The A-level and GCSE season is an incredibly stressful time with the pressure of getting the necessary grades for college, sixth form or university entry and then dealing with the consequences if it hasn't all gone to plan.
Not only that but making such big career and study choices at a relatively young age can have other risks. OPP's research shows that 35% of students would not choose their course if they had to make the decision again.
To help you make the best possible decision and get it right first time, there are a number of avenues that you could explore.
Get under your skin
In America, personality assessments are often used at high school and in college to help students choose the careers and courses best suited to them. In mainstream UK schools these indicators are not widely used. There is evidence, however, that if they were to become the norm here too, students leaving the education system would be better equipped to enter the world of work, and have a firmer understanding of what they can offer employers and what they will get out of their chosen field.
There are a number of psychometric assessments available that are scientifically robust and can support students' decision-making. Most are usually completed by answering a series of multiple choice questions and result in a feedback report which is yours to keep. The findings can provide a good foundation on which to base decisions around the best subjects or career paths to follow.
Assessments, such as the 16PF personality questionnaire, maps a personality according to the business skills that employers are looking for. It specifically identifies personality-based strengths and challenges, interests and work styles that can help students maximise their fit with an academic course and future career goals.
Understanding areas such as how you relate to others, your thinking style, and how structured you like to be might encourage you to explore job sectors or roles that you had not even considered before.
It's not always what you think
According to OPP's research about 18% of people make career and study choices based on what they think they need to do to get into their chosen profession. This is not always necessarily in line with reality.
Entry into a job or sector is not always restricted to one route. Unless you are planning to study something like medicine, for which there is a set career path and obvious study course, you will often find that people enter a role or industry from different study disciplines and some may have taken vocational training or an apprenticeship rather than going into higher education.
The real deal
Getting a real understanding of what the job you may be interested in actually entails on a daily basis is one of the most important things you can do as there is normally a mismatch between perception and reality.
Research potential jobs online, offer yourself up for work experience, and contact the relevant industry body to see if you can speak to someone currently in the position.
Be aware that some sectors have multiple strands, for example criminal, occupational, and clinical psychology or employment, property and family law. Even though they each sit within the fields of psychology and law respectively, they will be very different and suit different personality types. Once you understand your personality more, research the area that is right for you.
Employability
Despite the fact that there are lots of graduates looking for work, some employers are still unable to find people who demonstrate the right skills. The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development reported that approximately 75% of organisations had noticed an increase in the number of unsuitable applicants. This could be down to the fact that applicants are not researching positions effectively before applying or are not articulating their suitability for the role well enough. Learning more about yourself can go some way to ensuring that you do not fall into this trap.
Your approach
Give yourself the best chance of impressing future employers by knowing exactly how your strengths and personality would suit the job. If you are choosing subjects to study, then choose carefully, after looking at what is suited to you and what will help you get where you want to be. Seeking help to understand your personality preferences now will stand you in good stead for your immediate career and course choices and also throughout your working life.
Dr Paula Cruise, is head of research and development at workplace psychologists OPP
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