How To Take The Strong Interest Inventory

The Strong Interest Inventory (SII) is a widely used career assessment tool that helps individuals identify their career interests, making it easier to decide on suitable career paths or educational choices.  The SII was first developed by E.K. Strong, Jr. in 1927 and has since undergone various revisions. The most recent versions have been constructed with the support of extensive research to ensure its validity and reliability. The Strong Interest Inventory Assessment is backed by years of research, making it one of the most valid and reliable interest inventories available.

Here’s how to take the Strong Interest Inventory:

Determine the Purpose:

The Strong Interest Inventory is designed to measure a person’s interests in a broad range of occupations, work activities, leisure activities, and school subjects. It’s based on the idea that individuals are more satisfied and productive when they work in jobs or at tasks that they find interesting. Understand why you want to take the SII. Whether it’s for career exploration, educational planning, or understanding your professional inclinations, having a clear objective will make the process more meaningful. Remember, the Strong Interest Inventory is a tool to help guide your career decisions and educational pursuits, but it’s also essential to consider other factors, such as your skills, values, and life circumstances, when making career and educational choices.

Explore your passion and interests. In this article, you will learn how to take the Strong Interest Inventory Assessment, the most valid and widely used career inventory assessment. 

Find a Qualified Administrator:

The SII should ideally be administered by a licensed or certified professional, such as a certified online administrator, certified career counselor or psychologist. This ensures that the assessment is taken correctly, and results are interpreted accurately.   If you are completing online versions of the SII, ensure the online provider is reputable, certified and provide interpretations of your results at no extra cost to you. When using an online administrator, the interpretation of your results should be completed via a Zoom, telephone or telephone conference call- if you would like others to attend the conference such as your psychologist, parent or other family member. Remember that your results are 100% confidential and will only be seen by your interpreter and yourself. You may give permission to show your results to others, as in on a conference call.  During your interpretations session your results should be reviewed so that you clearly understand them.  The professional can provide insights into your results, explain what they mean, and offer guidance on potential career paths or educational choices aligned with your interests.

Interpret the RIASEC Codes:

The SII measures interests based on the RIASEC model: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional.  Your scores will indicate how your interests align with these six areas and specific occupations that fit within these categories.

Your report will highlight how your interests align with these areas, which can give you a better idea of career fields, educational pursuits, development and college majors that suit you best as well as High School Curriculum for your child that they might enjoy learning and take a great interest in with the idea of future employment in certain career fields.

Taking the Inventory:

Respond Honestly: It’s essential to answer each item honestly to get the most accurate results. There are no right or wrong answers. Respond based on your general interests- that is not what you only prefer at work or school but your general interests for the most accurate results.

Time:

The long form of the SII might take you between 30-45 minutes to complete. Ensure you’re in a quiet and distraction-free environment and have enough time to complete it without interruption. One can however complete The Strong Interest Inventory in multiple sittings by saving your work and logging back in later to complete, however it is suggested to try to complete the inventory in one sitting if this is plausible.

Wait for Results:

If you’re taking a paper version, your administrator will score your test. For an online version, you will receive your results much quicker. At CareerAssessmentSite you will receive your results within a few business hours along with a link to self-schedule your complimentary interpretation session with a certified professional.