14 free online personality tests that’ll help point you in the right direction

Author Alyse Kalish for The Muse

There’s something wonderful about personality tests — the idea that you can put yourself into a category (or categories), just like that, is so relieving and self-satisfying. I’m an introvert and an extrovert! I’m sensitive but strong-minded! This one told me I’m destined to marry rich! (Alright, that’s my horoscope.)

But it really is a cool concept, and while we can understand that these quizzes will not be completely accurate, a lot of them do provide us with some insight into who we are, how we act, what our potential is, and where our ambition might take us. The more you know and understand about yourself, the more likely you are to find a career path you’ll love.

So, if you’re looking for some great time wasters (tell your boss it’s for his or her own good), keep scrolling — there’s so much you don’t know about yourself.

To find out your overall personality type

If you want to go the super broad route, these are the best options to tackle every aspect of who you are in one shot.

1. 16 Personalities

Based on Carl Gustav Jung’s study of psychological traits (for example, introversion and extroversion) and the famous Myers-Briggs test, 16 Personalities covers the “Big Five” personality traits of individuals: mind, energy, nature, tactics, and identity. As one of the most popular personality quizzes online, with over 26 million tests taken, it’ll cover everything from your basic qualities to your romantic relationships to your workplace habits, strengths, and weaknesses.

2. “Who Am I?”

The “Who Am I” Visual DNA test is also one of the most fun and useful personality quizzes you’ll come across. Formatted less like question-and-answer and more like a “pick a photo that you think is pretty” system, it’ll show how your character defines your outlook on and approach to life.

3. Persona Bubble

With Persona Bubble, explore your inner character, such as whether you’re structured or flexible, sensitive or tough-minded, reactive or stable — or somewhere in the middle! Plus, see your results in relation to others just like you.

4. Test Color

This two-question exam answers a lot more about who you are then you could possibly realize. Just by choosing your favorite and least favorite colors (yup, that’s it), it will tell you about your leadership, your management skills, your imagination, and then some.

To find out how smart you really are

While finding out your IQ is typically something you have to pay for and sit down to take to get a truly accurate score, there are some great, fairly reliable resources out there to try for fun and for reference.

5. See My Personality

The My Personality test utilizes actual brain teasers designed by PhD researchers to calculate your IQ — just like the real deal. At the end, it’ll even break your results down by your right and left brain.

6. IQTest.dk

This simple quiz, based on the famous Raven’s Matrices on reasoning, focuses on logic, memory, and innovative thinking — using patterns and shapes to create puzzles.

7. The Mensa IQ test

And, if you think you’re smart enough to join the prestigious and oldest IQ society, Mensa International, take this exam and try to score in the 98 percentile. Then it’s off to have some intellectual conversations!

To improve your emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence is just as important as IQ — in and out of the office.

So what is it? EQ is the ability to process and manage your own emotions, as well as understand and influence the emotions of others. Use these online tests to see how well you fare — and what you should work on to become better at it.

8. Institute for Health and Human Potential

IHHP asks short, straightforward questions on how you act around others and how you handle certain situations. It’ll not only tell you where you range, but also ways to improve your EQ weak areas.

9. Goleman’s EQ test

This test is inspired by Daniel Goleman, psychologist and science journalist for The New York Times, as well as author of Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ, a book discussing the many reasons why EQ shapes who we are. Instead of being direct, it presents stories and asks you to answer how you’d normally respond in that circumstance.

To get more insight on your career path

Want to know what kinds of positions you’d excel in? Or what skills you need to work on? Read on.

10. Skills You Need

Skills You Need covers four major components of interpersonal skills: listening, verbal communication, EQ, and teamwork. Your answers will determine if you’re above, at, or below average, and how to better interact with others.

11. Sokanu career assessment

This awesome, in-depth assessment takes you through various career situations, gaging both your skill level and interest. Then, it will provide you with several options for your ultimate career. (OK, it might not know you perfectly, but you might enjoy knowing which jobs you could totally pull off.)

12. How employable are you actually?

And finally, do you know how employable you really are? Let BuzzFeed decide for you — and maybe help you rethink some life decisions. (Obviously, it’s BuzzFeed, so don’t take this one too seriously.)

And just for fun (because life’s short)

And in case you need to answer some bizarre interview question, or are merely curious, here’s some fun extra supplements.

13. Pottermore sorting hat

This is created and approved by J.K. Rowling herself, so if you’ve dreamed about going to Hogwarts your whole life (childhood and adult, I won’t judge), now’s your chance to know where you truly belong — and maybe learn a bit more about your personality along the way.

14. Spirit animal quiz

You never know when the question of your spirit animal might come up, so might as well check it out in your free time.

If you were wondering, I’m ENFJ, I have high emotional intelligence, and I’d be in Hufflepuff (go badgers!). For even more tests, check out the best career quizzes to find your dream job.

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