Evaluating your Skills
One of the best ways to seek different career options is by
assessing and evaluating your
own skills. By doing so one can explore various careers while at the same time
learning more about yourself. You may be surprised when you realize that you
actually have developed certain skills which you didn’t know you already
possessed! These surprising discoveries can open the door to different
industries and jobs.
There are a few ways to begin assessing yourself. One of the first is to:
We all have numerous accomplishments which we have gained
through jobs, clubs, hobbies and even classes. Do not forget that these
accomplishments can be both educational and extracurricular. Reflecting on our
accomplishments allows us to possibly see where we were headed and where we
might want to go. When attempting to find these accomplishments one should also
list responsibilities, identify tasks, and mention awards. If you are not satisfied
with your initial list, think of opportunities where you can gain new
accomplishments. It is never too late to join an on-campus club, begin a
project at work, apply for a conference, or find other opportunities which will
allow you to develop skills and enhance your resume.
The Strong Interest Inventory measures your interests in a wide range
of jobs, work tasks, leisure activities and school subjects. It includes
information on how your interests can be linked to majors, campus activities,
internships, and part-time jobs. It also provides tips for choosing a:
- Major
- Graduate program
- First job out of college
SkillScan helps you identify your inherent strengths and skills that
are transferable across careers. It will help you to:
- Identify career options that utilize your skills and talents.
- Prepare strategies to move your career in the right direction.
- Gain a skill-based language that will help you market your strengths on a resume and in interviews.
Values - Career
Values
Career Values enables you to explore factors that are important to
you in your work life. Working in a career field that conforms to your
preferences for such things as time freedom, prestige, service to others, etc.
will increase the likelihood of satisfaction with your job. Career Values
will help you:
- Identify your work values
- Explore the intensity of your feelings about some values
- Determine if there are any conflicts between your values that make career choices difficult
These Self-Assessments will help you think about your
interests and skills, some of which you may not have thought about before.
These assessments can allow you to consider new goals which will ultimately
broaden your career opportunities. When you begin to think about new
occupations, you might want to begin researching them and further exploring
different positions along with the skills and tasks provided in the job
description. One great place to start is
O*Net, a
career information database managed by the US Department of Labor. Experiment with different options before
settling down with just one career goal. Remember that the best way to
familiarize yourself with a profession or career is by taking a class, job
shadowing, volunteering, or setting up an informational meeting, or even
interning!
By Peer: Ariana Torres: 2nd Year, Interdisiplenary Studies Field and Dance
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