uNOVEMBER 2008 | 68

world’s only validated color-based personality test that looks at the relationship between colors and career compatibility. Based on an individual’s color preferenc-es, the Dewey Color System reveals who your students are, not who they believe themselves to be.

“Seventy-four percent of U.S. workers report they have changed careers at least once,” said Liz Harvey, Direc-tor of Consumer Products for CareerBuilder.com. “The

ccording to the National Sleep Foundation, the average employed American works a 46-hour work week. If your students are

going to be spending that much time in one place, don’t you think they should enjoy it?

The Color Career Counselor, a new test on Career-Builder.com, can help by predicting the career that is best suited for a student’s personality. It is the

New CareerBuilder test finds correlations between favorite colors and career choicesC o l o r s a N d Ca r e e r s

usarah skelnik | staff Writer

So, how did i do oN CareerBuilder’S Color teSt? As I took the color test, I couldn’t help but think about its relation to palm reading or horoscopes. The results are extremely broad, leaving your mind to roam through a plethora of possibilities. My best occupational category was creator, but the jobs listed ranged from advertising executive to lawyer to landscaper. Along with possible occupations, the Color Career Counselor listed keywords that described common personality traits. Words such as “expressive,” “romantic” and “nonconforming” were all listed, and yes, most days they describe me.

However, most days they describe you, too. The Color Career Counselor is definitely something to check out next time you’re on the Web, but I wouldn’t recommend basing your entire life around your results. Use your own judgment and find the information you need at: http://www.careerpath.com/career-tests/colorcareercounselor.aspx

a

uSubscribe at www.CareerCollegeCentral.org | 69

first step in finding a fulfilling career is learning more about you.”

The Dewey Color System allows test-takers to learn about themselves without invasive questions. When tak-ing the color test, job seekers are asked to choose col-ors they like and dislike. The last question prompts them to order 15 different colors beginning with the color that they most prefer to look at until all the colors are gone. The test provides best and second-best occupational categories and workplaces. Its accuracy will amaze you … or maybe it won’t.

Dana Schiff of Gladstone, Mo., works in human resources as a business consultant. Her present position consists of providing career development for her company’s associates. Out of curiosity, she took the test, and her best occupation-al category stated that she was a “creator,” which is only partially accurate.

“I really enjoy the creative side of my role. However, I am in HR which was not any of the suggested ca-reer paths,” Schiff said. Her second occupational cat-egory was mathematics and data management, such as accounting.

“While I am proficient in that area, it is not a motivator for me,” Schiff said.

Sara Berden works for an IT recruiting firm as an admin-istrative assistant in Dallas, Texas, and plans to finish college. Based on her color test preferences, her best occupational category is social manager.

“Favorite colors represent different hopes, aspirations and ideals people pursue with passion, while least favorite colors highlight

the issues and experiences people try to avoid.”

uSiNg the followiNg BreakdowN of ColorS from the dewey Color SyStem, fiNd the Shade that CorreSpoNdS with your perSoNality aNd future Career.If you fancy yellow, green and white, then consider yourself the designer. You make products, systems, services or environments fit others’ needs. Consider fields like interior decorating, real estate, career counseling, computer programming and travel planning.

If blue, green and brown are your favorites, then you’re the dream maker. You are at your best when you are supporting people through periods of crisis or fixing things. Consider being a doctor, nurse, physical therapist, corporate trainer, chiropractor, forest ranger or carpenter.

If you are drawn to red, orange and black, then you’re the evaluator. You increase profitability by constantly examining, in detail, the most efficient way to accomplish tasks. Consider support situations such as banking, operational support, computer repair, child care or selling supportive products.

“I think that the results were very accurate, and they actually gave me some ideas of things that I could do with my life after college,” Berden said. “I have been struggling with an occupation to get a degree in, and I wouldn’t mind being a social worker.”

Ryan Jackson of Plano, Texas, is a sales asso-ciate in the automotive industry. After taking the test, he was surprised to find that his best occu-

pational category was listed as mathematics.

“The results were not accurate at all. I have an interest in psycholo-gy and criminal justice,” Jackson said. “The re-sults said that I would prefer working in an office, but I am exactly the opposite and enjoy an outside environment working with people.”

Even though there are differing attitudes about this test, colleges can utilize this state-of-the-art career tool to help confused students find their niche in the world. Participants of the color test may disagree on its accuracy, but it is still advan-tageous to most. Schiff believes that the test may be more beneficial if its results came in the form of industry advice versus a specific job title.

“A test that may say a person would be good in sales based on their personality traits would be more helpful instead of blatantly labeling them as a corporate trainer,” Schiff said.

On the other hand, Berden said that “colleges

uNOVEMBER 2008 | 70

should definitely offer this test to their students to help them make possible career decisions to work toward.”

The revolutionary test measures 16 personality factors, including the five global factors of inde-pendence, anxiety, self-control, extraversion and tough-mindedness. Favorite colors represent dif-ferent hopes, aspirations and ideals people pursue with passion, while least favorite colors highlight the issues and experiences people try to avoid. This could be particularly valuable to a student who has claimed “undecided” as a major. In this test, a student does not have much to lose but a few minutes of their time. The feedback received can open a student’s mind to a new and exciting professional path.

“Instead of relying on traditional questionnaires, this language-free test eliminates misinformed judg-ments, self-deceptions and misinterpreted ques-tions to reveal your core motivation,” said Dewey Sedka, Author and CEO of the Dewey Color System. Sedka has spent 28 years developing and refining this system. His goal was to invent an evaluation that revealed the motivating factors of each person so that productivity, sales and employee morale would soar.

It is up to career college administrators to utilize this color system for the benefit of their students, and it shouldn’t stop at the simple act of passing along this test. Did you know that happiness and suc-cess can be found through certain color palettes? Take the next step and create sensible, stunning color combinations for classrooms using the Dewey Color Coordinator.

Administrators and faculty have the ability to be-come certified color consultants. By using certain colors that promote particular moods, students can thrive in a room that is painted with inspiring colors. Take the color blue, for example. Blue gives people the focus to visualize and helps expand the mind by concentrating on the future. It enables people to gain the power of mental discipline, which can lead to a more beautiful life. The importance that color has on learning and success is tremendous, not to mention its ability to liven up any room. So, splash a little color on those walls and watch each and every student blossom in their new environment. ■

Lightpoint Learning’s business is helping colleges do what they do better. We help build and improve performance and efforts of teams in the following areas:• Admissions Financial Services and Business Office• Registrar’s Office• Faculty Development• Career Services• Management and Leadership Development • Receptionist/Frontline Personnel• Financial Aid Training and Consulting• Financial Aid Temp Services• Compliance AuditingDelivered via standardized or customized, flexible, modular, and rapidly applicable training programs.

Lightpoint’s goal is to help you build TEAMS to accomplish your goals school-wide.

Visit our web site at

www.lightpointlearning.net

To find out more, please contact:Pamela Tiemeyer Jones

770.754.9706 and 770-837-0935404.293.2538

pamjones@lightpointlearning.net

Do What You DoBETTER

NEW!

NEW!

NEW!