Career tests can be helpful in planning a professional future, but they are certainly not for everyone. If you feel that you, or someone you know can benefit from a career test, try to follow the five cardinal rules of taking career tests:

Rule #1: Not everyone loves all career tests. Some people hate taking tests, no matter what kind of test it is. Forcing a friend or family member to take a career test can bring big trouble. Similarly, those who enjoy taking tests might just dislike certain styles of questions. For example, forced-choice questions can be big turn-offs for certain people. Being told to choose between two options, when neither one is appealing, can leave a sour taste in one's mouth. Other people, particularly those with low self-esteem, dislike the sorts of questions that require them to rank themselves against others. Comparing one's strengths and weaknesses can be a nerve-wracking exercise. There are also those who don't like to be required to choose occupations that they like. These people have learned through experience that there are positive and negative elements to every occupation, and it can be hard to focus on the good when they know that there are also negative factors. Hypothetical scenarios can put off some career test takers. It's difficult to honestly answer how one would react in a particular situation, because people tend to respond how they would like to behave, rather than how they would naturally behave. Basically, no career test is perfect for everyone.

Rule #2: No one test provides great results for everyone. Let's say you take a career test that offers wonderful suggestions for future careers. Your best friend takes the same test, with disappointing results. How can this happen? Career tests have their own distinct personality. One test-taker might love every element of a particular career test, while another person will absolutely despise everything about it. Unfortunately, how the respondent feels about the test will certainly twist the results.

Rule #3: Take a few tests. By completing a variety of career tests, you'll get a wider profile of options. This is a good way to keep an open mind and consider a broader scope of possibilities. You will have a more complete picture of your preferences, profile and career suggestions.

Rule #4: No career test should be assumed to be accurate. People turn to tests in hopes that there is a magic formula to determine who they are and what they should do. If this is your reason for taking a career test, stop right now. Test results can be way off the mark. Answer just one or two questions inaccurately and you can end up with completely wrong results and recommendations. There are many sad tales of people whose lives took a completely wrong path, because they followed test results when their hearts said otherwise. Take your test, but take the results with a grain of salt. Career tests have one simple purpose: to provide ideas you might not have considered, and suggestions that may be worth following up. Don't expect any more from your career test.

Rule #5: Follow your gut. Let your intuition be your guide. You know more about yourself than any career tests do. No test results should ever be considered 'gospel'. If the summary seems dead wrong to you, reject the summary and try another test. On the other hand, if you really like the suggestions the career test gave you, but it seems entirely the wrong fit, don't agonize or waste time worrying whether it's worth following up. Listen to your heart and remember the old saying, "if it feels good, do it!"

Career tests are fun for some and agonizing for others but all in all, they are good springboards for future possibilities. Take your career test with an open mind. Think of all the qualities you have that distinguishes you from everyone else, answer honestly and give yourself the benefit of the doubt. Your future isn't carved out in a career test, but the results may help you find it.