Personal Career Profile*
Introduction A personal inventory will increase your awareness of your abilities, interests and attitudes. It will help you to define your strengths and your preferences. Looking for a match between your strengths and the work you are considering is the most important step before you write a resume or search for a job. In fact, when the time comes to write your resume and prepare for a job interview, you will find the task much easier if you have considered these issues beforehand. You will need to commit some time to preparing your personal inventory. Your honesty and the quality of your effort will predict your level of success in getting the right job. Write out your answers and the conclusions you come to as a record of your thoughts and feelings. The data may become an important resource as you continue in your career planning and job search activities. Personality & Attitudes Two of the most important factors to determine your happiness and success in a job are your personality and attitudes. Part I: Personality & Attitudes General Assessment The following chart will help you assess your personality and attitudes. Mark the personality traits and self-management skills that especially apply to you. Evaluate who you really are now, not the person you think you would like to be. Be honest when you judge your thoughts and feelings, your attitudes and behaviors. Have a friend complete another copy of this assessment for you (so that they cannot see your own selfevaluation). Do they see you as you see yourself?
Attentive to detail Risk-taking Progressive Versatile Optimistic Open-minded Supportive Patient Tenacious Persevering Curious Ambitious Aggressive Able to concentrate Helpful
Table 1: Personality & Attitudes
Assertive Calm Mature Clear-thinking Empathetic Competitive Sociable Consistent Organized Easy-going Emotional Imaginative Enthusiastic
Able to manage stress
Inventive Likeable Self-controlled Sensible Creative Sincere Meticulous Teachable Trustworthy Outgoing Tough Reliable Punctual Honest Accurate
Responsible Self-confident Sensitive Stable Tactful Conscientious Practical Conservative Thorough Witty Understanding Analytical Reflective Friendly
Businesslike Careful Cautious Confident Motivated Modest Trusting Poised Persuasive Diplomatic Intelligent Independent Humorous Adventurous Quick
Kind Logical Loyal Cheerful Methodical Competent Efficient Precise Discreet Thoughtful Resourceful Reserved Rational Realistic
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Adapted from the University of Waterloo's "Personal Assessment." http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infocecs/CRC/manual/personality.html Revised by Michael Carlson Kapper and Karl Stolley, January 2003.
Part II: Examples Choose what you would consider your top 5 personality and attitudinal strengths you marked on Table 1, and think of an example that illustrates this trait. 1. Personality Trait: Example: 2. Personality Trait: Example: 3. Personality Trait: Example: 4. Personality Trait: Example: 5. Personality Trait: Example: Part III: Personality Preferences Directions: Answer the following questions and discuss your preferences in terms of the way you live in the world both as an individual and as a member of society, the way you take in information and make decisions, and the type of environment you are most comfortable in. 1. In what ways do I interact with the world? Examples: I become energized by. . . . 2. How do I process and interpret information? Examples: I concentrate on. . . . 3. How do I make decisions? Examples: I use. . . . 4. What is my preferred environment? Examples: I tend to live in. . . . Skills & Achievements Skill is defined as the ability to do something well, especially as a result of experience. Most skills are transferable to other work settings and can be grouped in many ways. One way is to show functional skills of working with people, data or information, and things or objects. Another way is to look at intellectual, aptitudinal, creative, leadership and problem-solving skills. Employers are interested in knowing which skills you can bring to their organization. Examine your jobs, both paid and unpaid, as well as your academic and personal activities to determine your skills. Do not underestimate the skills obtained in a "liberal" education. Examples: oral/written communication through essay and report writing, presentations, and seminars; organization of time by having to meet deadlines and of ideas in order to present material logically; research by searching and locating information; problem-solving by analyzing and finding alternate solutions to a problem.
