1. Aptitudes
Exploring Self

2. What is Aptitude? Natural talent or ability
Acquired through life experiences, training, or studying
Can also mean your capacity to acquire a skill
Aptitudes are exclusive
High aptitude in one task does not mean high aptitudes in other areas
May read in job description need to have aptitude for science

3. Aptitude Assessment Great tool for career guidance Identify abilities
Math with occupations requiring these abilities
Assessments never only tool used
Other factors to consider
Personality type, interests, values
DAT – Differential Aptitude test
GATB – General Aptitude Test Battery
ASVAB – Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery
Colleges & Employers
PCAT – looks for abilities and aptitudes essential for pharmacy school
Career development professionals commonly use DAT GATB.
Asvab gives to enlistees. Used to classify for training opportunities
PCAT pharmacy college admission test
Colleges for certain academic programs

4. Things to Consider To reiterate DO NOT use alone in career search
Great tool when used with other tools
Having an aptitude does not always equal success in every job within it
Several occupations require same aptitude
Should not feel like only qualified for one thing
Might be good at something, but do not enjoy it
Aptitude for math does not always equal career using this ability
May indicate success in an occupation doesn’t mean every job within it.
Required abilities may vary from one job to another even in same occupation

5. Aptitude & IQ Similar Both deal with intellect
IQ – overall/general indication of intelligence
Aptitude – shows where intelligence resides
Intellect can grow/improve same as ability to do pushups
Ability to perform task
Difference is what they tell us

6. Other Terms to Know Traits – all aspects of one’s behavior/attitudes
Makes up persons personality
Have both good/bad
Genetic traits
Interests – state of wanting to know or learn about something or someone
Attitudes – settled way of thinking or feeling about someone or something
Often reflected in ones behavior
Skills – ability to do something well
An expertise
Distinguishing quality/characteristic

7. How can you use these items to better address your college/career path?