Self-assessment is about taking a hard look at your skills, interests, values and preferred work environment. Gaining personal insight and self-understanding will help you make decisions that can ensure career satisfaction. Self-assessment is ultimately about developing an “exploratory attitude” that will continue throughout your lifetime, allowing you to change and develop fresh, career plans as you gain life experiences.
Take some time to reflect on the following areas:
What are my SKILLS?
Skills are your abilities, talents, and strengths. Organizing, speaking, writing, planning, and problem-solving are all examples of skills. Examining your experiences and discovering what you do well is an important part of career decision making. Students and alumni are often surprised to learn that the skills they have developed in one career field are valuable in other seemingly unrelated fields. These are called transferable skills.
To help you understand your strengths and weaknesses:
Interests are the things you enjoy. What types of activities do you have fun doing? Do they involve working with data, people or things? Some of our interests are reflected in our hobbies and social activities. Most people who enjoy their work have some inherent interest in the activities they must perform. Don't ignore your interests -- they will likely be critical to your future career satisfaction.
What is most important to you? We all need to make money, but what keeps you motivated to work hard? Is it making a contribution to your community? Providing leadership? Learning new skills and constantly adding to your knowledge base? Having job security? There are no "right" answers here, just preferences. Remember, people who pursue work that is in line with their values tend to be more satisfied and successful.
What are your top values? Choose the five below that you consider most important!
Achievement
Equality
Knowledge
Risk-taking
Advancement
Ethics/Honesty
Leadership
Routine
Ambition
Entrepreneurism
Leisure
Security
Authenticity
Expertise
Mentoring/Supervision
Structure
Autonomy
Flexibility
Planning
Socializing
Balance
Health
Personal Growth
Special Needs Met
Challenge
Helping Others
Prestige/Status
Success
Creativity
Humanitarianism
Recognition
Teamwork
Education & Learning
Income/Money
Reputation
Travel
To help you learn more about what is important to you in a job:
Do you prefer to work alone or to collaborate with others? Would you like to work for a small organization or a large one? In the country, or the city? Do you thrive when you receive regular feedback from your boss, or are you self-motivated? Again, there are no right-or-wrong answers, just your own personal desires and inclinations.
To help you learn more about your preferred work environment:
Choose a Major/Career
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