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Quizzes > Business & Finance

ONET Quiz: Test Your Knowledge of Jobs and Skills

Quick, free ONET career test to check your job knowledge. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Matt LamparterUpdated Aug 28, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for ONET expertise quiz with career assessment questions on coral background

This ONET quiz helps you see how well you understand job data, tasks, and required skills across careers. Answer quick questions, spot gaps, and get instant results you can use to plan next steps. If you want to explore fit and skills further, try our strengths finder quiz or take an operator knowledge test.

What does the acronym O*NET stand for?
Official Network of Employment Trends
Occupational International Portal
Occupational Internet Network
Occupational Information Network
O*NET stands for Occupational Information Network. It serves as a comprehensive database of occupational information in the United States. The system replaced older resources to provide standardized data on job requirements and work attributes. .
Which U.S. Department sponsors the O*NET program?
Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration
Department of Education
Department of Commerce
Department of Health and Human Services
The O*NET program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration. It is developed under a contract with the National Center for O*NET Development. This sponsorship ensures accurate and up-to-date occupational data for workforce planning and career development. .
O*NET replaced which legacy occupational information system?
Occupational Outlook Handbook
Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey
Dictionary of Occupational Titles
Standard Occupational Classification
O*NET was designed to replace the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT) by modernizing occupational information delivery. The DOT had been in use since the 1930s and lacked the dynamic structure needed for today's job market. O*NET provides regular updates and a modular content model. .
What type of primary information does O*NET provide?
Public health statistics
Personal medical records
Real estate property values
Comprehensive occupational descriptions and requirements
O*NET provides detailed occupational descriptions, including tasks, skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, and more. It is intended to support career exploration, workforce development, and labor market analysis. The database is organized to help users understand job requirements and align them with worker attributes. .
Which O*NET online tool helps users search occupations by skills?
Job Outlook
Salary Info
Skills Search
Employer Locator
The Skills Search tool on O*NET OnLine allows users to find occupations based on skills they possess or wish to develop. This interactive feature matches user-entered skills to job requirements. It helps career counselors and job seekers identify suitable occupations quickly. .
O*NET OnLine classifies occupations using which standard code system?
North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)
Occupational Title Index
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC)
Bureau of Labor Codes
O*NET uses the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system to categorize occupations numerically and hierarchically. This ensures consistency with labor statistics and workforce analysis. SOC codes facilitate cross-agency data comparison and research. .
How often is O*NET data typically updated?
Monthly
Every two to three years
Annually
Every five years
O*NET updates its occupational data roughly every two to three years to reflect changes in the labor market. Regular data collection ensures that descriptors remain current and relevant. Major updates occur in cycles to maintain data quality and manage research resources. .
Which O*NET descriptor category includes Work Activities?
Skills
Work Activities
Abilities
Knowledge
Work Activities is one of the six major descriptor categories in the O*NET Content Model. It covers the generalized types of tasks and behaviors needed to perform an occupation. This category is distinct from Skills, Knowledge, Abilities, etc. .
In O*NET, Generalized Work Activities are defined as what?
Educational requirements for an occupation
Broad tasks and behaviors applicable across many occupations
Personal traits influencing job success
Specific daily duties of a single job
Generalized Work Activities (GWAs) describe broad categories of job behaviors such as communicating, interacting, and problem solving. They are more abstract than Detailed Work Activities and apply across multiple jobs. GWAs help in comparing occupational tasks at a higher level. .
Which of the following is NOT classified as a Worker Characteristic domain in O*NET?
Education Level
Interests
Work Styles
Work Values
Worker Characteristics include Interests, Work Values, Work Styles, and Abilities, but not Education Level. Education falls under the Experience Requirements category. O*NET's structure separates personal attributes from formal qualifications. .
O*NET collects job data from workers using which primary survey instrument?
Job Analysis Survey
Employment Feedback Form
Occupational Questionnaire
Skills Assessment Module
The Job Analysis Survey (JAS) gathers information from job incumbents about tasks, skills, and work context. It is the cornerstone of O*NET's data collection process. Survey responses are aggregated to produce normative occupational profiles. .
The 'Interests' descriptor in O*NET is based on which vocational taxonomy?
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
Holland Codes (RIASEC)
Big Five Personality Traits
Myers - Briggs Type Indicator
O*NET's Interests descriptors use the Holland Codes (RIASEC) model - Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. This taxonomy helps align personal interests with occupational environments. The model is widely used in career counseling. .
Detailed Work Activities (DWAs) in O*NET are characterized by what level of specificity?
Organizational goals and strategies
General categories of work
Financial or managerial responsibilities
Very specific tasks performed on the job
Detailed Work Activities (DWAs) describe precise tasks or actions that workers perform, such as "Operating heavy machinery." They are more specific than Generalized Work Activities. DWAs allow fine-grained analysis of occupational tasks. .
Which O*NET OnLine feature allows users to compare two occupations side by side?
Career Finder
Occupation Comparison Tool
My Next Move
Work Importance Profiler
The Occupation Comparison Tool lets users select two occupations and view their descriptors in parallel. It's useful for contrasting skills, knowledge, abilities, and interests. Results are displayed in tables and charts for easy interpretation. .
What is the primary purpose of the O*NET Ability Profiler?
Evaluate company financial performance
Determine salary ranges for occupations
Assess individual abilities to match potential careers
Analyze labor market trends
The Ability Profiler is an interactive assessment that measures cognitive, physical, and sensory abilities. It helps users identify strengths and align them with suitable occupations. Scores can be compared to O*NET occupational ability requirements. .
O*NET assigns T-scores for ability scales with what mean and standard deviation?
Mean of 50 and a standard deviation of 10
Mean of 0 and a standard deviation of 1
Mean of 5 and a standard deviation of 2
Mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15
O*NET uses T-scores for abilities so that each measure has a mean of 50 and a standard deviation of 10. This standardization allows for consistent comparison across abilities and occupations. T-scores simplify interpretation of relative strengths. .
Which O*NET database field contains the summary text description of an occupation?
ContentModel
Description
DetailedWorkActivities
JobZone
The 'Description' field in the O*NET database provides a narrative summary of the occupation. It highlights key tasks, work context, and essential attributes. This field is distinct from code and numeric descriptor fields. .
O*NET importance and level scales for descriptors range from 1 to what maximum value?
7
100
5
10
Most O*NET descriptor scales for importance and level range from 1 to 5. Respondents rate how important a descriptor is and the level at which it is performed. The 1 - 5 scale facilitates clear interpretation and comparison. .
How many major categories are defined in the O*NET Content Model?
8
10
4
6
The O*NET Content Model comprises six major categories: Worker Characteristics, Worker Requirements, Experience Requirements, Occupational Requirements, Workforce Characteristics, and Occupation-Specific Information. These categories organize all job-related descriptors. They ensure comprehensive coverage of occupational data. .
O*NET supports web services API that return data in which formats?
JSON and XML
CSV only
PDF only
SQL only
The O*NET Web Services API provides occupational data in both JSON and XML formats. This flexibility supports integration with applications and research tools. Developers can retrieve descriptor data programmatically. .
Which O*NET report lists knowledge areas ranked by importance for an occupation?
Skills Report
Knowledge Report
Abilities Summary
Work Values Summary
The Knowledge Report displays a ranked list of knowledge areas for a given occupation, ordered by importance score. It helps users understand which knowledge domains are most critical on the job. Reports are generated from survey data aggregated across incumbents. .
What file format is commonly provided for downloading the full O*NET database?
CSV archive (.zip)
SQL Server backup file (.bak)
Excel spreadsheet (.xlsx)
PDF document (.pdf)
The full O*NET database is typically distributed as a Microsoft SQL Server backup (.bak) file. This allows agencies and researchers to restore the data into a SQL Server environment. Alternative spreadsheets and CSV files are also available but the primary dump is .bak. .
How many digits are used in the O*NET-SOC occupation code?
4
6
8
10
O*NET uses an 8-digit extension of the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code to provide greater specificity. The first six digits align with SOC, and the last two digits allow detailed differentiation. This system supports granular occupational analysis. .
Which O*NET descriptor category includes both importance and level measures?
Education
Skills
Interests
Work Values
Skill descriptors in O*NET have both importance and level ratings, indicating how critical each skill is and the proficiency required. Other domains like Interests and Work Values use only importance scales. The dual rating helps distinguish priority from proficiency for job analysis. .
How many major categories are identified in the O*NET Content Model?
6
5
7
4
The O*NET Content Model includes six major categories: Worker Characteristics, Worker Requirements, Experience Requirements, Occupational Requirements, Workforce Characteristics, and Occupation-Specific Information. These categories organize all descriptors systematically. They support comprehensive occupational analysis and career guidance. .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand ONET Fundamentals -

