Know your Aptitudes for Career Success and Happiness

Posted on December 3, 2013August 3, 2017 by Marjorie Wall Hofer, M.Ed., PCC, PCM

Ever wonder what actually makes you successful and happy in a career? It’s not only the external factors of your job. It’s actually your aptitudes!

In my twenty years of experience as a career coach, I’ve noticed that some of my successful clients, who climbed the ladder to top positions in their company, were still not happy! They hated what they were doing despite the fact that they were successful. The reason they came to me is because they realized that they valued happiness over success. I showed them how they could have both.

The Highlands Ability Battery tests for 19 career aptitudes

Let’s start at the beginning. How did you choose your current profession? If you’re like most people, it was some combination of interest and circumstance. You may have floundered at college, looking for a major that seemed right. Finally, you settled on what seemed easiest and most fun because you always heard to choose your passion and the money would follow. Or maybe you picked a business major so you could get a management position right out of school. Maybe you just happened to stumble upon a job ad, or have a friend who recommended you.

Unfortunately, what you didn’t know is that all of these are set-ups for an unhappy career. Picking a career for any of these reasons is like planting a tree upside-down and expecting it to grow. First, you have to know what your innate aptitudes are in order to branch out and find a career that makes you happy.

What are Career Aptitudes?

Aptitudes are not skills that can be taught. They are talents that you are born with. However, most of us have never heard of them and don’t have any idea which ones we have, or how they affect our job performance. But doesn’t everyone know what their talents are? No, in fact, not everyone. We’re not talking about a talent for music or sports. The aptitudes that determine career fit, success, and happiness are underlying abilities and drives that make a person easily and happily achieve success as an athlete, musician, or CEO.

You may say you have a talent for engineering, when in fact it’s a result of your aptitude for spatial organization. Or maybe you’re interested in finance and like paperwork, and thus think you would make a good accountant. However, it’s actually visual dexterity and memory aptitudes that determine if you would be happy and successful in accounting. There is a set of aptitudes that correspond to every job, from receptionist to rocket scientist. The most successful and content professionals in every field have natural aptitudes that make that job suitable for them. Click here to learn more about aptitudes and why they make you happy.

How we use our abilities in the time we have each day

Our aptitudes tell us the fields in which we can achieve success, and even the jobs within each field that will suit us best. Knowing your abilities can help you develop a career pathway that will give you a lifetime of fulfillment and financial well-being. Isn’t this what you want?

Even though you may not be aware of your aptitudes right now, it’s it’s easy to find out! You can find your abilities by taking an aptitudes test. The Highlands Ability Battery measures 19 different areas where each person has innate talent or a lack thereof. This is the aptitude test that I most strongly recommend. After identifying your career aptitudes, it gives you a list of careers that fit with these aptitudes. This is a great head-start on your new job search.

Finally, it’s also a great idea to make an appointment with The Career Profiler, or even just shoot me a question! Want to know which of your aptitudes are most important? Maybe you’re just not sure what to do with all the information! Fill out the form below and never guess again about whether you’ll love or hate your next job. Know what to do and be… with certainty!

Career Personality and Career Personality Tests: part 4

Posted on January 3, 2012March 9, 2017 by Marjorie Wall Hofer, M.Ed., PCC, PCM

Part 4: Other Career Theories (not Career Personality theories)

Some of the career trait theory tests do not measure personality characteristics but instead measure abilities, aptitudes and values. While these do not fall into career personality theories, tests of this nature should be considered as part of your career decision process.

Career ability tests are almost the same as career aptitude tests with an expanded and more detailed explanations for career applications such as the Highlands Ability Battery. They identify where a person’s ability to perform in a certain career role and could be viewed therefore as providing some insight to career success. Career values tests, of which there are few useful ones on the market with the exception of Career Anchors, assess ones current priorities critical for making a final career decision.

In addition to career type and trait theories, there are factor and life span theories. Holland’s typology could be categorized as factor theory in that it classifies occupations by certain task factors. The Strong Interest Inventory is the best career test example of this career theory. Others include Self-Directed Search and Campbell Interest Inventory.

Life span career theory is the final other type of career theory. Donald Super constructed the life span and life space theory identifying the critical influences on a person in different roles and life stages. Few tests are available for life span theories. Assessment of life span typically relies on paper pencil exercises or career interviews with a career counselor or career coach.

Career personality testing is usually one of the first steps a career coach or career counselor should take you through once they have assessed a person’s career needs. A Life Span assessment should be included in the assessment or career profiling phase and ideally should follow the career personality testing phase.

