Skills and Interests

How Do I Identify my Skills and Interests?

One of the best ways to begin assessing your career options is to complete a skill and interest survey which will determine your personality type, current skill set and the transferable skills you enjoy using and would like to incorporate into your future career. Free online personality tests such as Jung Typology Test identify your reactions and feelings toward a given situation and use these to identify suitable occupations and educational institutions where you can study toward these occupations. My Next Move is a Department of Labor initiative, which allows you to complete a survey on the types of skills you enjoy using and then suggests career options you may wish to explore. Similar career aptitude assessments are also available through JOBehaviors and Jobdiagnosis.

The Military Family Service Centers on each military base also provide a number of great resources to help you identify a suitable career path. Formal classes such as “Career Exploration - be who you are” allow you to take free career aptitude tests such as the Meyers-Briggs Career Indicator and receive personalized feedback and assistance with interpreting the results. Locate an Employment Specialist at a military installation near you:

• Airman and Family Readiness Center
• Army Community Service Center
• Fleet and Family Support Center
• Marine Corps Community Services Center
• Coast Guard Office of Work-Life

Additional Reading:

The Clearest Path To A Career That’s Right For You by Bill Barnett, Harvard Business Review, 2012

“Do What You Are: Discover the Perfect Career for You Through the Secrets of Personality Type“ by Paul D. Tieger, 2007

“Career Match: Connecting Who You Are with What You’ll Love to Do“ by Shoya Zichy, 2007

“The Pathfinder: How to Choose or Change Your Career for a Lifetime of Satisfaction and Success” (Touchstone Books) by Nicholas Lore, 2012