There are many ways you can assess yourself. However, if you would like a more in-depth self-understanding, it is recommended that you meet with a career counselor who can provide you with 'standardized career assessments.' These are tests that will help you to know yourself better, especially related to working. With the guidance of the counselor, you can develop a profile of yourself, including career options.
If you can not get to a career counselor, the following pages contain some brief assessments that may help you to identify some of your skills, interests, and personality traits. This is not intended to be a complete assessment, but many find it to be helpful.
The next pages may seem like a lot of work, but the results are well worth your effort. Taking time to get to know yourself now will help to make sure there is a good fit with your career choices later!
This assessment will help you better understand your personality traits and their strength. A trait is a characteristic which tells you how you will react to new situations or new experiences.
Below is a list of personality traits and their meanings. Read each trait and its meaning, then indicate its strength on the line using the scale below:
Now circle the traits that you marked a "3" that "Strongly Exist."
The following activity will help you focus on your interests. However, this is a simple survey and any other interests you are aware of should be included as well. For example, if your hobby is collecting coins, you should include it.
Select only those which truly interest you the most!
*Accounting *Freedom *Physical work *Acting *Gardening *Planning *Administering *Golf *Politics *Advising *Government *Precision work *Agriculture *Graphic arts *Production *Analyzing *Guiding *Public service *Animals *Handling detail *Public speaking *Appraising *Health services *Raising Funds *Architecture *Helping People *Reading *Art *History *Recruiting *Assembling *Identifying needs *Religion *Assisting *Implementing *Repairing *Biology *Improving *Researching *Brainstorming *Influencing *Resolving conflict *Building morale *Initiating *Risk *Building things *Integrating *Running Meetings *Business *Inventing *Selling *Challenge *Initiating *Service *Chess playing *Integrating *Singing *Civic activities *Inventing *Social sciences *Clerical work *Languages *Solving problems *Coaching *Law *Strategy *Communication *Law Enforcement *Supervising *Conceiving ideas *Libraries *Swimming *Consulting *Listening *Teaching *Cooking *Machine operation *Teamwork *Counseling *Making decisions *Thinking *Creating *Making policy *Translating *Data *Managing people *Transportation *Delegating *Mechanical Design *Traveling *Demonstrating *Medical Science *Unifying *Designing *Military *Volunteering *Developing *Ministry *Winning *Editing *Moderating *Woodworking *Engineering *Money *Working outdoors *Entertaining *Motivating *Working w/kids *Entrepreneur *Mountain climbing *Writing Instructions *Evaluating *Music *_______________ *Exchanging Inf. *Negotiating *Film Watching *Office management *Finance *Organizing *Designing *Participating *Fine manual work *Performing *Forestry *Philosophy *Fine manual work *Photography *Forestry *Physical sciences
Finally, review what you chose then carefully select and circle the top eight interests from those you identified. On a separate sheet of paper, write what you like and what you dislike about all the skills you listed.
Often times people are disappointed when they find their chosen career does not match with their values. For instance, the career may involve long hours (no family time) or does not pay a large salary (no out of town vacations).
There two kinds of values explored here: Work Values and Personal Values. Work values deals with factors that you consider important to you on the job.
The following list describes a wide variety of satisfactions that people obtain from their jobs. Look at the definitions of these various satisfactions and rate the degree of importance that you would assign to each, using the scale below:
_____ Help Society: Do something to contribute to the betterment of the world I live in.
_____ Help Others: Be involved in helping other people in a direct way, either individually or in small groups.
_____ Public Contact: Have a lot of day-to-day contact with people.
_____ Work with Others: Have close working relationships with a group; work as a team toward common goals.
_____ Affiliation: Be recognized as a member of a particular organization.
_____ Friendships: Develop close personal relationships with people as a result of my work activities.
_____ Competition: Engage in activities which pit my abilities against others where there are clear win-and-lose outcomes.
_____ Make Decisions: Have the power to decide courses of action, policies, etc.
_____ Work under Pressure: Work in situations where time pressure is prevalent and/or the quality of my work is judged critically by supervisors, customers or others.
_____ Power and Authority: Control the work activities or (partially) the destinies of other people.
_____ Influence People: Be in a position to change attitudes or opinions of other people.
_____ Work Alone: Do projects by myself, without any significant amount of contact with others.
_____ Knowledge: Engage myself in the pursuit of knowledge, truth and understanding.
_____ Intellectual Status: Be regarded as a person of high intellectual prowess or as one who is an acknowledged "expert" in a given field.