Career Life Span Assessments identify key career and work values and the current priority of these values which a person uses to ultimately decide upon one of the possible suitable career paths. It also identifies current lifestyle needs and influences of others on the decision. If ever a person struggles with choosing between career options, it is wise to engage in a type of life span assessment. The Career Profiler identifies the life span assessment phase as the nurture part of the profiling step. See Career Steps Model.

Success Story: Work-Life Balance

Posted on December 1, 2011May 9, 2017 by Marjorie Wall Hofer, M.Ed., PCC, PCM

Career Success Story #5

Work-life balance! It seems to be one of the most popular questions in the career world. How do those with families, hobbies, outside interests, other jobs, and numerous responsibilities succeed in their careers? The Career Profiler can help you answer these questions and get the work-life balance you deserve. Happiness AND success are possible!
“I wanted to maximize my career potential by obtaining successive career advancements. But I have a daughter! Could I achieve a work-life balance? I knew it would be extremely difficult within the present corporate culture, and my personal economic situation. Yet I knew I wanted career advancement with work life balance. That is how I defined career success for myself.

I worked in a department that was being phased out, though I personally expected to be spared the cuts. This proved to be the perfect incentive to begin my career advancement quest. I started working with The Career Profiler immediately. Through a process of discovery and exploration using some of the best career tests, I gained a solid understanding of my gifts, talents, and strengths.

When an ideal executive job opened up, I again called The Career Profiler in hopes of gaining this career advancement. I received the executive job, even after initially being told the company was looking for someone with different qualities. I believe I earned the job because I held firm to and effectively communicated my career life balance boundaries.

Thank you, Career Profiler, for giving key insights and strategies enabling me to secure an executive position and still maintain the integrity of my personal life. You taught me this career secret: Leaders know their strengths and boundaries, and communicate them effectively.” –Janelle W.

Success Story: Career mentors

Posted on December 1, 2011May 9, 2017 by Marjorie Wall Hofer, M.Ed., PCC, PCM

Career Success Story #4

This story highlights the importance of finding a career mentor. A relationship like this falls under the category of a strategic alliance. It can also boost your understanding of yourself and your goals while helping you achieve them. The Career Profiler can help you identify people who can become a career mentor for you.

“I worked with The Career Profiler for several years to position myself for the executive track. When we first met, I had few qualities or qualifications for moving up the career ladder. I held a production-like computer job and didn’t have a college degree. Moreover, I didn’t have any critical connections or mentoring relationships. With career coaching from The Career Profiler, I progressed rapidly in my career. I advanced three times, established a couple mentoring relationship, and neared completion of my bachelor’s degree all within only two years.

The Career Profiler stressed the importance of finding and developing relationships with key mentors. These mentors not only advanced my managerial skill sets, they became “corporate angels,” providing many more opportunities for advancement than I could have obtained on my own. In all honesty, I am now sought after by several departments within my Fortune 500 company.

I call The Career Profiler my “lifeline to success.” She taught me how to mine the secrets that make leaders succeed. The career secret I learned? Leaders are connected to key, influential leaders.” Lisa S.

Success Story: Strategic Career Alliances

Posted on November 29, 2011May 9, 2017 by Marjorie Wall Hofer, M.Ed., PCC, PCM

Career Success Story #1

This is a story from a former client who came to me for help. She was “just working” without thinking about her potential future in the company. Making career alliances can sound intimidating and cutthroat, but it doesn’t have to be. It’s just one example of many ways I can help you improve your performance, find the perfect job, change to a new career, or excel in your company!

“I expected to be laid off as a result of restructuring in my department. Even though I had over 20 years at this Fortune 100 company, I had lost some political advantages. I didn’t think through creating career alliances with executives or other employers. I called TheCareerProfiler for resume help. But she said a resume wasn’t the most important thing to be thinking about. In order to achieve career success and security again, I needed to learn new career skills.

As the layoffs started, I worked on making my career future secure and successful within this new culture. I aligned myself with politically powerful and savvy executives who protected my job and positioned me to gain an ideal position within the company. I learned two critical career secrets: Make strategic career alliances and go for what your truly want in your career… go for your ideal career.” –Joanne C.

Are you done with waiting for the “inevitable?” Then start working towards smart career decisions, securing your job, improving your skills, and making strategic alliances! Don’t know where to start? Get in touch with The Career Profiler today.