Career Assessment Inventory- The Enhanced Version
Author: Charles B. Johansson, PhD
Updated: The Career Assessment Inventory has been updated to provide additional occupations, new suggested readings, new vocational codes, and career resources on the web. See the Profile Report and Interpretive Report descriptions later on this page for more information.
Manage your Career Assessment Inventory - Enhanced testing program on-line: Click here for a DEMO.
(The vocational version of the Career Assessment Inventory focuses on careers requiring less than two years of post-secondary training.)
The Career Assessment Inventory – Enhanced Version assessment compares an individual's occupational interests to those of individuals in 111 specific careers that reflect a broad range of technical and professional positions in today's workforce. The inventory is used by guidance counselors to help students and adults develop career and study plans, and by psychologists and human resource professionals to advise individuals on career development.
How to Use This Inventory
This inventory can be used to help:
- Teach students to focus on the patterns of interest that are important in making educational and occupational choices
- High school and college students identify career directions and major areas of study
- Advise individuals who are re-entering the workforce, considering a career change, or who have been displaced
Key Features
- Provides scales for 111 occupations requiring varying amounts of post-secondary education.
- Easy to administer, taking only about 40 minutes to complete.
- Graphic and narrative test reports can be shared with the client and the narrative report provides a 3-page counselor's summary.
- Combined gender scales allow for the broadest interpretation of survery results.
- The inventory closely matches the distribution of professional and nonprofessional jobs in the labor force, making it well-suited for assessing groups with a variety of career aspirations (e.g., complete high school populations).
| General Theme Scales |
| R |
Realistic Theme |
I |
Investigative Theme |
A |
Artistic Theme |
S |
Social Theme |
E |
Enterprising Theme |
C |
Conventional Theme |
Basic Interest Area Scales
Realistic Theme
|
Mechanical/Fixing
Electronics
Carpentry
Manual/Skilled Trades
Protective Service
Athletics/Sports
Nature/Outdoors
Animal Service
|
Investigative Theme
|
Mathematics
Scientific Research/Development
Medical Science |
Artistic Theme
|
Writing
Creative Arts
Performing/Entertaining |
Social Theme
|
Community Service
Education
Medical Service
Religious Activities |
Enterprising Theme
|
Public Speaking
Law/Politics
Management/Supervision
Sales |
Conventional Theme
|
Office Practices
Clerical/Clerking
Food Service |
Occupational Scales
Realistic Theme
|
Aircraft Mechanic
Auto Mechanic
Bus Driver
Camera Repair Technician
Carpenter
Conservation Officer
Dental Lab Technician
Drafter
Electrician
Emergency Medical Technician
Farmer/Rancher
Firefighter
Forest Ranger
Hardware Store Manager
Janitor
Machinist
Mail Carrier
Military Enlisted
Military Officer
Musical Instrument Repairer
Orthotist/Prosthetist
Painter
Park Ranger
Pipefitter/Plumber
Police Officer
Printer
Radio/TV Repairer
Security Guard
Sheet-Metal Worker
Telephone Repairer
Tool/Die Maker
Truck Driver |
Investigative Theme
| Biologist
Chemist
Chiropractor
Computer Programmer
Computer Scientist
Dental Hygienist
Dentist
Dietitian
Economist
Electronic Technician
Engineer
Mathematician
Math/Science Teacher
Medical Lab Technician
Pharmacist
Physical Therapist
Physician
Psychologist
Radiologic Technician
Respiratory Therapy Technician
Surveyor
Veterinarian |
Artistic Theme
|
Advertising Artist/Writer
Advertising Executive
Architect
Author/Writer
Chef
Interior Designer
Legal Assistant
Librarian
Musician
Newspaper Reporter
Photographer
Piano Technician |
Social Theme
|
Athletic Trainer
Child Care Assistant
Cosmetologist
Counselor-Chemical Dependency
Elementary School Teacher
Guidance Counselor
Licensed Practical Nurse
Nurse's Aide
Occupational Therapist
Operating Room Technician
Registered Nurse
Religious Leader |
Enterprising Theme
|
Barber/Hairstylist
Buyer/Merchandiser
Card/Gift Shop Manager
Caterer
Elected Public Official
Florist
Food Service Manager
Hospital Administrator
Hotel/Motel Manager
Insurance Agent
Lawyer
Manufacturing Representative
Personnel Manager
Private Investigator
Purchasing Agent
Real Estate Agent
Reservation Agent
Restaurant Manager
Travel Agent |
Conventional Theme
|
Accountant
Bank Manager
Bank Teller
Bookkeeper
Cafeteria Worker
Court Reporter
Data Input Operator
Dental Assistant
Executive Housekeeper
Medical Assistant
Pharmacy Technician
Secretary
Teacher's Aide
Waiter/Waitress |
Nonoccupational Scales
|
Fine Arts-Mechanical
Occupational Extroversion/Introversion
Educational Orientation
Variability of Interests |
Reference Samples (for the Theme Scales, Basic Interest
Area Scales, and Occupational Scales)
The reference sample consisted of 900 employed adults and students.
