We are curious creatures who strive to better understand ourselves and the world around us. Our desire to learn more about ourselves and those around us is so strong that a multibillion-dollar industry has been built around personality testing.
Personality tests are a fun and informative tool to learn more about yourself. They can indicate your strengths and weaknesses, how you might react in a certain situation, and if you may be a good fit for a certain role or career. Knowing your personality type is a great way to learn which jobs you have potential to succeed in and may even provide insight about how to be happier at work.
Read more: Want to Be Irreplaceable at Work? Become a Continuous Learner
Why are personality tests beneficial for your career?
Personality tests are designed to uncover the multifaceted aspects of your character and behavior, helping you gain a comprehensive view of yourself that might have remained hidden otherwise. By answering a series of thoughtfully crafted questions, you can uncover your dominant personality traits, communication styles, decision-making approaches, and more. This self-discovery process allows you to recognize your natural talents and areas where there's room for growth.
Inherently, personality tests enhance self-awareness and reflection. When you receive your test results, you're prompted to analyze and interpret the findings, often leading to moments of clarity and realization. For instance, recognizing why certain tasks or work environments resonate more with your personality type can guide you toward making informed career choices.
When you're armed with insights into your communication triggers and collaboration preferences, you can more easily tailor your interactions to enhance teamwork and cooperation and navigate conflicts more effectively. A workforce composed of self-aware individuals is better equipped to foster a positive and constructive work culture.
8 personality tests that can tell you about your career strengths and weaknesses
1. Myer-Briggs Type Indicator
The Myer-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), a personality test based on the work of Carl Jung, helps to identify your tendencies in four areas of personality: how you direct and receive energy, how you take in information, how you decide and come to conclusions, and how you approach the outside world. The assessment divides test takers into 16 different personality types based on how they perceive the world and make decisions. If you want to find out your MBTI results, you can take the free, online test here.
Read more: Your Greatest Work Strengths (& Weaknesses) Based on Your Myers-Briggs Type
2. Enneagram
The Enneagram test is based on the Enneagram personality theory, which categorizes personalities into nine types: the reformer, the helper, the achiever, the individualist, the investigator, the loyalist, the enthusiast, the challenger, and the peacemaker. Companies often use the Enneagram test to better understand how members of a team will work together. Take the Enneagram test here to learn which of the nine personalities describes you best.
Read more: How Your Enneagram Type Can Help Your Career
3. 16personalities.com
The 16personalities.com test gives you a detailed description of who you are and why you do the things the way you do. The test categorizes people into 16 personality types: the architect, the logician, the commander, the debater, the advocate, the mediator, the protagonist, the campaigner, the logistician, the defender, the executive, the consul, the virtuoso, the adventurer, the entrepreneur, and the entertainer. 16personalities.com provides the descriptions for all of the personality types so that you can better understand what motivates, inspires, and worries each one, which can help you build meaningful connections with others. Take the test here and find out which personality type describes you.
4. Big Five Personality Test
The Big Five Personality Test is a good tool to use if you want to better understand your strengths and weaknesses in the workplace. Human resources professionals often use the Big Five personalities test to place employees in specific roles based on their results. The test consists of 50 statements, which you rate on a five-point scale about how true they are. Take the test here and receive your score for the Big Five personality traits: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.
5. See My Personality
The See My Personality test provides you with the breakdown of your personality traits, type, behaviors, and tendencies. The test results will provide you with five main traits of your personality, your strengths and weaknesses, as well as areas to consider for personal development. Take the assessment here and learn more about which of your personality traits are furthest away from the “average personality,” both positive and negative.
6. Emotional Intelligence Test
The Emotional Intelligence Test evaluates your ability to recognize, understand, and control your emotions and others. Your emotional intelligence (EI), or emotional quotient (EQ), relates to a set of skills that can be categorized into five domains: self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills. Emotional intelligence is important in the workplace because it can help you to better manage relationships and solve problems under stress. Take the test here to discover your EQ.
Read more: What Is Your Workplace Love Language? Answer These 8 Questions to Find Out
7. EN Personalities
The EN Personalities quiz, which was created by ENTITY, is similar to the Myer-Briggs test in that it categorizes you into one of 16 EN personalities, but it is more tailored to millennial women. The quiz will give you a better understanding of your strengths and weaknesses, as well as advice for careers paths that best fit your unique personality. Take the quiz here and gain insight into the ways you work and live.
8. DiSC
DiSC, which stands for the four basic behavioral styles—dominance, influence, steadiness, and conscientiousness—is an assessment composed of questions regarding your strengths, weaknesses, and workplace preferences. Your answers are then assessed based on 12 different profiles, which include a mix of the major four, DiSC. Take the test here if you want to learn more about the benefits of your personality.
