Top 5 Psychometric Tests for Your Career Success

Top 5 Psychometric Tests for Your Career Success To make a successful career change, you have to know what type of career is going to suit your personality. Psychometric tests are a quick, convenient way of “personality typing” getting an idea of which specific personality group you fall into in terms of skill sets, ambitions and aspirations. Once you know which group you fall into, it’s easier to assess what type of career might be suited to you. Personality psychometric tests are not to be confused with the psychometric tests employers use to test candidates’ ability. These are usually taken in exam-like conditions and involve numerical and verbal reasoning exercises that assess a candidate’s ability to do the job. Although personality psychometric tests such as OPQ32 are used by managers and businesses to evaluate an individual’s behavioural style, there are many online personality psychometric tests that you can take yourself, in your own time. Here are five of the most popular free tests doing the rounds at the moment (the headers are hyperlinks): 1. Jung Typology Test According to the thinking behind this test, personality typing involves classifying the individual according to four criteria: extroversion/introversion, sensing/intuition, thinking/feeling, judging/perceiving. Different combinations of the criteria determine a type. For instance, if you are an Extrovert Intuition Feeling Judging, you are imaginatively called an EIFJ. According to which type you are, the test not only feeds back a list of suitable career options, but also some educational institutions that can give you the relevant skills training. 2. Career Psychometrics: How to Land your Ideal Job You have 2 minutes 45 seconds to answer a short series of questions asking you to what extent you have certain personality traits. After you’ve completed it, you get a free Personality Report that explicitly tells you not only what type of job is for you, but also what type of job isn’t for you. The only catch is you have to give them your email address to get the free report, and then they send you some spam for a few days. 3. Finding Potential: Individuals’ Personality Questionnaire This test takes around 15 minutes to complete and gives you a 15 page report that shows you the personality traits you scored higher and lower on; gives you a detailed breakdown of these traits; and then matches work preferences and possible jobs to you according to whether you scored high or low on each particular trait. 4. SimilarMinds.com: ‘What Career Suits Me’? This is slightly different in that, for some reason, it first asks you what your ‘current or desired’ career is before you take the test. It then gives you a list of statements and you have to indicate to what degree each statement is true of you. In the results it categorises you as a certain type of person such as an ‘Idealist’ and then gives you a list of possible professions. Of course, one of these professions is the one you put down as your ‘desired career’. 5. PersonalityType.com: ‘Discover Your Perfect Career’ Quiz This uses the same criteria as the Jung Typology Test, except you yourself have to decide whether you are an extrovert or introvert, sensor or intuitive, etc. by reading bullet point descriptions of each pair of qualities and then picking which of the two qualities is most like you. After you’ve chosen from the four categories, the test identifies your personality type as the conventional Jung test does and then gives you a list of suitable careers. Obviously none of us are going to choose our next career exclusively on the back of a traffic-coaxing online test, but they are useful tools for seeing if you’d really be suited for that career move that’s recently caught your imagination. And if you have no idea what you’d like to do, it’s a fun way of getting a few suggestions you might never have thought of by yourself. Related: Top 5 Most Commonly Misunderstood Interview Tips. Nisa Chitakasem is the founder of  Position Ignition  â€" a careers company dedicated to taking you to the next step in your career. Nisa is passionate about helping individuals find the right career path for them whether it involves finding a more rewarding career, making a career change, figuring out the right career plan or being creative about career directions.  