The sample was stratified by selecting cases from a larger sample so that 75
females and 75 males had their highest score on each of the six different
theme scales.
Criterion Samples (for the Occupational Scales)
To be included in a criterion sample for one of the occupational
scales, an individual had to:
- be currently employed in the appropriate job
- have at least two years of experience on the job
- respond positively to the question "Do you like your work?"
- be less than 70 years old
- have the proper accreditation or degree required for the occupation
Profile Report (Product Number 51464)
Provides a graphical depiction of the individual's score on each scale, a list of Additional Occupations to investigate, and a page of career resources on the web. There is an option to print "Understanding Your Results," an in-depth description of how the results apply to the test taker.
View a sample Profile Report.
Interpretive Report (Product Number 51463)
Presents several pages of graphs and narrative statements that explain the significant score elevations on each scale. It also provides additional reference information relevant to the highest scores, such as a list of Additional Occupations to investigate and a page of career resources on the web, new O*Net codes (SOC-Standard Occupational Classification) and older DOT codes (Dictionary of Occupational Titles) if required, and page references to the Occupational Outlook Handbook. There is an option to print a Counselor's Summary, which graphically represents the individual's scores on each scale, and "Understanding Your Results," which is an in-depth description of how the results apply to the test taker.
View a sample Interpretive Report.
Q Local Software - Enables you to score assessments, report results, and store and export data on your computer.
Mail-in Scoring Service - Specially designed answer sheets are mailed to us for processing within 24–48 hours of receipt and returned via regular mail.
Optical Scan Scoring - Allows you to score the assessments at your site.
Internet Scoring - Offers flexibility and interactivity.
What is the difference between the Vocational Version
and the Enhanced Version of the Career Assessment Inventory instrument?
The Vocational Version has 305 items and covers 91 occupations requiring
little or no post-secondary education. It provides options for the trade-oriented individual or for immediate entry into the workforce. The Enhanced Version has 370 items and covers 111 occupations requiring various levels of education. The Enhanced Version therefore meets the needs of both non-college-bound and college-bound individuals.
If I want to give one assessment to everyone (college-bound and
non-college-bound), which assessment would you recommend?
The Enhanced Version.
Can the interpretive report be given to the client?
Yes.
Does the Career Assessment Inventory instrument provide a counselor's
summary?
Yes. When the interpretive report is generated, the counselor will
receive a counselor's summary profiling the client's results.
What are the differences in occupational coverage between the Strong
Interest Inventory and the Career Assessment Inventory-Enhanced?
Both inventories sample a broad range of occupations. The Career
Assessment Inventory-Enhanced Version instrument more closely matches the distribution of professional and nonprofessional jobs in the labor force and is therefore preferred when assessing groups with a variety of career aspirations (e.g., complete high school populations).
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