When was the last time you checked in with yourself on what you really want from your career? Professional interests, talents, and career aspirations change and evolve over time, just like our lifestyles, personal goals, priorities, and core values.  

If you’re dissatisfied or bored in your current role or need help in choosing a new career direction, consider investing in some interest and aptitude assessments. Call it professional self-discovery! A little exploration into your mind and heart may reveal a new job or career path that’s closely aligned with what makes you tick – in other words, your true north and sense of purpose. 

We think that’s worth finding out, don’t you?   

Take a thoughtful approach   

• Mix it up: There are many different interest and aptitude tests out there. We highlight several prominent ones below. Explore them and combine different ones. Insights are stronger when the results of various types of tests are considered.   

• Mine for golden insights: Consider the assessments you choose as thought starters, rather than a final verdict. You’re mining for gold here and not every pebble will glisten! Once you have the results of your chosen tests, highlight what really resonates with you and follow up with a career coach (like us!) to help you confidently move into a lane that’s right for you.   

A rich selection for your personal journey of discovery  

The best interest and aptitude tests for today’s professionals are those that blend an individual’s unique psychological contour with career relevance and most important, career application in our modern world. According to career development experts and organizational psychologists, the following assessments are some of the most respected and widely used.   

Interest Assessment Tests   

These assessments help professionals understand the types of work and environments that closely align with their personal interests. Also known as interest inventories or career interest inventories, these tests identify and clarify interests and preferences based on likes, dislikes, favorite activities, and personality traits – all of which can point to an individual’s ideal job and career choices. 

1. Strong Interest Inventory^®

The Strong Interest Inventory test is a prominent career assessment tool that helps an individual identify career paths by comparing their interests to those of people actively working in various professions, offering insights into suitable career options and potential job satisfaction. This assessment is used by college students, experienced professionals, career counselors, universities, executive coaches, the military, and career professionals in other settings.  

2. Self-Directed Search^®

This next generation of John Holland’s Self-Directed Search is a career assessment and exploration tool that matches an individual’s aspirations, activities, and talents to career choices and educational opportunities that best fit the individual. This is a great one for professionals wanting quick insights. It’s remarkably accurate for career alignment and quick to take (about 20 minutes).

3. CareerExplorer by Sokanu

People at all stages of their career journeys use the CareerExplorer test to identify their next steps. This modern AI-enhanced career interest test provides detailed career matches and personality insights. Its machine learning models train on millions of data points, constantly improving the reliability and validity of career test results, providing career matches based on an individual’s interests, goals, history, workplace preferences, and personality. Their 1,500+ career and degree profiles are constantly updated to reflect today’s ever-changing world of work.  

Aptitude and Cognitive Ability Tests   

Aptitude and cognitive ability tests are  assessments that measure an individual’s mental abilities and potential for learning and problem-solving. They assess skills like reasoning, problem-solving, and information processing, providing insights into how well someone might perform in various roles and careers. These tests are often used in talent recruitment to predict job performance and identify candidates with the potential to quickly learn and adapt to new situations.  

1. Gallup CliftonStrengths^®

As of this writing, more than 35 million people have used Gallup CliftonStrengths to find and thrive in their jobs and professions. Completing this online talent assessment is a way for individuals to discover what they naturally do best, learn how to develop their greatest talents into strengths, and use personalized results and reports to maximize professional potential. It focuses on talents and natural thinking patterns, rather than traditional IQ or academic skills. Used by Fortune 500 companies for employee development, this test is great for leadership development, team dynamics, and career growth planning. 

2. Johnson O’Connor Aptitude Testing 

Since 1922, the Johnson O’Connor Research Foundation’s Aptitude Testing has helped hundreds of thousands of people understand their innate potential and choose careers that fit how their minds naturally like to work. About half of their clients are employed adults who want help in planning their career path, with deep insights into their hidden abilities and long-term career suitability. This aptitude testing program is ideal for people who are unhappy or dissatisfied in their current jobs, those facing promotions or transfers, and those who are facing downsizing or other types of career transitions.  

Blended Assessments (Interest + Aptitude + Personality)   

Blended assessments that combine interests, aptitude, and personality components offer a comprehensive approach to evaluating an individual’s potential and fit for specific roles or career paths. 

1. CareerLeader 

Developed at Harvard Business School, CareerLeader integrates business-relevant interests, skills, and motivators for business professionals and MBAs exploring meaningful career paths. Tailored toward professionals in consulting, management, and leadership roles, this comprehensive approach to business career self-assessment is based on more than 50 years of scientific research and career development experience. It matches an individual to specific business-related careers and helps individuals understand organizational cultures that are the best fit. CareerLeader has helped 500,000 users in 200 countries get on their way to career success. 

2. YouScience^®

The YouScience Aptitude & Career Discovery test is a powerful and accurate assessment that’s divided into 11 short brain games that unlock brain wiring and uncover unique aptitudes. The test helps individuals understand their core strengths and abilities, interpersonal style, work approach, verbal skills, and more, showing individuals precisely how they’re wired. Unique aptitudes are then AI-matched with best-fitting careers so that individuals can play to their strengths by pursuing fulfilling careers they’re passionate about.  

A quick and fun bonus assessment   

Are you ready for some serious self-reflection? The folks at 16Personalities say their test takes “only 10 minutes to get a ‘freakishly accurate’ description of who you are and why you do things the way you do.”

Based on the popular Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) assessment tool, the 16Personalities test categorizes individuals into 16 distinct personality types, with each personality type represented by a four-letter code. These letters represent personality insights in four key areas: Extraversion (E) or Introversion (I), Sensing (S) or Intuition (N), Thinking (T) or Feeling (F), and Judging (J) or Perceiving (P). While this test is used for team building and self-awareness, it also supports career exploration. The base test is free, but for a nominal fee, you can unlock the full report for possible career paths and deeper personality insights.  

Ask our recruiting experts for guidance and ideal job opportunities   

At Goodwin Recruiting, we provide dedicated career coaching and mentoring to our job candidates nationwide. From valuable insights to ideas for professional development and acquiring new skills, guidance for making a successful career transition, and opportunities to achieve financial stability, we help our candidates move in the right direction in career planning. 

Get to know our recruiting partners and reach out when you’re ready to explore the next step in your career or a whole new direction. Your true north and dream job await you! We connect job candidates with leading employers in every industry.