Part I: Skills and Achievements Assessment Directions: For the exercise in Table 2, organize your skills into the following three groups. The first group will be specialized skills required in a particular job, e.g., analyzing statistics, debugging computer programs, designing machinery, refereeing sports, repairing equipment, appraising fitness levels. The second group will comprise your communication/interpersonal skills, e.g., writing, mediating, training, hosting, motivating. The third group will include those general skills needed in most jobs, e.g., initiating, improving, resolving, compiling, organizing, scheduling. Choose 6 skills for each category. Put an x in the column if you would like to use that skill in future work (L) and if you currently have a sufficient level of proficiency (P) for employment. Table 2: Skills and Achievements
Specialized My skills L P Communication/ Interpersonal My skills L General My skills
P
L
P
Part II: Examples Select the 5 skills you most want to use from the 18 you listed above. Give a good example of the circumstances when you used each skill and the outcome of your action. 1. Skill: Example: 2. Skill: Example: 3. Skill: Example: 4. Skill: Example: 5. Skill: Example: Part III: Life Experience Profile An important key to a future direction often lies in your past experiences. It is especially important to recognize positive experiences or accomplishments which you have already achieved. They are the ones most likely to suggest vocational areas that you may wish to pursue in the future. They are also the ones that employers are interested in hearing about.
Directions: For each of the following categories, answer the questions to compile a list of your previous experiences. Examples: Trainer of new staff at Chicken Emporium, Volunteer Fundraiser for Helping Children agency, Leader of school study group in second year, Contributor to school newspaper, Creator of project for Science display, Roadside Monitor for 10K race, Organizer of parents' 25 th Anniversary party, Member of church choir on three-week concert tour of Europe, Prizewinner in Math contest.
Employment Experience What did I do? What did I learn? What did I enjoy? What did I dislike? What did I accomplish? What was I commended for? Academic Experience Volunteer Experience Recreation Experiences Other Relevant Experiences
Part IV: Personal Achievements Some of the most important items on your experience profile are those which you enjoyed and in which you achieved success. Review your Life Experience Profile and list five instances of personal achievement. Then explain why you feel these instances are proof of your personal success. 1 2 3 4 5 Knowledge In addition to finding out who you are (personality/attitudes) and what you can do (skills), you need to know what you know. You have learned information by attending classes, working on projects, independent reading, and travelling, to name just a few methods. Part I: Formal Education Directions: Complete Table 3, listing all educational settings where you got a diploma or certificate or recognition from someone for what you studied. Table 3: Formal Education
Institution Dates Attended Specializations Degree Awarded
Part II: Alternative Education Directions: Describe educational opportunities that you did not include in Table 3. Training Provided by Employers
Training Provided by Volunteer Organizations Training Received in Other Ways What I Have Learned Through Travel
Values Identifying your personal values is an important part of a successful career plan. In this context, the word "value" refers to how you feel about the work itself and the contribution it makes to society. Most people who pursue work that is congruent with their values feel satisfied and successful in their careers. Work values can be divided into two functional categories. INTRINSIC values are those that relate to a specific interest in the activities of the work itself, or to the benefits that the work contributes to society. EXTRINSIC values relate to the favorable conditions that accompany an occupational choice, such as physical setting, earning potential, and other external features. Most people, in order to feel truly satisfied with their work, must find some personal intrinsic value in it. Part I: Values Assessment Directions: Table 4 is a list of personal values that many people have identified as being important to them in their careers. To begin exploring your own personal work values, rate each value listed with the following scale and add other values you consider essential to your list: 1 - Things I value very much 2 - Things I value 3 - Things I don’t value very much Table 4: Values Assessment
Value Help Society Do something which contributes to improving the world we live in Help Others Be directly included in helping other people, either individually or in small groups Public Contact Have a lot of day-to-day contact with the public Work with Others Work as a team member toward common goals Work Alone Do projects by myself, with limited contact with others Competition Engage in activities which pit my abilities against others Make Decisions Have the power to decide courses of action and policies Work Under Pressure Work in situations where time pressure is prevalent Influence People Be in a position to influence the attitudes or opinions of other people Knowledge Engage in the pursuit of knowledge and understanding 1 2 3