Branding Lessons From The Burson, Facebook And Google Scandal - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Branding Lessons From The Burson, Facebook And Google Scandal - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Even big brands misstep and make mistakes. Unfortunately, the bigger your brand is, the more public backlash you subject it to. The public relations nightmare Recently, a story broke that Facebook hired a top PR firm, Burson-Marsteller, to pitch anti-Google stories to media outlets. The pitch claimed that Google was invading users’ privacy with a Gmail feature called Social Circle. Where it went sour is when one influential blogger inquired more about the client that Burson-Marsteller was pitching the story forâ€"and they wouldn’t disclose the information. This prompted the blogger to publish the emails, eventually revealing that Facebook had hired the PR firm in what some call an attempt to “smear” Google. While both companies responded to the issue (eventually), the media frenzy surrounding the scandal certainly suggests both parties could have handled it differently. Stellar branding lessons What branding lessons can we take away from this? Own up to your mistakes in a timely manner. It reflects badly on your brand if you sit back and wait for the backlash to happen without stepping in and either apologizing or explaining the situation. In today’s fast-paced social world, it pays to respond when an issue arises involving your brand or company. If you don’t, bloggers and media outlets will surely have something to say about the incident without your input. Strive for transparency. The initial red flag sprung up because the PR firm wouldn’t reveal their client, an obvious example of not practicing transparency. But another red flag appeared shortly thereafterâ€"when Burson-Marsteller deleted a post from their Facebook page about the scandal posted by one of their own followers. Looking at the company’s Facebook page, conversation is happening all around them, but they are choosing not to engage their fans and followersâ€"certainly a missed opportunity! Keep your brand consistent. After the scandal, Burson-Marsteller told the Financial Times, “Whatever the rationale, this was not standard operating practice and is against our polices and the assignment on these terms should have been declined. Unfortunately, this incident reflects on the entire brand of Burson-Marstellerâ€"which is a huge, global organization with thousands of employees. While it might not be standard practice, it still happened, and makes the organization look inconsistent in their values and ethics. Burson-Marsteller has also said the two employees behind the campaign will receive additional ethics training. What other lessons do you take away from this situation? How do you suggest the Burson-Marsteller and Facebook recover from it? Author: Heather R. Huhman is a career expert, experienced hiring manager, and founder president of Come Recommended, a  content marketing consultancy for organizations with products that target job seekers and/or employers. She is also the author of #ENTRYLEVELtweet: Taking Your Career from Classroom to Cubicle (2010) and writes  career and recruiting advice for numerous outlets.

