Newsletter March 2024

Newsletter content:

• Adaptive ability test faster and more accurate
• What determines success in the workplace?
• New Multicultural Personality Questionnaire: B6
• Test News
• NOA in the picture
• Did you know?

The problem of matching

Choosing a suitable education, profession or position has been a problem for many young people and adults for a long time. Choosing something new if a certain course has not worked out or if you don't like certain work remains a big challenge.

In the meantime, we see all kinds of AI applications emerging that will wash that pig for a while. By analyzing a CV, for example, and comparing it with hundreds of thousands of other CVs and job descriptions, you could determine which profession or position best suits that person.

An example of a question to ChatGPT: Which professions suit someone with the following characteristics and background: secondary vocational training, interest in the technical sector, and the following personality traits introverted, conscientious and emotionally unstable?

Answer: Someone with a secondary vocational education, an interest in the technical sector, and the following personality traits: Introvert: Likes self-reflection, likes to work independently and prefers in-depth conversations. Conscientious: Is meticulous, orderly, and likes to work in a structured way. Emotionally unstable: Experiences strong emotions and may be sensitive to stress. can consider different professions. Here are some suggestions: Technical Draughtsman: If you are accurate and structured, you can create technical drawings for architecture, engineering, or product design. Laboratory technician: If you have an interest in science and technology, you can work in chemistry, biology, or materials science laboratories. Electrician: For people with technical affinity, installing and maintaining electrical systems is an option. Software tester: If you're accurate and decisive, you can test software to make sure it's functioning properly. Quality Controller: You can work in the manufacturing industry to inspect products and ensure quality assurance.

The example shows that conscientiousness is mainly taken into account and that the less socially desirable characteristics (introvert, emotionally unstable) are forgotten for a while. It is not so easy to choose professions that combine several characteristics.

And these are just three personality traits, how are you going to combine that with knowledge, competencies and values?

And perhaps more importantly, how do you include the environment in the matching. How do you match the company culture, work environment and team composition?

Many of the current matching systems have a much too simple structure, which often leads to open door answers or to far too specific answers ("bonsai tree nursery").

It is therefore very important to realize that any suggestion for a suitable profession or education should be taken with many grains of salt.

Matching is not a one-time thing, but a (unfortunately often lengthy) process in which experience is a must.

Taking tests can help to make personal aspects that are important for the choice of education or profession aware and discussable. In that process, it is important to link the results to personal experiences and to investigate the suggestions that emerge from the results.

Remko van den Berg, director NOA