Going a bit off topic today. This is due to several article/blogs I have been reading. I have some helpful news (I hope) to share with some of you that are interested. I found out that a ton of people over 50 (and some over 30) do not know where to start if they are tired of the same old job, the same old routine, the same old, same old. I would love to know if you know of, or at least heard of, the Aptitude Test?
Those of you that have heard of this and maybe have taken it, you can go now if you want. Stick around if you would like to be ENLIGHTENED (this is where you are all supposed to go “ooohhh, aaahhhh” ).
I have taken the test 3 times. The first time I was in my 20’s and semi-lost. The jobs in Wisconsin died. Uprooted myself (later my family) to Denver, Colorado (just because I one of my goals in life was to see the Rocky Mountains), and took whatever job I could get just to have an income.
My first job in Colorado was not bad, but it was through a temp agency. Apparently, it was hard to get verifications off your application/resume’ from another state. So, a majority of my applications were turned down simply because no one wanted to make the long distance call (now it’s all via internet…ahh the simpler days – lol). So I went to the work force for help.
LOW AND BEHOLD I WAS SAVED!
A wonderful person there turned me on to the APTITUDE TEST! What a marvel of modern science that was (just a little F.Y.I. – this was in the early 80’s so it was done via pencil and paper – SHOCKER I KNOW!!). A simple test that you just basically answer yes, no, like, dislike, or somewhere in the middle on most all of the questions. Through this process of elimination, it spits out results that tell you what your beautiful mind is best suited for – AMAZING! It doesn’t just look at what you have experienced or learned in life, but it looks at your hobbies and things you would like to do if given the opportunity. WOW! What a great idea – actually put people into jobs they would like to do!
So, for those of you searching, wishing, dreaming, or just curious, here are some free sites on the net that you can check out:
https://www.whatcareerisrightforme.com/
http://www.free-online-aptitude-test.com/career-aptitude-tests.htm
http://www.oprah.com/omagazine/Aptitude-Tests-Career-Assessment (this one looks so interesting, thinking it’s time for me to take one again – woo hoo! Can’t wait to see what it says about me now!?!)
If you are confused about the results – don’t be afraid to ask! You need to keep in mind that they are generalized answers – for example, you did the test, and it tells you that you would be great in the customer service industry…so, some jobs you might like would be:
- Retail Service or possibly Management (Create the next Wal-Mart)
- Social Services (Section 8 Voucher Program Manager – help people find decent, affordable housing)
- Public Servants (police, firefighter, ambulance attendant)
- Basically, anything that involves connecting to people, usually on an individual level.
So don’t get scared or discouraged if you do not know how to read the results. You can ask any of these places/people for help:
- Local High School Guidance Counselor
- Local Work Force Center
- Local College or Community College
- Me, I would love to help you work it out. It was part of what I used to do when I worked for the Government (yep, I was a Section 8 Voucher Program Manager – I helped people find decent, safe, and affordable places to live).
Good Luck and enjoy it – it is out there to help you!
HELBERG FARM STORIES 
I took an aptitude test through The Nebraska Job service back in the mid 80’s. Just after I graduated High School. It said I should be an accountant. I found this very funny as I had taken a semester of it in high school and nearly flunked. I also took an aptitude test before I graduated, through the school guidance counselor that was from the military. It said I was mechanically inclined. I had taken some woodworking classes and a small engines class already before taking this test. I also grew up with three brothers so I knew about tools. I had to laugh at some of the other girls after this test, they were asking each other what some of the tools were. Didn’t know one kind of wrench from another, and don’t get me started on the saws. Maybe I should have joined the army and worked in the motor pool or construction brigade. Lol So let’s fast forward to 1989 I got hired on at a lablel factory. I loved this job of all the other jobs I had before or since it was my favorite. I eventually learned to fix some of the machines I ran myself. I even learned to do a change over on my die cut machine. The only thing I could not do on that machine was change out the heating rods. I didn’t want to break a die they were a bit expensive to replace and would put you way behind in production if you had to wait for a new one to made and shipped. I left that up to the machine fixer. Ok enough rambling about me. 🙂
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see you do have a mechanical aptitude and you used it – LOL!! I’ve always been good with math, fixing things, tearing things apart etc…my passion is creating things. oh and writing – hee hee
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