What Is Self-Assessment?
Self-Assessment is the process of gathering and understanding information about yourself. To know yourself is, of course, the task of a lifetime, but it is also the essential first step in the career development process. It involves analyzing three elements of your personality--interests, values, and skills--to figure out what you want to do. Thinking about these three elements as they relate to work will help you to identify the career fields, work environments, lifestyle, and job functions that you want to explore.
Work Environment
People: Colleagues & Clients
Organizational: Size, structure
Physical: Work space, comfort, safety
Lifestyle
Income, benefits, prestige, security, travel, balance with family and other activities, autonomy, flexibility, pressure, hours, commute.
Career Field
Substance, content, mission, or product/service of organization
Job Function
Working style, role in organization or endeavor (e.g. marketing, sales, human resources, production,
management, etc.), tasks and skills needed.
I Know Myself. Do I Really Need Self-Assessment?
Taking the time to identify and understand your preferences and skills will not only help you to focus your exploration and clarify your options, but it will also increase your chances of getting a job. Your resume, cover letters, and interviewing skills will all improve because you can articulate who you are and what you have to offer. And once you're on the job, you'll do better and be happier because you took the time to find the right fit.
So, as tempted as you are to skip this step--DON'T.
How do I "do" Self-Assessment?
There are several great ways to start thinking about your interests, skills, and personality. You can take the self-assements that are part of the Career Planner online software, work with a counselor or take the "Career Development and Decision Making" - HD 101 class. There are also other helpful websites.
Take Career Assessment Inventory: We offer at HACC, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and the Strong Interest Inventory. Ask a counselor about taking those individually or take the "Career Development and Decision Making" class that includes those assements.
