No BS Career Advice: February 8, 2026 ‣ Diverse Daily

By Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter

“There is no passion to be found playing small…” ~Nelson Mandela

As we enter February and winter doldrums affect people in the Northern Hemisphere, it is a common phenomenon to start to feel a little depressed. Get out of the house and be in contact with people, even if that means going shopping or taking a walk. For those of you fortunate enough to live in climates more pleasant than dreary, take advantage of what that affords you. . . . and smile at someone you pass by. You’ll feel good and you might support them to, as well.

I have been having fun with adapting my coaching practice to different types of services and products. Last week, I announced a new service called “The Interview Intel Snapshot” where we generate a custom Intelligence Brief for your upcoming interview based specifically on your resume and the job description. This week, I released, “The Strategic Dossier,” a Strategic Battle Plan tailored to you. I analyze your experience against the role’s requirements to identify your unique value proposition and, crucially, your hidden risks. It will prepare you for important interviews.

Are Career Assessments Worth Your Time? Only If You Test the Results.

Career assessments have been around for decades, promising to unlock the secrets of what work we’re “meant” to do. They’re popular because they bring some structure to what can feel like an overwhelming process–figuring out what career path fits your personality, values, or natural strengths. But while these tools can offer valuable insights, they’re only one piece of the puzzle. The real test comes when you take those insights into the real world and talk with people doing the work.

Why Career Assessments Still Matter

When used correctly, career assessments help you name what you already sense about yourself. They identify patterns in your preferences, communication style, problem-solving approach, and work motivators. That reflection can be useful, especially if you’re in transition — considering a new field, preparing for a mid-career pivot, or returning to work after time away.

The most common types of assessments include:

Interest inventories (like the Strong Interest Inventory or Holland Codes) that match your likes and dislikes to fields where people with similar profiles are satisfied.
Personality assessments (e.g., Myers-Briggs Type Indicator or Big Five) that describe how you interact with others and absorb information.
Strengths-based tools (such as CliftonStrengths) that identify your natural talents and suggest where you might excel.
Values or motivator assessments, which point to what drives you– autonomy, stability, recognition, service, or innovation.

What these tools can’t do is decide for you. They can’t see your financial goals, family responsibilities, or the realities of your local labor market. They’re starting points, and conversation starters for exploring what fits, not final answers.

The Problem With Taking Results at Face Value

One mistake job hunters often make is treating assessment results as definitive. For example, someone who scores high on “artistic” interests might worry they’ll only succeed in creative industries, while a “realistic” type might assume they belong in hands-on technical roles. But work satisfaction rarely maps neatly to categories. People thrive in many environments for reasons that reach beyond personality: a great team, a supportive manager, or meaningful impact.

Assessments also reflect how you see yourself in a particular moment. Your answers change when your circumstances do. For example, a recent layoff, family change, or health issue can shift what feels fulfilling or practical. That’s why it’s dangerous to assume an online quiz or personality chart can hand you your next career move. It’s more accurate to think of these results as hypotheses you need to test.

How to Test Your Career Assessment Results

Informational interviews are the best way to pressure-test what your assessment suggests. If your results highlight “strategic problem-solving” and “independent work,” don’t just assume you belong in consulting. Talk to two or three people who actually do that kind of work. Ask them what a typical day looks like, what skills they use most, what they enjoy, and what frustrates them.

These conversations help you see:

Whether the day-to-day feels energizing or draining.
Which skills the role truly relies on versus what looks impressive on paper.
How people entered the field and whether your background aligns.
What career progression and earning potential look like in real terms.

Think of it as running a “field test” on your assessment data. You’re validating whether the supposed fit holds up under actual job conditions. You’ll almost always learn something useful—sometimes confirming the direction, sometimes refining or rejecting it.

How to Approach These Conversations

Approach informational interviews with curiosity, not an agenda. You’re not asking for a job; you’re gathering intelligence about work life in a field or role you’re considering.

A simple five-question framework works well:

How did you get started in this career?
What keeps you motivated or engaged in your work?
What does success look like in this field?
What traits or skills make someone stand out?
If you were starting over, what would you do differently?

Schedule 20–30 minutes by video or phone, thank them for their time, and follow up with a concise note. These small actions build relationships and clarity at the same time — something no online tool can replicate.

Blending Self-Insight With Real-World Exploration

The goal isn’t to dismiss assessments; it’s to use them wisely. They can give you useful ideas and self-awareness. But the real genius happens when you combine those insights with firsthand conversations.

