Bad Exam Results? Blame it on Your Personality

by StudyMalaysia.com on March 10, 2015 | Top Stories

Finding out you didn't get the grades you wanted for SPM can feel devastating. It might feel like it's the end of the road for all you were hoping for, but it's not. Read on to find out how discovering your personality can be the road to the career you've always wanted.

There are many reasons why you could be disappointed with your exam results. Perhaps you set really high expectations for yourself. Maybe you were going through a rough patch during the exams. Or could it be that you were burnt out by the time you sat for your exams?

There is one factor that many of us overlook. Not doing well in an exam despite working hard for it could be because you sat for subjects that just didn't fit with your personality. You probably weren't too interested in those subjects to begin with and struggled to excel in them. At SPM level, the subjects are generally divided into the art or science stream. The subjects are broad and many students may feel little motivation to master these subjects.

Now that you're planning the next phase in your life, that is, the pathway to your career, it is important that you choose an occupation that matches your personality. Choosing a job that fits your personality gives you a higher chance if success at the job, and hey, you'll probably be a whole lot happier too!

This is your chance to choose what you want to do and what you want to study. So how do you begin finding out what could be a good fit? You can begin by getting to know yourself a little better. Here are some useful sites you can explore.

Find out which career cluster interests you.

In the US, careers are divided into 16 career clusters. Each cluster contains a list of similar or related occupations and industries. Doing a simple self-assessment can help you discover your interests and decide where you want your future to take you. Click here to find out which career cluster interests you most and read more about each cluster here.

Watch videos about different careers.

CareerOneStop contains videos on the types of work people do in nearly 550 careers, organised according to 16 career clusters. Once you know which career cluster you are interested in, you can explore the numerous careers within your chosen cluster through these videos.

All about you.

We mentioned personality earlier on. Many studies show that the right fit between a job and personality ensures a higher chance of success and job satisfaction. There are many personality tests you can take online – here's one called The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) personality test to get you started. You can read more about these personality types here.

Paul Tieger, one of the authors of “Do What You Are: Discover the Perfect Career for You through the Secrets of Personality Type” which has sold over a million copies, has recommended five of the best jobs for every personality type.

The Best Jobs for Every Personality Type

Note: The material here is provided for your reference and is intended to be an informational guide only. It does not comprise a complete analysis of ideal careers for individuals, and does not guarantee success or failure at any occupation. Every individual varies greatly and discovering your self is only one part of your journey to your dream career. We advise you to speak with a career guidance counsellor for a complete and personal evaluation of career possibilities.

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