BELLY BLOAT BUSTERSÂ Avoiding Foods That Make You Look Feel FatÂ

BELLY BLOAT BUSTERS  Avoiding Foods That Make You Look Feel Fat   I love summer time.  Time for road trips, picnics, and family gatherings.  But theres one thing that all those have in common.  Lots of yummy food, drinks, and snacks.  And when youre trying to fit into that summer swimsuit, that can be a real problem.  Dr. Christopher Calapai was kind enough to give some outstanding advice to Ms Career Girl.   Heres his take on how to keep the summer fun up and the summer fat down. Dr. Christopher Calapai: When planning for a fun get-together with friends everything goes through your mind, from your wardrobe to jewelry and make-up. What many of us don’t plan for, however, is our  meals.    Eating the wrong foods before an event can sabotage your beauty plan. Certain foods can give your gut an instant bloat that looks and feels awful. However, there is a solution to this dilemma. Instead of skipping dinner to squeeze into your LBD or grabbing bagels for a quick morning bite, there are belly bloat busters.  Dr.  Calapai, D.O. is an Osteopathic Physician board certified in family medicine and anti-aging medicine suggests these great options to your normal habits: For a girl’s night out: Don’t be afraid to have a large meal beforehand (large meaning more than just a PBJ). If you are planning for an active night, whether dancing, bowling or party hopping, you will need the fuel.  Dr. Calapai  has created the perfect meal for this situation:            1 grilled chicken breast (approx 4 oz)            1/2 cup cooked brown rice and lentils            1 cup steamed string beans This combo will fill you up without weighing you down, and will give you the energy you need to dance the night away!   For a dinner- date:  You’re wearing a stunning new BCBG dress that already had to be zipped up by your roommate. When you’re at the restaurant with your guy refrain from ordering a salad to make it  look  like you’re being healthy. All the veggies in the salad will actually cause your stomach to bloat more.  Dr. Calapai  advises that a fish dish with one side of grilled veggies is the way to go! “Wild Salmon is jam-packed with heart healthy vitamins and omega 3 fatty acids. If Salmon is not an option, mackerel, sea bass and lemon sole are all good options as well. As for the veggies, try to steer clear of cruciferous veggies (such as cauliflower, broccoli) that can cause bloating. Instead opt for grilled zucchini, asparagus, or carrots which will keep your tummy tamed!”   For a day at the beach: It’s finally getting warm out and you can take that bathing suit out of hiding. If you’re going to the beach you need a healthy, energizing meal to get you through the morning but you don’t want it to show in your stomach.   You’re probably thinking that the easiest thing to eat before you head out is some Special K with skim milk. It’s low in calories after all, right? It doesn’t matter how low-cal it is, the dairy and multi-grains will expand in your intestines, causing your gut to stick out. Instead of cereal, Dr. Calapai has an awesome recipe for oatmeal pancakes. Take 1/2 cup raw oats, 3 egg whites, 1/2 apple, and a dash of cinnamon and throw in a blender to create the pancake mix. This high fiber non-fat breakfast choice offers whole grain fiber plus additional fiber from the apple, and protein from the egg whites. Its a great filling way to start the day, and will not create any abdominal gas or bloating, so you can go bikini-bare with ease! For an afternoon luncheon:  Eating a well-balanced lunch is essential for boosting energy and productivity; giving you power over that mid-day slump and keeping your metabolism active.   A lot of times people want to skip lunch in hopes of losing weight and grab an energy drink to keep them going. This is so bad! The carbonation from an energy drink will make you more bloated then a light lunch. Dr. Calapai says, “For a mid-day luncheon, your best bet is a salad chock-full of fresh veggies and greens, and topped with a piece of grilled fish, low-fat tuna salad, or fresh turkey breast slices. Throw a few walnuts or almonds on top and dress with a low fat/low sugar dressing, to finish off your delicious salad creation!” Before Sex: Luckily, you can eat your dinner or dessert (or both, on good dates) and enjoy sex too. Just lay off the foods that can trigger digestive issues, a real problem if you have a sensitive stomach or suffer from date-related anxieties, which can amplify digestive issues, according to Dr. Calapai. An 8-ounce piece of meat could trigger gas thats particularly foul-smelling. Gas associated with red meat is more odorous because of chemicals it produces in the colon, Dr. Calapai explains. Thats because when you overeat protein, it goes straight to the colon for fermentation where it creates some seriously offensive byproducts.   A safer bet is salad greens, cucumbers, tomatoes, bell peppers, mushrooms. Instead of a Margarita drink: Tequila straight up, or wine (a safer bet). This way, youre only up against naturally occurring sugars. For traveling days:  These days airports are getting bigger and so are the food courts. It’s tempting to give in to the convenience of fast travel food, but the combination of a high-sodium smorgasbord and air travel equals a  very  bloated body from head to toe. You absolutely must resist because there are better options. Eat before you leave for the airport.   Dr. Calapai suggests packing your carry-on with fruits, veggies, and granola bars. Believe it or not these are available at kiosks. Also, avoid the beverage service on board. Stick to water, you will have a happier flight and feel revived upon arriving at your destination!     Dr. Christopher Calapai D.O. Anti-Aging Physician and The Stem Cell Guru Dr. Christopher Calapai, D.O. is an Osteopathic Physician board certified in family medicine, anti-aging medicine and chelation therapy. Proclaimed as the The Stem Cell Guru by the New York Daily News, Dr. Calapai is a leader in the field of stem cell therapy in the U.S. Images: Main  Helga Weber  Beach  César Rincón   airport food  Monika

