Why are we put on this planet? This is an existential question that has become utterly shallowed by the climate of society. The idea that everyone is placed on Earth for a reason is a belief that is exercised in the daily life of humans. We are constantly trying to narrow down our value to specific skills and traits. We have parents to guide us through our formative years, the school system to help us find our strengths, and lastly, the freedom of being an adult, which the word “adult” subconsciously comes with a lot of responsibility. What if this could all be simplified? What if taking one singular test could change this entire process? The simplification of finding our meaning for being on this planet is a basic test. 

The generic name is a career test, although there are many different kinds. These tests are assessments created to practically add all of someone’s attributes in order to determine the most suitable career environment for that individual. It also factors into where this individual will be most happy and also add value to society. I can completely understand the positives within these tests and how they can truly give people an answer to what they are going to be most appreciated and happy doing for possibly the rest of their lives. 

In many work environments, employers find that 46% of resumes are packed with lies and 76% are deceptive (Medium). This leads to low-performance employees, a fallback on staff, and high turnover rates. The Aberdeen Group found that a pre-employment assessment actually decreased the turnover rate by 39% (Medium). The Aberdeen group also found that employers who make use of these tests are 36% more pleased with their final hiring decision compared to those who didn’t. 

Now, these tests will give you a handful of job options for a similar type of work, but not all of these will work the best. Again, these tests measure you as a person and how your personality will shape your performance in specific work environments. For example, one anonymous student at FHC said that the results of their career test were not at all what they expected to get. They were taken aback by their result due to a complete clash in their reality of the career spaces they thrive in and what the assessment suggested. With this being said, it is just a test, and I don’t suppose it could candidly unfold and map out someone’s personality with perfect precision. 

I do feel career tests can be an immensely supportive tool to guide those in search of a healthy and enjoyable working environment with longevity as well. A teacher once told me that they were at peace and overall happy with life having a job that they found gratifying. They said that we work the majority of our lives, so when you get a chance to pick a career or try new things out, pick things that you find enjoyable. Don’t waste your time. 

I do see great value in these tests, but it’s not in the sense society should become a dystopia. We are not robots. We each bring forward character-defining traits that we sometimes can’t see. Career tests give us a set of lenses to magnify and assist in the search for who we are.