The Strong Interest Inventory

Overview of the Strong Interest Inventory

The Strong Interest Inventory® is the most sensitive and widely used interest inventory available and designed to help you identify your pattern of vocational interests. It was developed at Stanford University in the late 1920s by Professor Edward K Strong with Jo-Ida Hansen, and David Campbell and was based on the work of John Holland. Holland defined six basic occupational themes (called Holland Codes) that can be used to categorise occupations as well as individuals.

The Strong measures your interests using 291 different questions to explore your likes and dislikes with regard to careers, leisure activities, school subjects and other categories.

·        107 questions about careers you would be interested in doing

·        46 questions about interest in different subject areas

·        84 questions about interest in activities

·        29 questions about interest in different leisure activities

·        25 questions on the people you would like to work with and personal characteristics

Your responses are compared to a representative sample of occupations followed by:

• people who enjoy their work
• have worked in that area for at least three years
• who do typical work for the field

People tend to search out those environments that match their interests, and an environment attracts people who share similar interests. 

The Strong is based on the idea that people who enjoy their work will, in all likelihood, share similar interests.  It is based on the work of John Holland The theory says that individuals with similar interests are often attracted to the same kind of work, feel comfortable with others who share their interests, and are likely to be successful in a work environment that reflects those interests.

The Strong is a quick way to get a snapshot of career interests, but the highest interests may not be the most appropriate career for a client.  That’s why I recommend that you use it in conjunction with other assessments.

The Strong Interest Inventory is a useful assessment for anyone who is unsure about their future career goals. It can be a useful start to thinking about career planning or to help you decide between alternatives that you may be considering.

The Strong is especially useful for people in the early stages of career planning. It will not predict with certainty what occupation you should consider. However, by indicating how similar or dissimilar your interests are in comparison with people in a wide variety of occupations, it can be a useful step towards identifying work settings and occupations that may be satisfying to you.

Who should take the Strong Interest Inventory?

• People unsure about their future career goals
• People in the early stages of career planning
• People who would like some pointers as to what would be useful and interesting leisure activities

What's included and costs

For £50 or £60, (depending on report) you get:

• Full colour report (minimum of 9 pages).  An in-depth, personalised account of your results, which clearly shows how your specific interests, learning, leadership and risk taking link to various jobs, work settings and careers.

The report identifies and provides insights on overall patterns of interests that can be explored for immediate and long-range career, educational and leisure planning.  The report is designed to expand, rather than limit, your thinking about the future. 

Each report is designed to meet the needs of adults considering a career change, seeking more satisfying work within an organization or planning their retirement.  It introduces young people to the process of career choice and what to study at university, or which occupation best meets their interests.

Profile Report:  This report is for you if you want to find out more about the types of jobs that match with your interests.  It comprises 9 pages, but you get much more detail with the Interpretive report.

Interpretive Report:  As well as the profile report, you also get the expanded interpretive report, which goes into MUCH more detail - highly recommended.

High School Edition:  This is the profile report with additional information specifically for young people before they  take 16+ educational choices.

College Edition:  This is the profile report with additional information to help you make university choices.

You can also take the Strong alongside the MBTI and get a combined report in addition to the 2 individual reports. If you request this when you order it will be at just an extra £10.  Limited offer!

What's included and costs

1. Choose which report from the list above
2. Make payment via paypal or using the worldpay secured server. You will promptly receive an e-mail with a link to the assessment and full instructions, including user name and password. 
3. You complete the assessment on line in the comfort of your own home.  Take 20-40 minutes to answer the questions.  It's that simple!
4. Your interests are compared to thousands of individuals who report being happy and successful in their jobs.  All reports are personalised to reflect responses to the 291 item strong interest inventory assessment.  The report paints a clear picture of how your specific interests and learning, leadership and risk taking styles link to various jobs, work settings and career fields.
5. All reports are personalised to reflect your responses - you will be sent a report which details your results. You will also receive a 12 page booklet to talk you through how to get the best out of the report in advance of our discussion.  
6. Usually within 2-12 hours your report will be sent to you as an Adobe PDF file, at weekends there could be a slight delay.
7. You contact Denise to schedule the discussion.

I've got some questions about the Strong Interest Inventory

How do I decide which version to take? 

The profile is great and there are different versions depending on your current situation - choose the high school version if you are 16, the college edition to help with university choice and the profile report is for adults. Taking the interpretive report gives you greater detail.

How can I choose between this and the MBTI? 

These are different assessments.  The MBTI is a personality measure whereas the Strong assesses your interests. In combination they provide great detail to make a career decision, but the best assessment of all is the Highlands Ability Battery which measures abilities, what your natural talents are, not self report.

You can take the Strong Interest Inventory alongside the MBTI and get a combined report in addition to the two individual reports. It's at no extra charge if you tell me you are taking both when you order.

I've got another question, what should I do? 

No problem, give me a call or send me an email.