12 Things No One Told Me Before I Tossed My Cap

12 Things No One Told Me Before I Tossed My Cap Its Graduation Season, when mortarboards soar and new professionals take wing into the workforce. In their flight to the C-Suite, they’ll surely remember the sage advice dispensed at their ceremonies by wizened, or famous, or (best case) funny keynote speakers . Though truthfully, I don’t remember a bit. I may never be a Celebrity Commencement speaker, but with some distance from my own graduation day, I decided to give my own personal re-commencement address. So I wrote this letter to my matriculating self. Dear self, You did it! Well done. All those good timesare blurring together now. But they sure were good. And you’re going to have even better times ahead, I promise. Now with graduate student loans looming, let’s get on with the practical stuff, shall we?   Here are some things I’d like you to know ahead of time, just in case we get a do-over: Learn the useful things you didnt learn in school. Put off work a little longer. Take a gap semester. See a part of the world, or country, or city, you havent seen. Live like the locals. Get perspective. Think you cant afford it? Join a work program like AmeriCorps Dont have all the answers. A growth mindset is essential to success. If you already think you know it, you wont have room to learn. Stop thinking about how to sound smart. Start listening more, and asking deeper questions. Be more curious. Take a good seat at the table. If you enter a conference room and a prime seat is available, sit at it. Dont defer to others who may enter later; and dont sit at the edge of the room; youve just told everyone you dont intend to contribute as much. Sit right across from the boss and make eye contact. Dont make a career plan. Make career principles. The types of work where you shine, things that interest you, and work that pays you fairly. Preferably all three at once. Think about 2-3 roles you want, potential paths, and ways you wish to grow personally and professionally. Commit to development steps that enable your best options in the near future. Be Chairman of your own board. Recruit a personal Board of Directors to help you find opportunities, make introductions, advocate for you, and hold you accountable to your principles. Cultivate your tribe. This is your support group, your sounding board and your cheering squad. Its great to have a significant other, or a best friend, but its unrealistic for a single person to be your panacea. Investing in the diverse wit wisdom (and availability) of a trusted tribe will pay dividends. Keep your resume ready. Career opportunities can come when you least expect them. Update your resume or C/V a least yearly. The act of updating it makes you feel better about the job you’re doing! Also be flexible â€"open yourself to investigating roles you never imagined, and follow up. The people you meet in this process may be valuable parts of your network later. Don’t stay in your sweet spot. It will move either due to technology, time or gravity.  eave your comfort zone often. Growth isnt comfortable, so get used to stretching yourself. Dont do too much. Your boss only really has 1-2 top priorities. Learn what they are and how you can make an impact. Focus on work of lasting significance. Make bold asks. You get what you negotiate. Whether an offer or a raise, dont be afraid to share whats really important to you. Dont wait for the system to recognize your accomplishments and reward you. Go get it. That’s good for now. You have enough on your mind like where the graduation party is! Oh, just one more thing sometimes you have to go with your heart. That guy who tells you he loves you on graduation day? He’s the one. This guest post was authored by Sheryl Tullis Sheryl Tullis is the co-president of mBolden and head of strategic communications for TA Group Holdings, a private equity and investment firm. She lives in Seattle with the guy who told her he loved her at graduation years ago.

Get It Done End The Procrastination Cycle With These Five Tips

Get It Done End The Procrastination Cycle With These Five Tips Photo Credit â€" Pixabay.comProcrastination: so many of us are so good at it that we’ve grown comfortable enough to consider it a lifestyle. That’s not necessarily the worst thing in the world… after all, there is no better motivation to get a task done than the stark awareness of it’s deadline that only comes once it is quickly careening right at you.Sure, in everyday life this can be manageable. You’ll finally get those dishes done when you run out of forks, and that laundry can wait until you run out of undies and have to go commando for a day. But at work, procrastination is not nearly as acceptable, or appreciated. Procrastination is productivity’s biggest enemy, and no boss likes unproductive employees.Even if you don’t live a wait-til-the-last-minute lifestyle, you can fall victim to the cushy allure of avoiding something you don’t want to do until you absolutely have to do it. It happens to the best of us. Fortunately, there are so many powerful ways to fight procrastination at work, so read on. Or bookmark this article and come back to finish it later. Whatever works…Step 1: Admit You Have A ProblemevalThis is the well-known first step to overcoming many a vices, and the same goes for those trying to break the cycle of procrastination. Just step up and admit that this may be something you have to work on. And then, you can get to work…Step 2: Good Morning!A productive work day starts at the very beginning, before you ever set foot in the workplace. Make sure that you start every day off right by drinking some water, eating some breakfast, and maybe doing a little stretching. Everyone is different, so here’s a list of 11 ways to improve your morning that you can pick and chose from to design your perfect, wonderful morning.Step 3: Save The Best For LastMark Twain referred to it as “eating your frog.” If you tackle the least pleasant task on your list first off, the rest of your day can be filled with other, more pleasant One of the best ways to combat this is to create and utilize your own set of tools to help you stay productive all day. Each of us is different, but there are some constants: making to-do lists, goals lists, taking frequent breaks, and making sure you get enough to eat and drink will help everyone. Beyond that, it’s best for you to play to your strengths.If you know you’re more productive when you bounce around between several tasks, it’s okay. Remember that sometimes keeping momentum going is more important than organization.For those that are more “Type A” personalities, organizing your time with a schedule and sticking to it is the best way to remain productive over long hours, and therefore, fight the urge to procrastinate.Good Luck!If you’ve made it this far, congratulations! A very large percentage of procrastinated tasks never end up getting done I hope these tips have been helpful, and please share any tips of your own in the comments.

