need online test for aptitude (not interests!)

[JackieOnLine]

career counseling websites are everywhere but I don't find what I want: I way to test my aptitude to see if I what I am capable of learning.

not attitude, which I could use a new one of too, but not INTERESTS which is all I find when I start googling around. plus, nobody just gives you any tests easily you have to sign up and give them your email and on and on.

I know ways to make money, so don't need that here. I'm looking to learn something online for a real job - the kind with benefits and paid holidays.

I have a real job currently but long term I might be f*cked. in fact, doing therapy can be a good job but my specific little part of it - OT assistant in long term care (or home health) had been nothing but getting worse over the years. plus I already have a back injury.

just LOOK at all the things you can train for on Lynda.com *- I could figure out what's interesting...but have no idea if I can learn any of it.

this is a cross-post from another forum, fyi


* and for free, thanks to the Colorado Springs library

 

[southernlady]

A friend of mine years ago took an aptitude and an interest test at the local community college for free. But that WAS almost 25 years ago.

 

[JackieOnLine]

I can ask the local CC anyway, thanks, Liz.

 

[Munchkin]

Great idea!

 

[Settledownnow]

Online aptitude tests are not accurate. Even an individually administered IQ test will not tell you if you can "do" a job or if you have the interest. The best way to gauge your ability for academic learning is to review your previous school history. What were your strengths and weaknesses in school? How much effort did you put forth? I second that idea of going to a community college for career and occupational guidance.

On a related note, in the short-term if you can get certified as an OT assistant by your state's dept of educ you could work in K-12 education and gain a steady job, benefits, and paid holidays (even snow days!) while you work toward a new career.

 

[JackieOnLine]

thank you for the idea but in school I did one clinical rotation in an elementary school (and caught strep throat that I couldn't get rid of for more than a year, until I could afford to get my tonsils out!) and I was bad at it and hated it. I have gained zero experience with kids since then. geriatrics I understand.

The best way to gauge your ability for academic learning is to review your previous school history. What were your strengths and weaknesses in school?

I was great at reading and social sciences and not so good at math and chemistry and especially bad at geometry and physics.

I don't have any idea how to translate that into if I could learn what I'm seeing on Lynda.com
for example, I look at "learning paths" under design (which sounds interesting) - do I want to be a graphic designer? a 2D digital designer? and SEO expert? well, maybe. but I don't even begin to understand it enough to know if I could do it.

I did email the local community college to see what they have to say.

 

[Spiky Bugger]

One nearby test vet here...
Somewhere near 1961-62, I took the Kuder Preference Test.
Later, I took the military ASVAB test.
After that, a jillion years after high school, I took the SAT.

Collectively, they decided I was capable of bring a pilot, an optometrist, a linguist, a mechanic, a clerk, and could probably get into any college I wanted to attend. (Not QUITE as sharp as my neighbors’ twin daughters who both MAXED the test, but a tad beyond fair-to-middlin’.)

I chose a couple of other things and was, I’m sure, happier than I would have been at most of the above.

Benefits, paid holidays and even defined benefit retirement plans are most easily found in civil service jobs…city, county, state, federal and related agencies. Consider looking through HR sites at any of those agencies and see if something says, “Hey, Jackie! Look at me! Start here!”

And, entry level jobs at those agencies are not the end of the line. A few years ago, MiniSue took an entry level position. She passed a lengthy probation, stayed a couple of years, noticed another gig in that same city, took another test and got hired for that position about a year ago. Today, she is studying for the test for the NEXT level on that career ladder. Currently, she’s making about $25k more than when she started. When (not IF, I’m her proud mom) she moves to the next level, she’ll get to a place where she makes another $30k more than she’s making now.


You know, I think you are asking for info on if you are SMART enough. In MY case, I’m smart enough IF I’m interested enough.

 

[Spiky Bugger]

Online aptitude tests are not accurate. Even an individually administered IQ test will not tell you if you can "do" a job or if you have the interest. The best way to gauge your ability for academic learning is to review your previous school history. What were your strengths and weaknesses in school? How much effort did you put forth? I second that idea of going to a community college for career and occupational guidance.

On a related note, in the short-term if you can get certified as an OT assistant by your state's dept of educ you could work in K-12 education and gain a steady job, benefits, and paid holidays (even snow days!) while you work toward a new career.

Except…sometimes the strengths and weaknesses of even the most able students do not manifest themselves during School Days.

As in...my test scores on the above qualify me for Mensa...no, I’ve never wanted to join…and yet I graduated from HS (at age 16 btw) with a GPA of 1.4. So there’s that.

 

[Settledownnow]

In MY case, I’m smart enough IF I’m interested enough.

This is it in a nutshell! Also, how much time are you willing to put in to learn something new? How hard are you willing to work at learning it if you find it difficult? These are also factors.

 

[southernlady]

Except…sometimes the strengths and weaknesses of even the most able students do not manifest themselves during School Days.

As in...my test scores on the above qualify me for Mensa...no, I’ve never wanted to join…and yet I graduated from HS (at age 16 btw) with a GPA of 1.4. So there’s that.

AMEN.

The military put me in the Signal Corp which was great. And I’m not (or at least wasn’t) technical at all.

My health made me interested in biology, physiology, pharmacology, and chemistry. NONE of which held any interest in high school or college. In fact, the semester I took biology in college, should have failed but the professor took pity on me and gave me a D- instead of an F on the promise that I would not attempt a life science course again. I didn’t actually become interEstes in any of the life sciences until I was diagnosed a diabetic in 1996. Life has a way of teaching you what you need to know.

 

[Spiky Bugger]

AMEN.

The military put me in the Signal Corp which was great. And I’m not (or at least wasn’t) technical at all.

My health made me interested in biology, physiology, pharmacology, and chemistry. NONE of which held any interest in high school or college. In fact, the semester I took biology in college, should have failed but the professor took pity on me and gave me a D- instead of an F on the promise that I would not attempt a life science course again. I didn’t actually become interEstes in any of the life sciences until I was diagnosed a diabetic in 1996. Life has a way of teaching you what you need to know.

I, too, got a ”Gentleman’s D” in science...HS Chemistry. See...in those days, they gave us each little tiny scoops of zinc and magnesium and we’d go back to our lab tables and mix it and hit it with a bunsen burner and it would go POOF! with a big bright light.

Well...someone at MY lab table thought to herself (I really did) that putting ALL of our zinc and magnesium together and then hitting it with the bunsen burner might be even MORE instructive. So, once you get suspended from lab work in a chemistry class...that was AFTER the windows stopped shaking...see what happens? Anyway, teacher was retiring that year and told me didn’t want to curse his successor with my presence...so the D.

 

[JackieOnLine]

Benefits, paid holidays and even defined benefit retirement plans are most easily found in civil service jobs…city, county, state, federal and related agencies.

you are right, I know, although I wonder if that is changing and not for the better? like remember when working for the Post Office was a good job? I hear it's horrible now, the way they have contracts with amazon and so forth.

but you've advised me about this before and it's certainly worth looking. I don't currently live in a real city currently, however.

You know, I think you are asking for info on if you are SMART enough

sort of, yes. I know I am not as smart as I used to be.

Also, how much time are you willing to put in to learn something new? How hard are you willing to work at learning it if you find it difficult? These are also factors.

very thought provoking, seriously. I did post this same subject on another forum and a couple of very smart people talked about how if something really interested me, that was the way to go.

I am going to give this a lot more thought, I can tell you that.

my goal is to find a new career I can learn online for free. is that too much to ask?