Morrisby profile test - has anyone (or their DC) done it?

[upatdawn]

My DTSs (15) are doing the Morrisby profile test next week at school as part of their careers guidance but I have no idea what it does. All they have come out with is that it 'tells you what job you should do'

Has anyone done it or had any experience of it? It's bloody expensive so I want to know what it is I'm paying for!

[crazycarol]

My dd will be doing it shortly and we got an information leaflet about it. I remember doing something very similar when I was at school. It is a load of silly questions. It will give you an idea of career choices that suit your personality / interests. It certainly wont tell you what job to do! I remember wanting to be a teacher for a long time (no idea why but maybe because my mum was one?), it came back saying that teaching would not be suitable as I was very shy and introverted, how true they were! I ended up doing sciences at uni as I was a very curious person and it was suggested that this was a good area for me. I think if someone already knows what they want to do and are likely to achieve it, it might not be good value for money, but for people (like dd) who have no idea at all it should give them some idea of where to start looking, and for those who are unsure or may not get the necessary qualifications it may give them further ideas.

[planetpotty]

I did the Morrisby test (15 years ago!!) it was free then though :(

Hmmm I seem to remember it being a whole load of multiple choice questions like

Would you say you feel more comfortable working

. in a team
. alone
. both in a team and alone

Im sure the questions go much much deeper and more complex than this though.

At the end we got a book if I remember rightly with our questions and answers and a page telling us areas of work we were suited to.

Sorry all a bit vague here but for me to slightly rememgber it it must have bee interesting....I remember there being a buzz around the day the results came back.... I didn't end up doing what it said I would though ;)

[planetpotty]

The page was in a narative and not just a list like

Butcher

Baker

Candle stick maker

[Berries]

DD1 has just done it - got the results back this week. it consists of a lot of 'ability' type tests (logic, verbal reasoning, maths, spatial awareness, attention to detail etc) and a lot of 'personality' type, plus a few direct questions (would you like to work outdoors etc).

The results seem remarkably accurate tbh, and they did pick out a selection of occupations which I think would suit her much more than the one she was leaning towards. it's certainly made her think about things as well.

Sad thing is I suspect it would be really good for the children who don't have parents with a good knowledge of the different types of careers which may be available, and they are probably the ones least likely to get chance to do it (and I know that's a sweeping generalisation but hope you know what I mean)

[Lilymaid]

DS took it when he was 15 (several years ago). He said it asked a lot of silly questions and his suggested careers did not match his real life strengths. He said that nearly everyone in his class got the same career suggestions!
It played no part whatsoever in guiding his A Level/degree and subsequent career path. We thought it was a waste of money - as did most others at his school.

[100lilgreen]

Yes my daughter did it last year and it was helpful i guess if you have no idea what you want to do in life. It shows you possible job options and courses at uni which you may enjoy and also what alevels you should be thinking about doing

[Nelleh]

My son did the test back in year 10. At the time he was dead set on becoming an architect but the test suggested aeronautical design.

He has just started his first year at uni - studying physics!

I thought it was a reasonable guide!

[SarahMotivationCoach]

There is some good advice here.

Morrisby profiles are useful but it is important also to think about what motivates us - we are all good at things we don't necessarily enjoy.

I think the most important thing is to discuss career options and don;t assume this will be done at school. Talk about what strengths you have and where you get your energy from and then think about how that fits with possible careers

[BubblesBuddy]

We paid for DD1 to do it about 10 years ago. We thought it summarised her strengths and dislikes quite well. If it’s nothing like you, then DCs might have not answered honestly. DDs came out to be Editor or Solicitor. She’s now a barrister so it was not far out. Her spatial awareness was the least good and she didn’t want to work outside or making anything. Her strengths were used to see what careers might be appropriate.

DD2. We didn’t bother. She knew what she wanted (art) so she did that. It would not have been nuanced enough to look at the variety of art courses on offer so was of limited value for her.

[ReservoirDogs]

Our school provides it free of charge in year 10. (But it is a private school so I guess it is one of the costs factored into fees).

Basically they answer a series of questions etc and it evaluates which A levels might suit you and then which degrees or careers you should go into. There are some personality style questions and some about subjects etc, whether you like to work alone or in a team etc.

However if your Dc already has an idea of what they want to do it is quite easy to skew the results for that to come up rather than be a really objective assessment.

You get a login and can redo the test later. Eg I think the school will encourage them to redo it in 6th form now they have finished gcses.