In 1946, the U.S. Civil Service Commission developed the Trades Interest Questionnaire to help apprentice appointees choose a trade. At the time of the outbreak of the Korean War, defense agencies requested devices that would be useful in hiring “mechanic-learners and helpers.” As is explained in these instructions, the Trades Interest Questionnaire was provided for that purpose, along with the Trades Interest Profile. The instructions are dated April 1951. For examples of slightly later versions of the questionnaire and the interest profile, see 1990.0034.096 and 1990.0036.097.
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