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The
process of "knowing yourself". It is taking an inventory
of one's likes, dislikes, personal characteristics, values, wants
and needs. It is the first part of the career planning process.
Before you can decide what you want to be, you first have to discover
who
you are. People change, grow and develop. Therefore it is necessary
for everyone to re-assess themselves periodically in relationship
to their career goals.
Areas of Self-assessment Include:
Interests
- The things we enjoy doing and can give us important clues about
work or career interests. Fixing things, using computers, cooking
and caring
for children are just a few examples of leisure time activities
that can be converted into careers.
Personality
- A combination of emotional and behavioral characteristics that
can indicate strengths and weaknesses. Different careers
fit with different
personality traits. For example, an outgoing, friendly
person who enjoys meeting and talking to people all day would
be
suited for
jobs in sales,
customer service or public relations.
Skills
- Skills are acquired not only from past work experiences
but also from community service and other roles people
have had
in their
lives. Skills are divided into
three types:
- Transferable or functional skills
- Skills that can be transported
from one job to another.
- Self-management or adaptive skills
- Self-management skills are strengths people have developed
through life and work experience, or from exposure
to role models. They
are also behaviors learned in families and from significant
others. Certain self-management
skills are
very
important in some occupations, less important
in others. Matching
occupational choices to strengths is a very important
factor in career or
occupational choice.
- Technical or work content skills
- Skills that are learned through training and can often
be applied only to a narrow range of occupations. Sometimes
recognizing
the satisfaction
generated from using
these skills can indicate alternative career choices.
Abilities
- Abilities often indicate potential in a particular area by measuring
the ease in which one can learn something new. With training, aptitudes
may
turn into
career options. People often take for granted the skills that come easily
to them. Yet it is precisely those areas that should be explored.
Work Values
- The motivation or personal needs that one needs for job satisfaction. Looking
at work values also helps people prioritize what role work plays in their
lives. As adults grow and mature, some of their values may change. Thus
a job (or career) chosen at age 20 may not match the values that a person
holds
at age 40 or 50.
Lifestyle & Financial Considerations
- The way people prefer to live their lives and how their career and occupational
choices affect those preferences. Through assessment of lifestyle individuals
can evaluate how their career decisions impact how they live, the significant
people in their lives, and whether there are existing or potential barriers
to overcome. One very important consideration is one's financial needs
. Knowledge of monthly expenses and having realistic financial goals can
help
in choosing appropriate occupations.
Preferred Work Environment
- Preferences regarding people environments and living and working conditions
can be just as important as what a person chooses to do. Work environment
can play a large part in how people feel about their jobs. Often, a person's
comfort level with the work environment can make the difference between
a successful and an unsuccessful career choice.
There are many instruments to assist you with your self-assessment, both informal
exercises and formal tests/inventories. They are usually available at your
local high schools, colleges, and workforce development agencies. Some online
assessments are also provided below.
Reprinted in part from "Career Choices in North Carolina", 2000-2001,
Number 16, published by the North Carolina State Occupational Information Coordinating
Committee
Career Assessment Instruments:
Look at our Career Counseling
Page for more information.
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