Choosing a career: What "color" is your ideal career path?

Careers and Colleges, Jan-Feb, 2002 by Alan Bernstein

Take this quiz and find out.

It's easy to find a job; the hard part is finding one that's right for you. Alan Bernstein, author of Guide to Your Career (The Princeton Review), explains how to find a job you'll love through a little self-analysis, including the Career Style Mini-Quiz [TM], which identifies (as a color) your interests and work style.

When Michael Jordan scored more than 60 points in one game, he reported entering a state of timelessness where moments "stood still." We call that state "flow."

When we are in a state of flow, we feel easy and natural. That's how most of us would like to feel in our careers.

What career will put you in "the flow"? There are dozens of career assessment tests designed to help you answer that question.

Here we present a short version of one to start you on the path toward your ideal career.

First, take the Career Style Mini-Quiz [TM] developed by Birkman International, a company that has been in the career assessment business for more than 40 years. Its system lets you visualize your work preferences as a color. The quiz will help you pinpoint your occupational interests and work styles. Then, to go a step further, do the activities at the end of this article that use your memories to explore job roles.

RELATED ARTICLE: Career Style Mini-Quiz (TM)

Your "Birkman Colors" represent your interests and style as a worker. Read the statement in Column A, then read the statement across from it in Column B. For each pair, put a check mark next to the statement that is most descriptive of you. As you make your choices, assume that all jobs are of equal pay and prestige.

COLUMN A

1. [ ] I would rather be a wildlife expert.

2. [ ] I would rather be a company controller.

3. [ ] I would rather be a tax lawyer.

4. [ ] I would rather be an auditor.

5. [ ] I would rather be a production manager.

6. [ ] I would rather be an accounting manager.

7. [ ] I would rather be a bookkeeper.

8. [ ] I would rather be a writer.

9. [ ] I would rather be a clerical worker.

10. [ ] I would rather be a payroll manager.

11. [ ] I would rather be an audit manager.

12. [ ] I would rather be an artist.

13. [ ] I am usually patient when I have to wait for an appointment.

14. [ ] It is easy to laugh at one's little social errors or "faux pas."

15. [ ] It is wise to make it known if someone is doing something that bothers you.

16. [ ] It's not really OK to argue with others even when you know you are right.

17. [ ] I like to bargain to get a good price.

18. [ ] It is easy to be outgoing and sociable at a party with strangers.

19. [ ] I would read the instructions first when putting a new toy together for a child.

20. [ ] It is usually best to be pleasant and let others decide if your ideas are worth accepting.

21. [ ] I usually like to work cautiously.

22. [ ] Generally, I prefer to work quietly with a minimum of wasted movement.

23. [ ] I don't like to have to persuade others to accept my ideas when there is strong forceful opposition or argument from others.

24. [ ] It is better to listen carefully and be sure you understand when topics are being discussed.

COLUMN B

1. [ ] I would rather be a public relations professional.

2. [ ] I would rather be a TV news anchor.

3. [ ] I would rather be a newspaper editor.

4. [ ] I would rather be a musician.

5. [ ] I would rather be an advertising manager.

6. [ ] I would rather be a history professor.

7. [ ] I would rather be an electrician.

8. [ ] I would rather be an elected official.

9. [ ] I would rather be a carpenter.

10. [ ] I would rather be a manager of engineering.

11. [ ] I would rather be a safety manager.

12. [ ] I would rather be a salesperson.

13. [ ] I get restless when I have to wait for an appointment.

14. [ ] It is hard to laugh at one's little social errors or "faux pas."

15. [ ] It is wise to remain silent if someone is doing something that bothers you.

16. [ ] It's OK to argue with others when you know you are right.

17. [ ] I don't like to have to bargain to get a good price.

18. [ ] It is hard to be outgoing and sociable at a party with strangers.

19. [ ] I would just "jump in" and start putting a new toy together for a child.

20. [ ] It is usually best to be forceful and "sell" your ideas to others.

21. [ ] I usually like to work fast.

22. [ ] Generally, I prefer to move around and burn some energy while I work.

23. [ ] I like to sell and promote my ideas with others even when it takes some argument.

24. [ ] It is better to speak up quickly and be heard when topics are being discussed.

Scoring Your Answers

Enter counts of items you marked in column B in the spaces below. Page 12 explains how these scores correspond to your interest and style colors. Write your colors below, and read on to see how they relate to career choices.

INTEREST COLOR__________

* Count the number of items checked in Column B for the first six items (1-6) and place that count in this space: __________/Interest H (*)

* Count the number of items checked in Column B for the second six items (7-12): __________/Interest V (*)

STYLE COLOR__________