Career counseling at Heritage looks as two different elements – patterns of interest, and areas of strength / apptitude.

Assessing Patterns of Interest:

One of the best predictors of happiness in a job is the degree to which you have a lot in common with other people who are doing the same kind of work (and are happy with their jobs). So, we give a test (the Strong Interest Inventory) which looks at a variety of things such as what you like to do for fun, the kinds of people you like, whether you like to get up a move around or prefer to work in an office much of the time, as well as a host of specific job tasks and responsibilities. Then, all of this is compared to people in several hundred different occupations to tell you who are them most like.

We also look at personality patterns and how this influences job satisfaction. Tests such as the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), the Enneagram, or the 16PF are used to help fill in the picture.

Assessing Aptitude:

There are a number of ways of assessing strengths and abilities. We use standardized intelligence tests, memory tests, achievement tests, measures of cognitive flexibility, and can also assess the executive functions of the brain (attention, concentration, working memory, organization, follow through, attention to detail).