Is it possible to assess the human personality by examining the answers to a few simple questions? The correct answer is no ... and yes! If you'd like to explore this contradiction - and see how it applies to your career goals, then read on.

Remember ink-blot tests - the kind where you stare at an image formed by a smudge of ink on a blotter that had been folded in half. If you "saw" a cow it might suggest you have a wholesome personality. If you saw your mother being murdered, then perhaps you were suffering a personality disorder.

The ink-blot, or Rorschach, test was an early attempt (in the 1920's) to assess the human personality using a standardized test. The Rorschach test isn't used very often today and I can't imagine any test will ever uncover the depth of human complexity that we all see in our friends and families.

On the other hand, there are some tests that can assess "personality traits" pretty accurately. The best ones borrow the ideas from the godfather of psychology, Carl Jung, the genius who coined the terms "introvert" and extrovert." (Some people think of Freud as the father of psychology, but in my mind Jung's work had the most practical impact.)

Using a scale that places individual responses to various questions on a continuum from Extrovert to Introvert, certain "traits" can be determined. When your responses are combined with those on other scales like Sensory versus Intuitive, Thinking versus Feeling and Perception versus Judgment - a personality matrix emerges which identifies 16 different personality types.

Certain combinations point to specific career directions. For example, if you are an "ESFJ Personality Type" (that is, Extroverted, Sensory, Feeling and Judgmental), then as well as being directed towards external phenomena you are responsive to sensory, feeling and organizational factors. It may be worth your while to consider careers in Counseling, Child care, or Social work.

When I did the free preview Personality Test at AnalyzeMyCareer.com I received this analysis:

ENTP Personality Type (Extroverted, Intuitive, Thinking and Perceptive)
This personality type indicates that you are enterprising and independent about projects and that you are outspoken about matters in which you believe. You are a person who has the capacity to take advantage of the strategic positions in which you find yourself. Furthermore, you are creative and adapt well to new situations. It seems also that you like to be challenged in the jobs that you to do and that you have an analytical disposition with respect to problem solving. You have the ability to initiate appropriate theories and to question the views of others. You are resourceful in regard to coming up with solutions to problems

My career choices:
Newspaper Reporters, Actors, Photographers, Marketing Executives, Sales Personnel

Considering this is based on my responses to six preview questions, it's surprisingly accurate. I know from past experience that personality tests on their own are limited in what they have to offer. But when they are combined from other types of tests (many of them reviewed elsewhere on this site) some interesting patterns can emerge which can point out new directions for your career explorations.

One of the benefits of AnalyzeMyCareer.com is their "suite" of tests that offers exactly this kind of combined analysis. If you'd like to find out more, click here ( Personality Test ) to visit AnalyzeMyCareer.com right now. You can preview all of their tests to determine if what they offer suits you.