Chapter 3 Personality Test
Identify your strength and weaknesses, and decide what you want to improve upon.
In the meeting today, you conducted a (brief) personality test. If you want a more comprehensive version, or you missed today’s meeting, try this one.
My MBTI Type is X, Now What?
First, note that this is nothing more than a quick and free way to explore your own preferences. Meyers–Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is not a valid scientific tool to assess personality traits,16 so take the results with a grain of salt.
Second, a test might indicate that you are an introvert or extravert, but this is hardly interesting information for your employer or internship supervisor. Instead, you can use this information to decide what areas you want to improve on. For example, a strongly introverted individual may need more practice working effectively in groups, while a strongly extraverted person may have more difficulty working independently. Both are skills mentioned in many job applications.
You are still at a very early point in your (academic) career. If you fear public speaking, then grab every chance to present during courses. Now is the time to make a fool out of yourself, not when you land your first job. If you consistently score poorly on written assignments, then consider investing more time in reading scientific articles, and try to apply what you’ve learned to your own writing.
The goal of this assignment is not to categorize students into archetypes. Instead, it is about awareness of what you are like now, and what you would like to be like later. Everything you start improving today will make you a more appealing candidate to a potential employer or supervisor. This in turn increases your chances of landing the job of your liking, or getting the internship you really want.
Assignment 3
- What was the outcome of the test?
- Do you agree with it? If not, which type do you think suits you best?
- Below is a list of strengths and weaknesses in no particular order. Pick at least 3 (or come up with your own) which you feel are your strengths, and 3 which are your weaknesses and explain why you think so.
- End your assignment with a (brief) plan for what you want to improve: Do you want to capitalize on certain strengths? Do you want to improve your weaknesses? Are these skills relevant for your future career? Explain why you want to address these skills specifically and how you intend to improve them.
Upload your assignment to Brightspace as a Word or PDF file. Include your full name and student number. Deadline: 11 May
| Example skills |
|---|
| Analysis |
| Collaboration |
| Creativity |
| Critical thinking |
| Discipline |
| Dutch language |
| English language |
| Field work |
| Lab work |
| Leadership |
| Literature research |
| Mathematics |
| Problem solving |
| Programming |
| Public speaking |
| Scientific presenting |
| Scientific writing |
| Time management |
| Verbal communication |