I’ve taken career tests before. Is it possible I’ve already taken these tests?
No. These tests were designed exclusively for Rockport Institute.

I already know my skill set. Why should I take the Pathfinder Career Testing Program?
This has nothing to do with your “skill set,” or what skills you have acquired. We humans can learn to do almost anything, and, in fact, we tend to value those skills we work hardest to develop and overlook what is effortless. We’re not testing what you have learned. We’re looking for where your innate talents lie—those inclinations and ways of processing information and solving problems that are natural and easy for you.

On some tests, I know I can get different results depending on my mood or how I answer questions. How can I be sure I’m not influencing the results this way?
That doesn't happen with these tests. Twelve of the 13 tests are timed performance tests - that is, instead of asking you how good you think you are at a certain ability, your ability is actually measured.

What if my test results say I should be a worm farmer?
They won't. One reason people get so much value from our Pathfinder Career Testing Program is that the “results” include coaching by an experienced, intuitive human being who’s committed to your seeing the possibilities and options for yourself. Looking at your test scores and taking into account your responses on an extensive questionnaire, your coach can show you how your abilities combine to suggest several possible career directions. The coaching session is a dialogue, so you always have the power to divert the conversation from areas in which you have no interest. No one’s going to make you be a worm farmer if you don’t want to.

How specific are these career directions suggested by the coach?
Very specific, though we go way beyond just making suggestions. Your Rockport coach would never simply suggest “a field,” like business. There must be nearly ten thousand careers in the Business field – ten thousand and one if you include “sidewalk lemonade sales” - so we narrow it down to specifics. If there are particular fields you are considering, we will focus on them as well as on alternatives. If you don’t have any ideas, we’ll give you some. Even more important than the specific careers we recommend, the Testing Program teaches you to understand your abilities in a way that helps you assess any career for its potential fit. Many clients say that after the program they are able to diagnose why some of their friends' careers are not satisfying.

Will the Pathfinder Career Testing Program tell me the perfect career for me?
Even though your innate abilities and personality traits are the foundation of a career that fits like a custom-made suit, there are usually other elements to consider. To choose the perfect career, clients often use the Testing Program in conjunction with our book, The Pathfinder: How to Choose or Change Your Career for a Lifetime of Satisfaction and Success. Others, who want expert personal coaching, use the Pathfinder Career Choice Program instead of the Testing Program, or upgrade to it after completing the Testing Program.

Do you produce a written report or analysis?
We do not produce a written report as a part of the interpretation process. Why? Because it would be of much less value to you than the way we do it. We are committed to helping you understand these important areas in a way that moves you toward making some important decisions about your future career direction. You get a lot farther with the personal interpretation session than we would if we were to spend the time writing a report instead.

Do I get a written explanation of all the abilities you test?

Yes, you do. The Pathfinder Career Testing Program, interpretation consists of two steps. In the first, we send test scores, a written explanation of the abilities we measured, and a 70-minute generic interpretation CD or tape to you. This audio describes in detail all the individual areas we measure and gives you a chance to look back over your life and career in light of your innate abilities, etc. Then, in a one-hour phone interpretation, we discuss how your abilities combine and dig in to your particular situation. There are approximately 30,000 different combinations of ability/personality factors. Each client's situation is unique, all of which adds up to an almost infinite number of combinations. Doing it this way allows us to offer you a deeply personal experience and meaningful recommendations, which surpasses a written report.