This test is adapted from "What Color Is Your Parachute 2003 Edition" by Richard Nelson Bolles. The idea is to identify those skills which one possesses, enjoys doing and does well. An 'x' has been placed in the appropriate columns. Those skills that possess all three attributes have been highlighed. The results of this test are only meant to be an indicator. People tend to be happiest, feel the greatest satisfaction, and are most productive when the work performed corresponds highly with the skills one possesses, enjoys and is good at.

I hesitate publishing this. The results should be taken with a grain of salt. Word association tests like this suffer from inherent weaknesses:

1. The results can be easily biased by the results one wants to achieve, reflecting the desired self-image of the person taking the test.
2. The answers are absolutes, not allowing for shades of grey.
3. Many words have multiple meanings, sometimes with dramatic differences. Even very concrete words have different meanings for different people. For example, the word "chair". I visualize a wooden kitchen table chair. Others might visualize the rocking chair from which their grandmother told them stories. Still others would have far different images in mind. As words convey more abstract meaning, the meanings differing individuals apply are likely to differentiate even further. The primary meaning placed on the words by the test taker is highly dependent upon the context in which the word is placed. An individual looking at the results would use different contexts and would ascribe different meanings. For example, take the word interpreting. I may think of it as trying to interpret the results of a software bug. Another person may see it as interpreting the meaning of a story. And yet another could consider language translation as what is meant.
4. The test is highly subjective. For example, one of the paramaters is to mark whether or not you perform the skill well. The unspoken question is in relation to what? And, of course, this was highly dependent upon how I felt on the day I took the test, which was in June of 2003. A week later, I am sure I would have had different results, let alone years later. That said, since I tried to be as honest with myself as possible, the results probably represent characteristics reasonably well.