Below is a simple skills assessment exercise that may help you learn more about your strengths and abilities. Based on John Holland's Theory of Vocational Development which maintains that people can be loosely classified into six personality categories: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional.
For each of these categories, there is an association between a person’s general tendencies, skills or abilities, and preferences. For example, a Realistic type person is practical (general tendency) is also good at hands-on jobs (skills) and at the same time prefers to do manual work (preference) than perhaps work that requires a lot of imagining.
It is also posited in Holland’s theory that these categories need not be mutually exclusive. A practical person can do tasks which require mental effort. It is just that he or she is less good at it than perhaps an Investigative type individual. In a way, personality can be seen as a hierarchical composition of these different types with some stronger than the other.
Also according to this theory, types of studies and careers can also be sorted into these same categories. For example, field biology would involve elements both in the Realistic and Investigative personalities, whereas, mathematics would involve more more of the latter.
This assessment will help you learn about which of the six areas tend to relate to your skills. Next, you can look at fields of study and careers that may be consistent with your abilities. Implicit in this exercise is that one is more likely to be satisfied with career choices that are consistent with one’s skills, interests, and values.
Be reminded that this is not a standardised test that has been validated for validity or reliability. So obtaining a score will not indicate how you are measured against the population at large. There are no right or wrong answers nor do higher scores indicate a better person or performance. The results, however, can be seen as guidelines that may help you identify important skills and interests and become more aware of how these are related to fields of study and career options.
