Career Aptitude Self-Assessment (No Fluff)
Clarity before speed. This assessment helps you turn gut-feel into a simple plan you can act on next week—no generic personality labels, just drivers, constraints, and two micro-experiments.
What to do next
- Open a fresh note titled “Energy / Learning / Impact”.
- Track 7 days. Tag each block (+/−/~) and why.
- Convert patterns into 3 direction criteria.
- Pick 2 micro-experiments (2–4 weeks each).
- Decide: keep, pivot, or drop.
💡 Try this next week: Replace one duty-style bullet with a result (“reduced cycle time 18%”).
Different problems need different prescriptions—get your diagnosis right, then act.
A practical self-assessment to clarify drivers, values, and constraints—paired with micro-experiments to test fit.
Why this self-assessment works (and the usual tests don’t)
Most career “aptitude” tests tell you a label (“problem investigator” or “people-oriented”). Labels are tidy—but they rarely help you choose the next move. You work within systems with managers, stakes, and scarce time. The goal isn’t a label; it’s a reliable decision for the next 30–90 days.
Our approach is evidence-first: look for patterns in energy, learning, and impact—then design tiny experiments that reuse what works and test what’s unclear. The result is a set of direction criteria that make choices obvious, build proof, and reduce risk.
1) Set up your log (5 minutes)
The quick table
- Task (short label)
- Energy (+/−/~)
- Learning (0–2)
- Impact (0–2)
- Why (note: autonomy, clarity, stakes, people, pace)
Tips for accuracy
- Log in blocks (30–90 mins), not every tiny task.
- Write the “why notes” so patterns surface fast.
- Invite one trusted colleague to sanity-check your strengths.
2) Track 7–14 days (2–3 mins per block)
Look for repeatable patterns: not a single perfect day. By the end, aim for 40–60 blocks (if average), and note what they not only looked like but how many handoffs, deep work vs. meetings, unblocked vs. blocked work, and the deal-makers and deal-breakers within your day.
By the numbers
- Energy ≥ neutral on 4–5/7 days → likely a redesign, not a full pivot.
- Energy consistently low + high workload → stabilize first (sleep, friction, overload).
- Energy cycles by time of day/collaboration style matter more than you thought.
Pattern test
- Does clarity before start predict good energy?
- Does scope change the story (too broad vs. too narrow)?
- Does people & pace (solo vs. cross-functional) shift outcomes?
3) Synthesize into 3–5 direction criteria
Turn your patterns into “filters”. Good criteria give specific, testable, and portable choices. Examples:
Drivers (seek more)
- Own a “scope problem” with a measurable outcome
- Mix of analysis + partner (write, brief, frame decisions)
- Work with “discover→decision→own” type teams
Constraints & anti-goals (avoid)
- Success depends on “constant consensus”
- Heavy meetings without ownership or metrics
- Unclear expectations; value only visible at the very end
Now score any role or project 1–5 against these criteria. Anything ≤2 is a flag. Strong 3–5’s across the board usually signal real fit.
4) Design two micro-experiments (2–4 weeks each)
Reflection is the first step; the other half is evidence. Pick two directions and design a test small enough to ship in real time. Test public enough to learn, and safe enough to reverse.
Experiment menu
- Internal pilot: propose a tiny fix with a clear metric
- Shadow & interview: 2× 30-min conversations; ship one insight memo
- Freelance/volunteer: deliver one outcome w/ an agreed metric
- Course sampler: one mini build, not a 10-hour binge
Success signals (decide before you start)
- Energy ends “higher” than it started (10–20%)
- Credible artifact: short write-up, metric, or demo
- Unprompted “desire to repeat” next week
5) Decide: keep, pivot, or drop
Compare experiments against your criteria. If 2+ are high-energy/high-evidence, prioritize that direction and design a 30–60–90 plan: 30d discover, 60d build proof, 90d expand scope. If results are mixed, redesign your current role (scope shift, project rotation, manager pact). Need help? Try the Career Discovery Quiz for next bets and the road-testing toolkit for simple scripts.