Summary Sunday Implementing Your Job Search

Summary Sunday Implementing Your Job Search Getting your job search off the ground can feel overwhelming and/or confusing. There is a lot of advice out there and often it seems contradictory. But maybe it isnt. I think most career and job search advice tells you to have a plan, know what it is you are looking for, have well-crafted documents that support your goal, vary how you look for jobs, and interview well. There are subtle differences based on where you are in your career (new grad versus nearing retirement) and the industry and type of work you are looking for, but essentially, the process is the process. Dont over-think it. Getting Your Search Going New Grad: 10 tips to improve your job search (Part 1)   by Lea McLeod, Degrees of Transition 4-Part Transition to the Next Phase of Your Career by Susan Joyce, Job-Hunt.org The Process of Job Search (me!) Job Search Fail Not getting the results you want? There are many reasons your search may not be going well. Job Offer: 5 Reasons You Wont Get One by Tims Strategy 7 Reasons You Are Never Going to Get A Job (me!) 6 Worst Interview Mistakes Job Seekers Make by CollegeRecruiter Need More Tips? And if you are looking for even more helpful posts, check out this round-up of expert posts!

College Application Resumes

College Application ResumesOne of the most important elements to a college application resume is an executive summary. It is a brief summary of your entire CV, which can be turned into a longer document later on. However, for now, we will focus on one paragraph to start off with. A summary of a student's accomplishments that is written in a manner that demonstrates a clarity of purpose you want to convey to the college you are applying to.The first paragraph of a college application resume is very important. In essence, it is the most condensed version of your entire college application. It is a brief summary of the entire process and gives a general idea of how the application will work.This document is the first impression of the college and may be considered at the top of the application. A good summary should follow a theme of the whole application. For example, it might give a summary of what you have done in high school, or the information about your volunteer work.The first pa ragraph of a college application resume should contain some keywords. This would be an obvious tip, but if you don't use keywords the college might think you don't care about the college and are not serious about getting in. However, using keywords is important because they will help in an online search and therefore possibly giving you an interview with the college.The next paragraph in a college application resume is a great place to talk about your achievements and previous jobs. It should include some accomplishments that you feel will stand out, particularly in a job interview. Also, mention your successes in school, so the college will see that you have been successful in school and how you overcame difficult situations.The final paragraph of a college application resume should show why you are the best person for the college. For example, you might mention that you are a highly accomplished writer, or you might explain why you are creative and that this will be a great benefi t for the college. Show the college, why you are a great fit for the position.The last paragraph of a college application resume is important because it is the centerpiece of the application. Here, you can talk about the college you are applying to, as well as any academic and employment goals you may have. It is a very important part of the document, so make sure that it is succinct and can stand on its own.Don't try to cram your college application resume into a couple of paragraphs. You want to make sure that it is clear and concise, but you also want to show the college why you are the best person for the position.