Discover What You're Best At (Paperback)

~ (Author) "We know you're reading this book because you're concerned about your future: you want to find the right job, and you know that it must..." (more)
Key Phrases: Certificate Program, Four-Year College, Career Cluster (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Take the test -- and find the right career for you.

Join the ranks of the more than half-million people who have discovered their true talents and made successful career choices with Discover What You're Best At. Now this bestselling career guide has been revised for the twenty-first century, including valuable new information on the skills in demand in electronic communications, medical technology, and other high-tech fields.

The book's unique National Career Aptitude System enables you to identify not only your interests but also your innate talents and potential skills, and then to match your career strengths to dozens of the more than 1,100 jobs described in detail.

Discover What You're Best At enables you to set realistic and rewarding career goals based on your abilities. It gives you the edge you need to take on the job market and succeed in your chosen career.

Discover What You're Best At will help you:

SAVE MONEY -- possibly thousands of dollars -- by heading you in the proper career direction before you choose a school or a course of study

SAVE TIME -- by allowing you to tailor your curriculum to your career objectives, without resorting to trial-and-error course samplings

SET REALISTIC GOALS -- why be an office administrator when your interpersonal skills make you a natural for sales?

LEARN ABOUT NEW AREAS -- with more than 1,100 career possibilities listed and described in detail, you could easily discover that you have an interest in and aptitude for an exciting position you never knew existed.

Discover What You're Best At could put you well on your way to success. It's the only career resource you'll ever need.

About the Author

Linda Gale the former Executive Director of Career Aptitude Testing, Ltd. The coauthor of four career books, she lives in Arlington, Virginia.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Fireside; Rev Sub edition (August 10, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684839563
• ISBN-13: 978-0684839561
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #269,536 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

82 of 82 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good tests, but what do they really measure?, June 16, 2000

By	E. M. Carey "LGW" (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Having arrived at a point in my life where I absolutely must find a fulfilling career track - and soon - I got this book to start me on my way. I worked hard on the tests, and I was eager to see what my results would be, although I was skeptical that I would find a direct hit, my highest scores being Clerical (I'm a virgo and neurotically neat and organized) and Numerical (a HUGE surprise there, having been much more of an arts rather than math and science person). What I didn't expect was that however I arranged my scores, I came up NOTHING at all I could vaguely picture myself doing (histologist? had to look that up. geriatric nurse? food and drug inspector? acoustics physicist? had to look that one up, too). That's when I began to think about what the tests had actually measured.

Many of my strenghts - in fact, my greatest ones - were not covered in any of the tests. And looking back, I wasn't sure what 'social' and 'business' were meant to assess. Sure, I know the alphabet and can file well, and I can apparently multiply and divide (even fractions), but that does not make me a good candidate for any form of science - I know that for certain. What didn't the tests measure? Writing skills, people skills, the ability to multi-task and work well under pressure, computer literacy, creativity, web site or brochure design, quick problem solving, event planning... even the few questions that addressed some these issues were not comprehensive enough to provide any real sense of a person's capabilities in these areas.

So why give it three stars? The idea is a good one, and the tests are interesting to take. It's also well written and clearly explains the process. It even goes so far to explain what the individual jobs it recommends are (and suggests that whatever your scores are, a career counselor might be a good idea) and what level of education is needed for them. And I'm encouraged by many of the reviews here, which seem to indicate that the book has been a tremendous help to some people. I think it's important, however, to note its shortcomings and the ways in which it might not be helpful. I suppose that I was a little too optimistic about finding a quick-fix to a long, complicated problem. But for those who approach this bok knowing it may not provide all the answers, I think that there are many solutions in it, or at the very least an indication of where to go next.

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This has potential., November 23, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Discover What You're Best At (Paperback)

Well, I'm in the midst of a career search, fresh out of college...so I decided to check out this book and what it could tell me.
I took all of the six tests (about 30 minutes each) which score your business, clerical, logic, mechanical, numbers, and social aptitude. You are required to stay within the time limit (if you want an accurate result). You are supposed to keep in mind your highest 2 or 3 scores and then look at the categories that they correspond with.

For example, I scored very superior in three areas: Clerical, Logic, and Numbers. I then looked at the CLN category to see what jobs I have the aptitude for. I was happy to see that some of the jobs they listed were ones that I was at least marginally interested in. I then looked at similar categories, like LN, CL, and CN...and some of those careers also looked appealing. My lowest score was also the category that was less appealing to me (although it was a category I'd have considered as a younger person.)

While this book does not profess to give definitive answers on what you should do, it would be a nice guide for someone who has NO idea what they'd be good at (note: this does not measure interest, just aptitude) or for someone like myself who'd like affirmation or redirection.

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent resource for career direction, April 30, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Discover What You're Best At (Paperback)

This book is excellent not only for those who are changing careers but also for those beginning college and unsure of what area to study. For example, I took these tests as a senior in high school. The results reaffirmed my choice of major and provided a wide range of choices for career paths that I would be good at. My lowest score occurred in an area I did not like and did not feel I was good at. At the back of the book an excellent career directory provides detailed descriptions of all the career choices. The directory is very comprehensive and informative. This book is an excellent resource for guidance and career counselors. The only areas it cannot test are special skill areas such as music and art, but for everything else it is great. An emphasis on skills, and not changing interests, provides the books main strength.