psychometric testing?

breadmonkey

I graduated last July and left to travel the world. I only got back last Monday and am now looking into postgrad courses for the next academic year.

I pretty much hated my degree by the end and my work experience in the field didn't exactly set my world on fire. At any rate, the chance of getting a job in the area at the moment are about 0.

So as I said I'm searching for postgrad courses but am having serious trouble identifying specific areas. Someone mentioned psychometric testing in another thread on here and I'm just wondering if it's worthwhile or not. Are the results meaningful or is it a bit of a quasi-science?

Also, I have a bad feeling that this testing might be like the stuff I did in school where you get asked loads of questions like "I like working with children" and have to answer "agree", "strongly agree" etc. Is that psychometric testing?

AARRRGH

Forgetting about the psychometric stuff for a second, are you trying to find a course which will give you a job you would be good at, a job you would like, or a job which is secure?

Or a bit of all three?

The reality is most people (i.e. nearly everyone in the world) ends up having to make compromises.

breadmonkey

AARRRGH wrote: »

Forgetting about the psychometric stuff for a second, are you trying to find a course which will give you a job you would be good at, a job you would like, or a job which is secure?

Or a bit of all three?

The reality is most people (i.e. nearly everyone in the world) ends up having to make compromises.

Well yes ideally I'd get all three but of course compromise will have to be made. Really I just don't know what to study and without trying to sound like an egotistical arsehole, I do think that I could be good at a lot of stuff. So really, I'm trying to find something I like.

I'm beginning to realise that I picked the wrong undergrad course but would rather not go and do another one. The psychometric testing got my attention because I was hoping it could help me focus more on certain areas.

I'm not making any sense am I?

AARRRGH

No, you are making sense. I reckon I'd probably be good at anything as well, so I know where you're coming from.

What did you want to do as a child?
What would you do if money wasn't an issue?

nyarlothothep

I've had a similar experience, upon finishing my undergrad I felt that I should have done a different course, although now I don't regret it.

Psychometric tests can either come in the form of personality tests or aptitude ones. I don't place much credence in either.

The best weapon at your disposal is research, this is what I found to be the most helpful. I identified areas I'd like to get into, ranked them in order of preference and job opportunities, compared them to the factors involved in past experiences of working at things which I found enjoyable and have at this stage narrowed down things to two choices, I've decided to pursue both though at different stages. The only way to get the best result is through time and effort so that would mean figuring out what areas you might find interesting and researching them in terms of college course and what comes after. During the process you should get a sense of which area you'd prefer to do. Of course there is always an element of risk attached, whatever you decide to do may end up boring etc but the risk will be minimized.

breadmonkey

AARRRGH wrote: »

No, you are making sense. I reckon I'd probably be good at anything as well, so I know where you're coming from.

What did you want to do as a child?
What would you do if money wasn't an issue?

If money wasn't an issue I'd like to just travel the world indefinitely I never really knew what I wanted to do and I had more of an idea when I did my LC than when I'd finished college!

nyarlothothep wrote: »

I've had a similar experience, upon finishing my undergrad I felt that I should have done a different course, although now I don't regret it.

Psychometric tests can either come in the form of personality tests or aptitude ones. I don't place much credence in either.

The best weapon at your disposal is research, this is what I found to be the most helpful. I identified areas I'd like to get into, ranked them in order of preference and job opportunities, compared them to the factors involved in past experiences of working at things which I found enjoyable and have at this stage narrowed down things to two choices, I've decided to pursue both though at different stages. The only way to get the best result is through time and effort so that would mean figuring out what areas you might find interesting and researching them in terms of college course and what comes after. During the process you should get a sense of which area you'd prefer to do. Of course there is always an element of risk attached, whatever you decide to do may end up boring etc but the risk will be minimized.

What you're saying makes perfect sense but I'm in a bit of a pickle because of my degree. I did Civil Eng but wish I'd picked another discipline that was a lot heavier on computers. Most computer related postgrads require more knowledge in that area than my degree gave me. I've been toying with the idea of starting over and doing computer engineering in Trinity but it's definitely not my first choice.

Thanks for the feedback so far. So are these tests a load of rubbish?

nyarlothothep

breadmonkey wrote: »

If money wasn't an issue I'd like to just travel the world indefinitely I never really knew what I wanted to do and I had more of an idea when I did my LC than when I'd finished college!


What you're saying makes perfect sense but I'm in a bit of a pickle because of my degree. I did Civil Eng but wish I'd picked another discipline that was a lot heavier on computers. Most computer related postgrads require more knowledge in that area than my degree gave me. I've been toying with the idea of starting over and doing computer engineering in Trinity but it's definitely not my first choice.

Thanks for the feedback so far. So are these tests a load of rubbish?

There is an MSC in computer science in Maynooth which is 2 years. The first year you get a Hdip out of it, the second year is the masters proper (I think). Afaik people from a non computer science background can do it as the first year is intended to familiarize students with the discipline.

Our man in Havana

breadmonkey wrote: »

Also, I have a bad feeling that this testing might be like the stuff I did in school where you get asked loads of questions like "I like working with children" and have to answer "agree", "strongly agree" etc. Is that psychometric testing?

That is it alright. i would consider it to be a load of voodoo and witchcraft. It really tells you nothing about suitability for a job.