PERSONAL QUALITIES QUIZ


We all possess numerous personality qualities in varying degrees.  It is important to determine your dominant personality characteristics so that you can match yourself to suitable career environments.  Choosing an appropriate career environment will enhance your personal sense of satisfaction.

INSTRUCTIONS

This exercise includes a list of personal qualities.  You are to assess these characteristics according to the extent to which you possess each.  Read through each quality and its definition and rate yourself according to the following scale.  For those qualities you rate as a "4" or a "5", give an example how you exhibited that quality in a work, academic, interpersonal, social or personal situation.  In addition to completing this inventory yourself, ask a friend to evaluate your qualites as well.  Make sure the two of you complete the inventory separately but do compare your results on completion. Click the Sort Personal Qualities button at the end of this exercise for a summary of your appraisal.

  1. Totally unlike me
  2. Rarely like me
  3. Somewhat like me
  4. Usually like me
  5. Consistently like me

PERSONAL QUALITY

DEFINITION

EXAMPLE BEHAVIOR
Achievement-oriented
1 2 3 4 5 		Aspires to accomplish difficult tasks, maintains high standards and work toward goals.  
Assertive
1 2 3 4 5 		Positive or confident in insisting on personal rights, in expressing thoughts and feelings, or on being recognized.  
Autonomous
1 2 3 4 5 		Independent and self-governing; tries to break away from restraints, confinement or restrictions.  
Aesthetic
1 2 3 4 5 		Open to many forms of experience and believes that awareness and enjoyment of sights, sounds, smells and touch are an important part of life.  
Analytical
1 2 3 4 5 		Seeks to understand things or people by breaking them down into their component parts and investigating their meaning.  
Adventurous
1 2 3 4 5 		Seeks out exciting, novel or dangerous experiences; willing to take risks and meet new challenges.  
Ambitious
1 2 3 4 5 		Shows a great deal of effort at tasks; has a strong desire for fame and power.  
Conservative
1 2 3 4 5 		Respects established traditional values and ideas.  
Clever
1 2 3 4 5 		Smart, bright, intelligent.  
Courageous
1 2 3 4 5 		Daring and brave under threatening or dangerous circumstances.  
Conscientious
1 2 3 4 5 		Meticulous, hard-working, meets deadlines and always completes tasks.  
Competitive
1 2 3 4 5 		Enjoys engaging in activities in which rivalry is important.  Likes to win and surpass one's previous performance and that of others.  
Cooperative
1 2 3 4 5 		Able to work together with others, combining efforts in a harmonious and helpful way.  
Critical
1 2 3 4 5 		Able to analyze strengths and weaknesses of people and ideas.  
Defensive
1 2 3 4 5 		A tendency towards self- protection; does not accept criticism easily.  
Dominant
1 2 3 4 5 		Attempts to control environments and influence or direct others; enjoys the leadership role.  
Demonstrative
1 2 3 4 5 		Shows feelings openly without hesitation or embarrassment.  
Dependent
1 2 3 4 5 		Relies on others for support, direction and decision making  
Energetic
1 2 3 4 5 		Active and industrious, approaches tasks and situations with zeal, vigour and intent.  
Expressive
1 2 3 4 5 		Shows intensity of feelings and ideas; articulates, verbal and non-verbal interactions with others with openness.  
Empathic
1 2 3 4 5 		Perspective and understanding of other's thoughts and feelings.  
Efficient
1 2 3 4 5 		Produces desired results with minimum possible time, expense and waste.  
Extroversion
1 2 3 4 5 		Oriented toward the external, objective world; prefers interactions with people and things.  
Emotional
1 2 3 4 5 		Experiences feelings with great intensity.  
Friendly
1 2 3 4 5 		Sociable; interactions with others express kindness, congeniality, and interest.  
Flexible
1 2 3 4 5 		Adapts readily to changes.  
Fearful
1 2 3 4 5 		Apprehensive; prone to worrying and uneasiness.  
Forthright
1 2 3 4 5 		Direct and frank about one's feelings, values, opinions, etc.  
Formal
1 2 3 4 5 		Reserved and poised in manner. 
Concerned with etiquette
and conventional behaviour. 		 
Generous
1 2 3 4 5 		Willing to give or share; unselfish.  
Humorous
1 2 3 4 5 		Comical and amusing,
witty and entertaining. 		 
Honest
1 2 3 4 5 		Trustworthy; is open and genuine in dealing with others.  
Impulsive
1 2 3 4 5 		Tends to be spontaneous; acts on feelings and wishes.  
Intellectual
1 2 3 4 5 		Interested in acquiring knowledge, in understanding phenomena or being inventive and creative.  
Introversion
1 2 3 4 5 		Oriented toward the inner, subjective world, interested in exploring and analyzing personal thoughts and feelings.  
Inquisitive
1 2 3 4 5 		Curious; likes to experiment and investigate.  
Imaginative
1 2 3 4 5 		Creative, inventive; original in one's ideas.  
Indivisualistic
1 2 3 4 5 		Behaves, thinks and feels in a highly personalized and
distinct way. 		 
Insecure
1 2 3 4 5 		Responding in an uncertain or anxious manner.  
Modest
1 2 3 4 5 		Shows a high degree of humility; not vain or boastful.  
Open-minded
1 2 3 4 5 		Unprejudiced, willing to consider new ideas and new experiences.  
Organized
1 2 3 4 5 		Concerned with order;  dislikes confusion.  
Perfectionistic
1 2 3 4 5 		Concerned with producing a result which is flawless or foolproof.  
Persuasive
1 2 3 4 5 		Convincing and influencing the beliefs or actions of others.  
Persevering
1 2 3 4 5 		Has stamina and endurance; patient and unrelenting.  
Practical
1 2 3 4 5 		Concerned that actions and objects be useful, realistic and concrete.  
Rational
1 2 3 4 5 		Sensible; makes judgements based on intellectual reasoning;
actions and feelings are based on logic and objectivity. 		 
Relaxed
1 2 3 4 5 		Free from tension, frustration, and worry.  
Risk-taking
1 2 3 4 5 		Able to move ahead boldly in an uncertain situation.  
Shy
1 2 3 4 5 		Demonstrates a reserved nature in the presence of others.  
Self-confident
1 2 3 4 5 		Secure and self-assured; believes in personal abilities.  
Sarcastic
1 2 3 4 5 		Tends to make remarks that critique situations or people.  
Stubborn
1 2 3 4 5 		Unyielding in defense of one's behaviours, values and beliefs.  
Tenacious
1 2 3 4 5 		Having a character which is steadfast and determined even in the face of great difficulty.  
Thorough
1 2 3 4 5 		Always completes tasks and approaches them in a precise, meticulous way.  
Tactful
1 2 3 4 5 		Non-offensive communications and behaviours with others; diplomatic.  
Patient
1 2 3 4 5 		Tolerates and endures without complaining.  
Warm
1 2 3 4 5 		Communicates caring and concern.  


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