The Bert Show Podcast Summary

Episode: Vault: We Take A Career Assessment Test
Date: February 20, 2026
Guest: Dr. Rick Van Haveren (CareerNavigator.net)

Overview

In this episode, the morning crew of The Bert Show welcomes Dr. Rick Van Haveren from CareerNavigator.net to interpret their results from a career assessment test. The segment combines genuine curiosity about career paths with the show's trademark banter and humor. Each host's results are discussed in detail, revealing personality traits, recommended careers, and surprising mismatches with their current roles in radio. Dr. Van Haveren also shares insights on team dynamics and the prevalence of certain personality traits in radio.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Purpose & Format of the Assessment

• The team took a comprehensive career assessment focusing on personality and reasoning skills.
• The test included math components to evaluate reasoning but did not provide scores for that section.
  • “Most of it is personality, but you have a little bit with reasoning as well.” – Dr. Rick Van Haveren (01:51)

2. Individual Results and Analysis

Wendy (02:09–04:54)

• Traits: Warm, attentive, lively, spontaneous, prefers familiar environments.
• Best-Fit Careers: Office practices (bank manager, insurance agent, restaurant manager), helping professions (child development, special education).
• Not Suited For: Science, architecture, medical research, math-centric fields.
  • “In terms of looking at everyone here and their characteristics, Wendy has the lowest score compared to other broadcasters.” – Dr. Rick Van Haveren (03:59)
• Memorable moment:
  • Wendy: “I'm gonna be like a forklift operator who doesn't get emails.” (02:13)
  • Host 2: “What if you’re supposed to be a stripper? And that listener who said get on the pole is right.” (02:18)

Bert (05:07–07:03)

• Traits: Imaginative, abstract, open to change, high anxiety, risk-taking, adventure-seeking.
• Best-Fit Careers: Artistic/self-expression fields (photography, writing, editing, performing arts).
• Weakness: Dislikes administrative/managerial roles, prefers being led.
  • “I just want to be. I want to be led.” – Bert (07:35)
• Memorable moment:
  • Host 2: “You could be that happy little trees painter guy on PBS.” (05:47)
  • Bert: “Gun in my head, if I had to do that, seriously, that would be really difficult. So entertaining. I’m in the right field, right? I’m just going to be insecure about it.” (06:54–07:02)

Melissa (08:24–10:45)

• Traits: Introverted, reserved, cooperative, permissive leadership, risk-averse, serious.
• Best-Fit Careers: Writing, librarian, liberal arts professor, sciences (biology, math).
• Not Suited For: Business management, sales, CEO roles, hotel/hospital administration.
  • “Your scoring high on writing, librarian. Scored high on librarian. Liberal arts professor.” – Dr. Rick Van Haveren (09:02)
• Memorable moment:
  • Host 2: “That’s why Bert and Melissa haven’t had sex yet, because nobody is willing to step up and make it happen.” (08:43)

Jen Hobby (10:45–12:39)

• Traits: Extroverted, warm, socially bold, excellent leadership skills, low anxiety, high emotional stability.
• Best-Fit Careers: Advertising, marketing, corporate training, media executive, artistic (music, interiors), helping professions (occupational therapy, counseling).
• Memorable moment:
  • Dr. Rick: “In terms of you had the best leadership skills.” (11:03)
  • Wendy: “Is actress on there at all?” (12:39)
• Notable dynamic: Credited for her emotional stability, which the team jokingly doubts.
  • Host 1: “That’s where you sort of lost credibility. Right up until then.” (12:27)

Jeff (12:45–14:43)

• Traits: Extremely introverted, suspicious/guarded, imaginative, inquisitive, highly authoritarian leadership style.
• Best-Fit Careers: Law, math, CEO, investment manager, physicist, analytical/critical thinking roles.
  • “He had a 10 on being an authoritarian leader. So where everybody else is kind of in the middle or on the permissive side, Jeff is def. If he was in a leadership position, probably be my way or the highway.” – Dr. Rick Van Haveren (13:33)
• Memorable moment:
  • Host 1: “He’s a bulldog. Yeah, I think I’ve referred to him as the bulldog before.” (13:57)

3. Team Dynamics & Group Observations

• Common trait: Higher anxiety/tension (except Jen).
  • Dr. Rick: “But you find with a lot of people who are pretty driven, they can be tense, anxious about things, worry about things, fret about things, ruminating.” (15:46)
• Team diversity of personality styles fosters a functional group dynamic.
  • Dr. Rick: “You all have some different personality characteristics, and probably in a way, that’s how it makes it work... Different enough, right?” (16:27–16:57)
• Media/radio seems to attract high-anxiety, introspective personalities.
  • Host 1: “I think the industry sort of attracts that. Like, there's just a bubbling anxiety to people that get on the radio.” (15:58)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• “I'm gonna be like a forklift operator who doesn't get emails.” – Wendy (02:13)
• "What a great day of radio for you. Don't you love your job?" – Host 1 (04:07)
• “I just want to be. I want to be led.” – Bert (07:35)
• “That’s why Bert and Melissa haven’t had sex yet, because nobody is willing to step up and make it happen.” – Host 2 (08:43)
• “You could be that happy little trees painter guy on PBS.” – Host 2 (05:47)
• “He had a 10 on being an authoritarian leader... my way or the highway.” – Dr. Rick Van Haveren re: Jeff (13:33)
• "I think the industry sort of attracts that. Like, there's just a bubbling anxiety..." – Host 1 (15:58)
• “Is there anything that would indicate that we don't work well together as a team?” – Host 2 (16:23)
• “Probably in a way, that's how it makes it work... Different enough, right?" – Dr. Rick Van Haveren (16:27–16:57)

Timestamps to Key Segments

• 01:30 – Dr. Rick Van Haveren introduction
• 02:09 – Wendy’s assessment results
• 05:14 – Bert’s assessment results
• 08:24 – Melissa’s assessment results
• 10:45 – Jen Hobby’s assessment results
• 12:45 – Jeff’s assessment results
• 15:46 – Dr. Rick’s group insights; anxiety in driven personalities
• 16:27 – Discussion on team dynamics

Tone & Style

The episode is lighthearted and full of playful teasing, but also includes moments of self-awareness and insight. Dr. Rick provides professional self-assessment, but the team grounds it in real talk about their personalities, quirks, and life in radio. The overall message: career assessments can surprise you, but your current path—especially in a creative, collaborative field—might still be the right place for you.

Summary by: Podcast AI Summarizer
For: Listeners seeking the main takeaways and highlights from The Bert Show's career assessment episode