_____ Artistic Creativity: Engage in creative work in any of several art forms.
_____ Creativity (general): Created new ideas, programs, organizational structures or anything else not following a format previously developed by others.
_____ Aesthetics: Be involved in studying or appreciating the beauty of things, ideas, etc.
_____ Supervision: Have a job in which I am directly responsible for the work done by others.
_____ Change and Variety: Have work responsibilities which frequently change in their content and settings.
_____ Precision Work: Work in situations where there is very little tolerance for error.
_____ Stability: Have a work routine and job duties that are largely predictable and not likely to change over a long period of time.
_____ Security: Be assured of keeping my job and a reasonable financial reward.
_____ Fast Pace: Work in circumstances where there is a high pace of activity, work must be done rapidly.
_____ Recognition: Be recognized for the quality of my work in some visible or public way.
_____ Excitement: Experience a high degree of (or frequent) excitement in the course of my work.
_____ Adventure: Have work duties which involve frequent risk-taking.
_____ Profit, Gain: Have a strong likelihood of accumulating large amounts of money or other material gain.
_____ Independence: Be able to determine the nature of my work without significant direction from others; not have to do what others tell me.
_____ Moral Fulfillment: Feel that my work is contributing significantly to a set of moral standards which I feel are very important.
_____ Location: Find a place to live (town, geographical area) which is conducive to my life style and affords me the opportunity to do the things I enjoy most.
_____ Community: Live in a town or city where I can get involved in community affairs.
_____ Physical Challenge: Have a job that makes physical demands which I would find rewarding.
_____ Time Freedom: Have work responsibilities which I can work at according to my own time schedule; no specific working hours required.
Personal values are what you consider important to you as a person. Ask yourself what's important to you in your personal life. For example, recognition in yourself or in others may be important to you. As you are filling out the Personal Value Survey remember that these things should reflect only your heart-of-heart desires.
I think these things are important to me...
*Ability to influence *Material possessions *Achievement *Mental challenge *Adventure *Music *Art *Neatness and orderliness *Availability to my children *Patriotism *Beautiful surroundings *Personal appearance *Church participation *Peace of mind *Community participation *Pets *Companionship *Physical challenge *Competitiveness *Pioneering *Creativity *Power *Dance *Recognition *Education *Reputation *Ethics *Respect *Excitement *Satisfying love relationship *Exercise *Security *Fame *Self-esteem *Family time *Self-improvement *Financial comfort *Self-knowledge *Flexibility *Sense of accomplishment *Generosity *Sense of control *Good family relationships *Social status *Happiness *Spiritual development *Health *Sports *Helping others *Theater *Hobby *Time to yourself *Honesty *Tolerant attitudes *Humility *Travel *Independence *Truth *Integrity *Volunteering *Intellectual stimulation *Wealth *Justice *World in which human and nature are in balance *Leisure time *World without discrimination *Loving and understanding friends *________________________ *Loyalty *_________________________ *Making the łteam˛ *_________________________
Were you able to come up with some personal values not one the list?? Now, narrow down your personal values to the top 10 values that are important to you and circle them.
Look at everything you do in your life. Even skills developed in the home (budgeting, child care) or hobbies (attention to details, organizing) can be "transferred" into a work setting.
2) Functional skills are general skills useful in a variety of jobs.
Example: Analyzing data, Managing people, Operating machinery
All jobs utilize data, people and things, but most jobs emphasize one category over others. For example, computer system analysts work with data, counselors work with people and auto mechanics work with cars.
As you are checking your skills on the survey. Be aware if you checked more items in one column than the other two. If so you may have a new direction in mapping out your future.
Take a look at the Technical Skills survey list. Don't be discouraged if you can not check any of the sample items.
Take time now to fill out the Good Workers Skills Survey, the Functional Skills Survey, and the Technical Skills Survey.
