Thousands of matriculants will spend a nail-biting festive season awaiting their results and deciding what to study next year. Planning for a career may seem a daunting rask, but it need not be according to Damelin’s Alison Blair.
“As a service to the community we offer a test called the Meyers Briggs Test Indicator (MBTI) for those who are still undecided about their career path,” she says.
“The accuracy is excellent. Grade 12s have been doing this test on our campus throughout the year, and many of them have said the test identified their personalities perfectly. As a result of this, they were very interested in the careers it suggested, as the personality profile was so accurate.”
The MBTI is a self-report questionnaire designed to make Jung’s theory of psychological types understandable and useful in everyday life. It is designed to help one to identify one’s strengths and unique gifts.
The information garnered from the test enables the potential student to gain a better understanding of themselves, their motivations, strengths and potential areas for growth. It is also designed to help one to better understand and appreciate people from different walks of life.
The test entails answering 92 multiple-choice questions. There is no time limit, no right or wrong answers, as it is not an aptitude test, only a personality test.
On choosing one’s preferences in each question, a personality profile is revealed. There are 16 different personality profiles revealed from this test.
Blair herself is a fine example of someone who has gained from the MBTI. “I always thought that I wanted to be an accountant, but while I was doing my second year of B Com accounting, I realised it was wrong for me. That’s when I was introduced to the MBTI, which helped to make choosing a new career a whole lot easier,” she explains.
“After doing the test, it suggested my personality suited a career, among other things, in marketing. The consultant told me about the marketing course Damelin offers, and it sounded perfect for me.”
Having enjoyed the course, Blair was suggested for the position as public relations and marketing co-ordinator by her course director.
Five months later Blair was promoted to branch sales manager of the full-time courses. “Doing the MBTI opened up a wide range of possible careers, some of which I had never heard of! I am very grateful that I found a career that suits me.”
– The Teacher/M&G Media, Johannesburg, December 2001.