| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 12/06/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 54 |
| Copyright: Other |
Have you got the total job?
Totaljobs.com is a virtual job centre offering career advice. Travel Weekly editorial assistant Claire Purdy tried the site’s Career Health Check to find out which job she is most suited to
I could be a mining engineer, factory supervisor or dental hygienist, according to the results of a new career advice service on the Internet.Totaljobs.com, a sister company to Travel Weekly, is a virtual job centre on the Internet. As well as listing all the latest jobs, it also offers to help visitors find which jobs are best suited to their skills and experience through its Career Health Check.
Designed and analysed by occupational psychologists Selby Millsmith, the purpose of the Health Check is to help people decide if they are in the right job and the career path they are more suited to follow.
It also identifies whether people are best in a management role, prefer to work alone or as part of a team, or even if they would be happier working from home. It took me about 20mins to answer the 190 multiple choice questions.
Questions included my preferred type of work, my typical style at work, the tasks I work best at, which factors my decisions at work are based on and how my colleagues perceive me.
I was promised the results of the Career Health Check by e-mail within 72hrs but I admit I was sceptical about the outcome.
A lot of the questions were similar, although I felt this was to make sure they were answered consistently rather than impulsively.
I was surprised there wasn’t a section asking what your hobbies and interests are. It also did not ask for age, sex or skill level. I suspect this is because those particular answers would provide too many clues to the personality of the participant rather than an objective view.
The results arrived back the next morning and I was most impressed. I received a comprehensive eight-page career guidance, competency and work profile report. I was surprised to find that over three-quarters of the analysis and statements were spot on.
For the working-style section, it found Iwould gain more from practical experience than academic study, which is true, I did leave school after taking my A’ levels.
It also picked out what Iwould define as my main strengths and weaknesses. The strength being I am aware of other people’s emotions and, being sensitive to their needs and weaknesses, that I am too sympathetic or try too hard to accommodate others.
For the working environment section, it found I would work best in a role that involved working quickly rather than taking on long, slow tasks, this was also very perceptive.
The list of jobs and careers it came up with for me was varied to say the least. I was well suited to being a typist or receptionist, which is part of my role as an editorial assistant. It also came up with a few careers I have considered in my time: child-care worker, hairdresser and pre-school teacher.
However, I have to say I definitely don’t fancybecoming a mining engineer, factory supervisor or dental hygienist!
Totaljobs.com: gives visitors the chance to health check their careers
Are you in the right job? Do you fancy a change? Travel Weekly is offering readers the chance to do their own Career Health Check for free on totaljobs.com. The service would cost an individual £20 if they went direct to occupational psychologists Selby Millsmith. All readers have to do is access totaljobs.com and click through toCareer Health Check from the home page.