A. Bronwyn Llewellyn - The Everything Career Tests Book: 10 Tests to Determine the Right Occupation for You

CAREER
TESTS
BOOK

Dear Reader,

When I was fourteen, I wanted to be an orthodontist. For the next six years, I studied biology, chemistry, calculus, physics, and anatomy. But I also loved history, literature, art, and theater. I was a reader and a good writer, but I didnt know what to do with a love of literature. Orthodontics was tangibleand lucrative. In my junior year of college, I faced the truth: Teeth werent my passion. I just didnt know how to make a living out of what I loved.

As a result, I floundered as a not-very-good secretary, newspaper typesetter, and waitress before I discovered the museum profession, which combined all of the interests, skills, and values so dear to my heart. Now as a freelance writer of books and museum exhibitions, I also get to write about every subject under the sun. I have found my niche.

Had I the sagacity to consult a career counselor at the beginning of my search, I would have saved myself a lot of time and angst. Now you, dear readers, can find all of the advice I lacked in the easy-to-use tool that you hold in your hands.

All you have to do is begin.

A. Bronwyn Llewellyn

TheSeries

Editorial

Production

Visit the entire Everything Series at www.everything.com

CAREER
TESTS
BOOK

10 tests to determine
the right occupation for you

A. Bronwyn Llewellyn with Robin Holt, M.A.

The Accidental Entrepreneur: Practical Wisdom for People Who Never Expected to Work for Themselves, by Susan Urquart-Brown, found at www.careersteps123.com/BOOK/bookDescription.html; Elevations, The Career Discovery Tool, published by Scully Career Associates, Inc. at www.ElevateYourCareer.com; Terry Karp, Value Search Coauthor, Principal and Career Consultant at the Bay Area Career Center in San Francisco, CA Mark Guterman, Value Search Coauthor, Career Consultant at the Bay Area Career Center in San Francisco, CA

Copyright 2007, F+W Publications, Inc. All rights reserved.
This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced
in any form without permission from the publisher; exceptions
are made for brief excerpts used in published reviews.

An Everything Series Book.
Everything and everything.com are registered trademarks of F+W Publications, Inc.

Published by Adams Media, an F+W Publications Company
57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA 02322 U.S.A.
www.adamsmedia.com

ISBN 10: 1-59337-565-4
ISBN 13: 978-1-59337-565-2
eISBN: 978-1-44052-373-1

Printed in the United States of America.

J I H G F E D C B

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
available from the publisher

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional advice. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought.

From a Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a Committee of the
American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations

Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book and Adams Media was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed with initial capital letters.

This book is available at quantity discounts for bulk purchases.
For information, please call 1-800-289-0963.

To all of my colleagues, past, present, and future. They have all helped
make my career satisfying and fulfilling.

Contents

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the contributions and support of Lisa Laing, Jessica LaPointe, Paula Munier, and everyone at Adams Media; Joan Ishiwata; as well as the generosity of Mark Guterman, Terry Karp, Jennifer Robinson, Dena Sneider, Helen M. Scully, and Susan Urquhart-Brown.

Top Ten Things to Remember
about Career Tests

Most people hate taking tests.

Tests provide ideas, not blueprints.

Tests can be wrong.

No single test gives you all the answers.

You are a unique individual, not a category.

Tests can help you focus your choices.

Change is the one constant in life.

You should retake tests throughout your career.

Taking tests is the easy part.

Trust your instincts.

Introduction

YOU WANT A satisfying career. Thats probably why youre reading this book. Its safe to say that you want to work at something that provides .. an adequate income on which to live. But money isnt the only concern when it comes to a career. Theres more to life than what you do for a living (if you need convincing, check out Chapters 4 and 8). Your health, your family and friends, and what you do in your downtime are vitally important to your overall well-being and your existence as a well-rounded person. With that said, this book is about careers and helping you find, adjust, and enhance yours so that it fits into that well-rounded existence. Ideally, your career should mesh with your desiresfor success, fulfillment, accomplishment, whatever motivates youwhich are unique and important to you.

Do you think your great-grandparents would recognize many of todays career options: Multimedia developer? Software engineer? Steganographer? Pet therapist? Genetic counselor? Perhaps the myriad opportunities overwhelm you, and you havent settled on one yet. Maybe you feel dissatisfied or underappreciated in the career you currently haveeven if its one you trained long and hard to get. Its possible that you love your career but need a fresh challenge. You may just be wondering if your job situation is the best possible fit for you. How can you tell?