the test.
Abstract Reasoning Skills Feedback Report
See a sample example of the Abstract Reasoning Skills report. Your own report will be sent to you automatically by email when you complete the test.
For further information about various online tests see http://www.prospects.ac.uk/psychometric_tests.htm
Click here to go the test site.
For futher information see a tool for various occupations online. O*NET OnLine has detailed descriptions of the world of work for use by job seekers visit: online.onetcenter.org/