Career assessments are a great resource that educators should have at their disposal to better serve their students. Good career assessments alleviate some of the guesswork out of the career exploration process and allow you to develop the best action plan for your students based on the results. With a market flooded with career tools and assessments, it’s important to choose the best one for the best result. Several factors make a great assessment so before you dive into these tools take a look at the following tips to make sure you get the best results.
Reputation
What do other users say about the career planning assessment or system that you are considering? It’s a good idea to research the company’s website for the validity and construction of the tool as well as through online articles written by education industry thought leaders who use the tool. Case studies can be a great way to do this research to learn more about what issues other schools are facing similar to yours and whether that tool may provide a solution for your school. Likewise, it is a good idea to seek the feedback of daily users through your network of colleagues at other schools and campuses.
Reliability
Does the career assessment or system you’re considering deliver consistent and accurate results? The simple answer is that it should. While results depend on the person inputting their answers, you should feel comfortable knowing that the test items in the tool have been carefully researched, tested, and re-tested, as well as updated, over time. A subpar system will provide randomly-generated results most of the time. You should be able to find reliability information through the company’s website or by contacting them directly.
Comprehensive
The assessment results should be easily accessible and easy to understand. Take a look at the reporting. Is it in the form of a printout or is it available online? Is there any element of interactivity that will help the student further learn about the results? In addition, do those results create a foundation for you to further dive into them during your career counseling sessions? Can the student easily access their results (whether they need a reprint or have the ability to log back in)?
Security
Is user data at risk? The user, in this case, the student, should be able to control who can or cannot access the certain information they provide. Review the company’s privacy policy and what measures it takes to ensure the security of private information and assessment results.
Impact
What impact does the career planning system have on the user? Research from UC Berkeley says that a person’s interest in a subject, or career, allows them to develop skills and abilities that will make them successful in a career. Besides research, the system should take into account the user’s interests and personality to provide meaningful and actionable results.
For more career assessment tips and other resources, read:
- Do Free Career Assessments Cost You More In The Long Run?
- The Ultimate List of Career Resources For College Students
- Career Resources For High School Students