The Benefits of Taking a Career Aptitude Test in High School 

In the last few years of high school, students often feel a ton of pressure to figure out what to do next. Right now, your future probably seems like a big question mark, and you might feel nervous about making the right choice. 

You might be stressed about choosing the right career or college major. Or worry about finding a job after graduation or paying tuition and other expenses. Perhaps you don’t know if you have the right skills or personality for the job you want or whether there are enough jobs in your chosen field. And on top of all that, with technology moving so fast, you might also be concerned about AI, automation, or outsourcing and whether your potential career path is future-proof. 

There’s a lot to consider, but a career aptitude test (like our Custom Career Guide!) can make this process much easier. They’re particularly helpful for high school students because you’re at a critical point in your life where you’re beginning to think about your future and career choices. 

The insights you can gain from a career aptitude test will give you more confidence and clarity about whether you’re heading in the right direction and making the most of your potential.

For example, a Reader’s Digest writer tested different career assessments and found that four out of five offered her vocations similar to what she has done in the past and is doing now.

Here are three key benefits of taking a career aptitude test for high school students. 

1. Identify Strengths and Weaknesses 

If you’re not sure what career path to take, taking a career aptitude test is a great way to figure it out. You’ll better understand your strengths and weaknesses, so you can focus on what you’re good at and improve on what you’re not. 

For example, if you’re good at math, you might consider a career in finance or engineering. However, if you’ve always wanted to be a lawyer or a politician but you struggle with public speaking, you may want to see if your college has a Toastmasters club so you can sharpen your skills. Joining a debate team, drama club, or student government organization could also help you develop your public speaking skills. 

2. Discover New Career Options

A career aptitude test can also introduce you to job options you haven’t thought about before or have ever considered. For example, accountinga librarian may seem like a quiet and mundane job, but there’s more to it than you think. Accountants get exposure to different industries and business structures, and play an important role in helping those businesses grow and become more profitable, which many people find incredibly rewarding. Librarians connect people to technology and organize exciting events and programs like scavenger hunts, creative displays, and trivia nights. Another job that may sound boring is a data analyst, but these pros work on complex projects and use data to solve real-world problems.

As this Redditor shared, “For the average person, data analysis is the sum of dull spreadsheets and tedious graphs. But for those with the right mindset, there’s a genuine fascination with resolving comprehensive data sets into something meaningful.” Every job has pros and cons, and it’s worth exploring different options to find what works best for you.

3. Build a Career Ladder

When you’re getting ready to apply for college, it helps to know what kind of job you want after graduation so you take classes and pick a major that will set you up for success. While you can always change your mind, having a clear end goal can save you the time, stress, and financial burden of switching degrees or schools. 

A career goal can also motivate and inspire you to work harder, leading to better grades and more opportunities. Lastly, having a clear plan will help you make more informed decisions about internships, extracurricular activities, and networking opportunities that can set you up for a successful career.

Discover Your Path: The Importance of Taking a Career Aptitude Test for High School Students

Ultimately, a career aptitude test can prepare high school students for their future by helping them identify personal strengths and weaknesses, explore different career options, enhance career readiness, and make more informed decisions. 

However, not all career aptitude tests are created equal. Most career tests focus on identifying your interests but don’t accurately account for your personality and preferred work style. For example, you need more than an interest in biology to succeed as a doctor. You must also be willing to work long hours in a high-stress environment with sometimes difficult patients.

Our Custom Career Guide for high school students uses science to help you determine your natural strengths, ideal work environments, and unique working style and how they relate to future careers. Based on these insights, it also suggests jobs that make the most sense for you.

Lastly, it was developed by a team of predictive analytics pros with almost 20 years of experience helping people get into the right jobs (and helping employers ensure their employees are in the right roles). 

Don’t let college or university application pressure get you down! Use our career assessment for teens to get instant feedback and plan for what’s next after high school.