Career Self Assessment
Where do you want to go?
Finding which potential careers are a great fit for you can be challenging. Begin your search as you match your skills and interests to specific careers, explore the occupations that you are considering, contact someone currently working in your field of interest, and check out these links of interest for additional information and career resources.
Match: Matching your interests, abilities, values and experiences to a specific career is not an easy task. We suggest you consider the following:
- What interests you about different careers?
- Do you have the abilities necessary for a successful career in the field you are considering?
- Can you develop the necessary abilities?
- Are the work values similar to yours?
A site that may assist you is the Career Interests Game, also known as The Holland Game. This game is designed to help match interests and skills with a specific career.
Explore: At this point you probably have several careers you are considering. We suggest exploring them even further by taking the following steps. Research the occupations that you are considering. Consider several factors:
- What types of skills are required?
- What are the responsibilities?
- What is the employment outlook?
- What is the salary range?
- What type of training or education is required?
- What is the work environment like?
Take advantage of the resources around you to answer these questions. Your public library has a vast array of resources that will be useful. If you are a high school student, contact your school counselor for assistance.
Another source, the Occupational Outlook Handbook, is considered the government's premier publication on careers. It contains a wealth of up-to-date information about specific occupations.
The internet provides many links of interest that are worth exploring as you consider different careers.
Contact: Once you have identified a career option, contact someone in the profession. If possible, schedule a day when you can shadow this person in the workplace. At the end of the day you should have a good idea about what someone in that career does on a day-to-day basis. Make careful notes about your day and what you like or dislike about the field.
If you are unable to shadow someone in the field, try to schedule a meeting to discuss his or her career. This is called an informational interview. Go well-prepared with questions about that profession. The following may be good conversation starters:
- What type of training or education do most people in this field have?
- What are your major responsibilities on a day-to-day basis?
- What do you like or dislike about your current position?
Here is some information on informational interviewing.
If you are a student in the UW System contact the Career Planning and Placement Offices on your campus. Counselors may be able to assist you in identifying alumni in occupations you are considering.
Cruise: We know the Internet does not have all the answers, but it does offer some links of interest that are certainly worth touring.