For example, you might find that while your top result suggests “data analysis,” what excites you most is explaining insights to others, pointing you toward analytics communication or customer education roles. Or a recommendation for “counseling” could translate into HR, coaching, or training once you explore the full range of what those paths involve.

Career satisfaction grows at the intersection of your strengths, interests, and real-world opportunities. Assessments help you identify the first two. Talking to people helps you find the third.

The smartest job hunters, regardless of career stage, approach assessments not as answers, but as prompts for exploration. Use them to develop questions, not conclusions. Then, go talk to the professionals living out the scenarios those tools describe. That’s how you turn personality profiles into actionable career decisions.

I shared a lot of new content last week, including:

How to Get More Interviews: Are There Multiple Positions Open Like This? https://wp.me/p4aIk1-jpA

LinkedIn’s #opentowork Post https://wp.me/p4aIk1-ouL

How Can I Get an Employer to Accelerate a Hiring Process? https://wp.me/p4aIk1-mcr

The Basic Principles of Networking https://wp.me/p4aIk1-3La

Finding a Purposeful Career by Finding the Intersection https://wp.me/p4aIk1-rX

Is This Why Your Resume Keeps Getting Tossed? (The Cold Hard Truth) https://wp.me/p4aIk1-gX1

Recession-Proofing Your Career: Get Back Up to Speed https://wp.me/p4aIk1-jhL

No BS Career Advice: February 1 2025 https://wp.me/p4aIk1-oJR

Have You Ever Thought of Turning the Tables on Them in an Interview? https://wp.me/p4aIk1-oJy

Evaluating for F.I.T. https://wp.me/p4aIk1-24Z

How to Sabotage Your Job Search Part II https://wp.me/p4aIk1-4JY

Never Follow Someone Else’s Path https://wp.me/p4aIk1-gYX

Why Are You Applying for a Senior Role? https://wp.me/p4aIk1-oKm

Job Search Mistakes: What’s Wrong With This Picture? https://wp.me/p4aIk1-oKi

Executive Networking: Attract Opportunities https://wp.me/p4aIk1-ovV

How Do You Spot a Bad Environment, Culture, Etc When You Interview? https://wp.me/p4aIk1-aJp

Why Your Skills May Not Matter as Much As You Think https://wp.me/p4aIk1-oKm

If I Was Stranded on a Desert Island https://wp.me/p4aIk1-gX1

3 Branding Mistakes https://wp.me/p4aIk1-oKs

Hiring Smart People https://wp.me/p4aIk1-h2V

Is Your Job Search in a Groove or a Rut? https://wp.me/p4aIk1-5D6

Making Your Dreams Come True https://wp.me/p4aIk1-17E

4 Signs They Are Interested in Hiring You https://wp.me/p4aIk1-jPs

AI and the Future of Your Job https://wp.me/p4aIk1-oKG

Don’t Get Scammed By Fake Recruiters on LinkedIn https://wp.me/p4aIk1-oKL

10 Ways to Advance Your Job Search in 15 Minutes or Less https://wp.me/p4aIk1-oKb

#NEWLinkedInFeature(s) Captured [in] the Wild 2026! https://wp.me/p4aIk1-oKR

Applying for a Job? Why Your Job Applications Are Ignored https://wp.me/p4aIk1-mc6

When Following Up Backfires https://wp.me/p4aIk1-oL4

I Have Marketable Skills But Not Getting Hired. What Is Going Wrong?

https://wp.me/p4aIk1-oKZ

9 Ways You’re Shooting Yourself in the Foot in Interviews https://wp.me/p4aIk1-oJP

Is It Common to Feel Buyer’s Remorse After You Start a New Job? https://wp.me/p4aIk1-1Xn

Use This 15 Minute Strategy to Land a Job (Even Before It’s Posted) https://youtu.be/6neLHkmjBuE

Schedule a free discovery call with me at www.TheBigGameHunter.us/schedule to discuss my coaching you during your job search and beyond.

Subscribe to No BS Job Search Advice Radio in Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to or watch podcasts. Every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday I release new episodes.

#BeGreat

Jeff Altman, MSW, CCTC

People Hire Me for No BS Job Search Coaching, Career Coaching and Career Advice Globally Because I Make Job Search Easier | I Help Executives Land When Others Can’t

Source link