I am looking for a Vocational Test... any suggestions?

[CodeTRUCKER]

Hello Folks,

A search for "online vocational tests" produced millions of results.  I'm hoping some of you could help me pare that down a bit.  The child (my son) is a 15 year-old boy that needs to reduce his potential career options.  

I will be doing due diligence by reading as many reviews as I can, but anyone that has direct positive experience would be invaluable in suggesting a path to follow.

TIA

[sword]

Hi CodeTRUCKER,

Testing must be done by mutual agreement for jointly established purposes.
[The person being tested must want it.] Vocational counseling needs to be
between a person trained in counseling, with knowledge of occupational
information, and a person who can discuss their aspirations, abilities,
interests and plans. As a bare minimum, you need to know aptitudes,
interests, personality, intelligence and proficiency. Some battery tests,
such as those used by government employment services, measure
aptitude and intelligence. You need to avoid making a mistake based on
partial or incomplete information. The best hope of getting help is from a
Professional Psychologist specializing in vocational matters. Other help
may be received from government employment services, school guidance
departments and private employment services but you should check the
qualifications and reputations carefully.

For background information see:
Super, D. E., & Crites, J. O. (1962). Appraising vocational fitness (2nd ed.).
New York: Harper & Bros.

If you still want to take on this difficult task, and have other questions, let
me know and I'll try to dig up answers. My first full-time job was as a
Vocational Specialist with the Federal Government decades ago.

Cheers, sword

[CodeTRUCKER]

Hi Sword,

Oops!  I thought I had replied before, but apparently I was wrong.  I think I edited my original post to clarify this is for my son, but I forgot to post a reply of gratitude for your assistance.  Please allow me to do that now. 

Actually, I have broadened my scope to include other sons and daughters.  In my mind's eye I see a website(s) that is an online evaluation tool that would not only provide my children an introduction to a vast array of possible vocations, but would further offer questionnaires which would identify where their unique interests coincides with vocational paths.

I feel confident I could create what I need, at least a pencil and paper version, but I did not want to reinvent the wheel if I did not have to do it.

[steeladept]

There are definitely several out there, unfortunately I don't know of any specific ones.  I had taken a few of these in the past, but they were pen & paper type.  Since that was in the 90's it makes a little more sense.  I wouldn't be surprised if they were still around, but in an online form now.  Ask the colleges and high schools in the local area.  They often use these to help undecided students try to find a career path they may wish to follow.

[CodeTRUCKER]

...
Ask the colleges and high schools in the local area.  They often use these to help undecided students try to find a career path they may wish to follow.

-steeladept (October 18, 2010, 04:09 PM)

 

[sword]

CodeTRUCKER,
Re. "...vast array of possible vocations...":
I found the book, "Dictionary of Occupational Titles" very helpful for specifics.
Obviously, the vast majority of occupations can be ignored or dismissed. The
trick is to narrow the field and offer new alternatives for choices.

Re. "...online evaluation tool...", "...create what I need...":
Interests -
- expressed interests of children and adolescents don't provide useful predictive measures.
- - They are usually very limited in scope and/or unrealistic - 'hockey player' 'game designer'.
- - There are trivial and spectacular rare exceptions - 'wanted to be an astronomer since age five'.
- measures: scientific; social welfare; literary; concrete (things vs people); record-keeping;
  social contact; artistic.
- actual experience would be expected to have more weight than expressed interests.
- an online interest inventory could, in theory, produce a 'self-perception' that might be compared
  to that of others. [I'm not aware of published lists of interests by occupation.]
Caution: The relationship between activities and interests is very weak. It is widely believed,
but unreliable to assume, that a person does what he likes because he is good at it.

Re.  "...further offer questionnaires...":
Selection for job openings, admission to higher education and the higher-valued training programs
seems to be increasingly dependent on evaluations of social activities and past experience. If you
could get access to the weighing schemes used it might provide the basis for other forms.
Cheers, sword