As students graduate from high school or college, they often remain confused about what they want to do with their lives, and taking a career placement test can help clarify what you are suited for.

Actually, a career placement test can be useful to almost anyone considering a change in direction with their lives. Many people who have been laid off from their jobs or are in long-term unemployment situations would do well to take a test to help them with skills assessment.

Do you really know what you want to do? Maybe you feel that you have lots of strengths and can’t decide what direction to turn, or you don’t feel drawn to any field at all. Either of these situations can be helped through career placement testing.

Career placement tests usually will give you a series of questions that are not specifically asking about a career, but asking about aspects of jobs. These questions will normally be on a graduated scale asking if you really like, like, somewhat like, are neutral, somewhat dislike or really dislike a particular task such as taking inventories, doing math, having physical tasks, being outdoors, etc.

You need to decide what you like or dislike, and the test will add up the choices and find careers that match what you are interested in. A problem that many people have is that they “fall into” careers rather than being interested or passionate about it.

Think about your first job, for example. Chances are very high that you applied at local stores, restaurants, manufacturing facilities or offices. Whoever called you first with an interview or a job offer was usually what you ended up doing, at least for a time.

That first job can start your brain thinking, “This is what I know, this is what I should probably do” and next thing you know you are working as an office manager when you’d much rather be a park ranger (or something totally unrelated).

Then, when you voice that desire, people are likely to question your sanity. “Why Roger, you’ve always been in sales, why would you consider becoming a Canadian Mountie?” The question should be why were you in sales in the first place?

A career placement test can help you straighten out your thinking and get you on track with a career that is suited for you. Maybe you think “mounted police” but your true leanings are toward something indoors, or maybe police work is something you should consider. Career placement testing is an inexpensive way to sort out your interests and skills and find a career that matches you.