*Absorb stress *Honest *Relay accurate info *Accept supervision *Identify alternative action *Reliable *Alert *Identify needs *Remember facts *Ambitious *Identify problems *Resourceful *Ask questions *Imaginative *Responsible *Assertive *Independent *Responsive *Capable *Industrious *Results oriented *Cheerful *Intelligent *Self-confident *Complete assignment *Know how to learn *Self-esteem *Concerned for others *Leadership *Self-motivated *Considerate *Learn quickly *Sense of humor *Cooperative *Logical *Sensitive *Coordinate *Loyal *Serious *Creative thinker *Manage time well *Set goals *Deal with ambiguity *Mature *Set priorities *Delegate *Meet deadlines *Sincere *Dependable *Methodical *Spontaneous *Eager *Modest *Steady *Expressive *Motivated *Strong *Flexible *Open minded *Take responsibility *Follow instructions *Optimistic *Teamwork *Follow through *Organized *Thrifty *Friendly *Original *Trustworthy *Get along with others *Patient *Unpretentious *Get things done *Physical strength *Use of common sense *Good attendance *Practical *Versatile *Good listener *Pride in doing a good job *Well-informed *Good nature *Problem solver *Well-organized *Good sense of directions*Productive *Willing to learn new *Hard worker *Punctual things *Helpful *Realistic *______________
Data People Things *Analyzing *Advising *Adjusting *Calculating *Caring for *Assembling *Classifying *Confronting others *Building *Collating *Consulting *Calibrating *Comparing *Coordinating *Carrying *Compiling *Counseling *Crafting *Composing *Directing *Cutting *Computing *Empathizing *Demonstrating *Coordinating *Entertaining *Designing *Copying *Guiding *Disassembling *Creating *Helping *Driving/Operating *Developing ideas *Influencing others *Emptying *Evaluating *Informing *Feeding/Offbearing *Examining *Instructing *Finishing/Refining *Filing *Interpreting procedures *Guiding *Gathering *Leading *Handling *Interpreting *Listening *Loading *Investigating *Managing *Manipulating *Managing money *Mentoring *Monitoring *Observing *Motivating *Moving *Organizing *Negotiating *Operating/Controlling *Presenting *Persuading *Precision working *Reading *Serving *Preparing *Recording *Speaking *Pushing *Reporting *Supervising *Regulating *Researching *Supporting *Remodeling *Sorting *Taking instructions *Repairing *Synthesizing *Teaching *Setting up *Transcribing *Training *Stacking *Writing *Treating *Tending
*Acupuncture *Framing *Real estate appraising *Acting *Glazing *Reference *Auto body repair *Hairstyling *Roofing *Auto engine tune-up *Harvesting *Runaway modeling *Basketball *Horse breeding *Sailing *Blueprint reading *Housekeeping *Sculpting *Bookbinding *Hunting *Set design *Bricklaying *Intelligence gathering *Sewing *Bridge designing *Jewelry making *Sharpshooting *Building inspection *Landscaping *Sheet-metal skills *Cabinet making *Legal research *Shipfitting *Cake decorating *Line installation *Shoe repair *Carpet installing *Manicuring *Solar heater installation *Chimney cleaning *Meat inspection *Spacecraft designing *Choreography *Medicine dispensing *Spinal column adjustment *Clowning *Metalworking skills *Surveying *Color analyzing *Mild processing *Tax preparation *Computer programming *Millwright skills *Teeth cleaning *Cooking *Mine cutting *Telegraph operation *Cost estimating *Motion picture directing *Tile setting *Costume design *Navigating *Timber cutting *Drawing *Orthodontic appliance making *Tool making *Electric skills *Pet grooming *Upholstery *Elevator repair *Photographing *Violin playing *Embalming *Plastering *Warehousing *Eyeglass fitting *Plumbing *Weaving *Farm equipment repair *Poultry cutting *Welding *Fire fighting *Precision assembling *Window dressing *First-aid skills *Printing press operation *Window washing *Fishing gear operation*Proofreading *Writing advertisement *Flower arranging *Radar operation *X-ray machine operation *Flying *Radio announcing *______________________ *Food packing *______________________
Count the skills you have marked on these surveys including those you have added. If more than 10, narrow your list down to ten skills. Try to pick those that you feel most confident using or enjoy the most. Do not include those skills you dislike or are uncomfortable using. Write them in the space below. My top 10 Skills:
1.__________________________ | 6.__________________________
2.__________________________ | 7.__________________________
3.__________________________ | 8.__________________________
4.__________________________ | 9.__________________________
5.__________________________ | 10.__________________________
Areas & Functions
Personality Traits (Write your 5 strongest traits):
Interests (Write your 4 top interests):
Work Related Values (Write your top 5 values):
Personal Values (Write your 5 strongest values):
Skills (Write your top 5 skills):
Disability Considerations (From Disability Assessment):
Occupational Profile: (Brief statement of occupational requirements which summarizes all of the above. This will be the basic guideline for evaluating occupations during the Exploration Stage)