    Grasp the core structure and purpose of the ONET system, including its classification of occupations and essential data components.

  2. Recall Key ONET Terminology -

    Identify and define important terms used in ONET test questions, such as job zones, interest areas, and skill clusters.

  3. Analyze Job Analysis Scenarios -

    Break down real-world job descriptions using ONET criteria to determine relevant tasks, skills, and knowledge areas.

  4. Apply Career Planning Techniques -

    Use quiz insights to match personal strengths and interests with suitable occupations in the ONET database.

  5. Evaluate Quiz Performance -

    Interpret your scored results to pinpoint knowledge gaps and chart a path for further ONET study or career exploration.

Cheat Sheet

  1. O*NET Content Model Essentials -

    The O*NET Content Model organizes occupation data into six domains - Worker Characteristics, Worker Requirements, Experience Requirements, Occupational Requirements, Workforce Characteristics, and Occupation-Specific Information - ensuring a comprehensive career view. Use the mnemonic "CORE-WO" (Content Of O*NET Reveals Essential Worker Overview) to recall each domain quickly. This structure, as defined by the U.S. Department of Labor, underpins reliable job analysis and quiz questions.

  2. Utilizing the RIASEC Interests Framework -

    O*NET incorporates Holland's RIASEC model - Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, Conventional - to match personal interests with careers effectively. Remember "RISA-EC" to sequence each interest type when reviewing quiz onet questions. Research from John Holland's work (1997) shows high predictive validity for career satisfaction when interests align with job environment.

  3. Interpreting Skills and Knowledge Ratings -

    O*NET rates skills and knowledge on two 1 - 5 scales: importance and level. For example, a "3.8" in Critical Thinking means above-average proficiency and necessity. Compare these ratings visually on bar graphs in the online onet test to spot high-priority skills for targeted study.

  4. Navigating O*NET Online Tools -

    The O*NET Online platform offers search by occupation code, crosswalk tables, and the My Next Move interest profiler. Try the "Occupation Quick Search" feature to locate codes like 15-1121 for Software Developers in seconds. University career centers often recommend these tools for efficient quiz practice and real-world job data retrieval.

  5. Applying O*NET for Career Planning -

    Use O*NET's "Work Importance Locator" to align your core values - achievement, autonomy, recognition - with occupations scoring highest in those areas. For instance, filter roles by "Autonomy" to find jobs where independent decision-making ranks above 4.0 on the 5-point scale. This targeted approach boosts confidence in your free onet quiz results and long-term planning.

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