Value Work Mastery Become an expert in whatever work I do Artistic Creativity Engage in creative artistic expression General Creativity Have the opportunity to create new programs, materials, or organizational structures Aesthetics Participate in studying or appreciating the beauty of things, ideas, etc. Supervision Have a job in which I am directly responsible for the work of others Change and Variety Have work activities which frequently change Precision Work Work in situations where attention to detail and accuracy are very important Stability Have a work routine and job duties that are largely predictable Security Be assured of keeping my job and receiving satisfactory compensation Recognition Be publicly recognized for the high quality of my work Fast Pace Work in circumstances where work must be done rapidly Adventure Have work duties which require frequent risk-taking Financial Gain Have a high likelihood of achieving very great monetary rewards for my work Physical Challenge Do activities that use my physical capabilities Independence Be able to determine the nature of my work without significant direction from others Moral Fulfillment Feel that my work contributes to a set of moral standards which I feel are very important Community Live where I can participate in community affairs Time Freedom Be able to work according to my own schedule
1
2
3
Part II: Most Essential Values Directions: From the list above (or add others), list your 5 most essential values. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Vocational Interests Each person has developed personal preferences for certain types of activities and environments. Most people who enjoy their work have some intrinsic interest in the activities with which they are connected. Part I: Vocational Interests Assessment Directions: The six general areas of vocational interest developed by psychologist John Holland are described in Table V. Think about your past experiences and your current
activities. Then rank these work environments from (1) to (6), from the one which best describes you (1), to the one which least describes you (6). Table V: Vocational Interests Assessment
Interest Realistic For people who like activities that are practical and concrete. They like to work outdoors and to work with tools and machines using their physical skills. They often seek work relating to nature and the outdoors, mechanics, construction or military service. Investigative For people who enjoy scientific and intellectual pursuits. They enjoy gathering information, uncovering new facts or theories and analyzing and interpreting data. They often seek work relating to academic research, medical facilities, or computer-related industries. Artistic For people who value aesthetic qualities and like opportunities for self-expression. They prefer unstructured and flexible environments. They often seek work relating to art, music, drama, writing or in libraries or museums. Social For people who enjoy working with people-to inform, help, train or develop them in some way. They enjoy working in groups, sharing responsibilities and are good communicators. They like to solve problems through discussions of feelings and interactions with others. They often seek work relating to teaching, counseling or recreation. Enterprising For people who enjoy influencing, leading or managing others for organizational goals or for economic success. They enjoy persuading others to their viewpoint and prefer social tasks where they can assume leadership. They often seek work relating to business management, sales or politics. Conventional For people who enjoy systematic activities requiring attention to accuracy and detail, often associated with office work. They enjoy working for large organizations and are comfortable with an established chain of command. They often seek work relating to financial institutions, accounting firms, or other large businesses. Rank
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Part II: Working With Others Many individuals say that working with people must be an important part of any career they pursue. There are many different aspects to the concept of "working with people". The exercise below is designed to help you focus on those which are important to you. Directions: Fill out Table VI, inserting an “X” to note those ways of working with others which appeal to you. Table VI: Working With Others
Way of Working With Others Influence the attitudes, ideas of others Gather information through direct contact with people Help people with personal problems Instruct other people in various tasks or skills Supervise and be responsible for the work of others Consult or advise others (even though not directly responsible for them) Confront others, present them with difficult decisions Investigate people by obtaining information about them Provide service to others: giving information, performing physical or highly technical tasks Mediate between contending parties Organize others, bring people together in co-operative efforts Make decisions about others Entertain or perform for enjoyment Appealing?
Part III: Working with Information Most jobs require information retrieval and usage. Many occupations demand the development of new information. Using information can take many forms. You can analyze, maintain and explain data. You can interpret ideas. You can learn facts and prepare reports. Directions: Fill out Table VII, putting an “X” next to those ways that you would like to use information. Table VII: Working With Information
Ways of Working With Information Develop and discuss ideas and theories Make decisions based on definite rules and measurements Explain/interpret ideas and concepts Use materials/equipment in work, e.g., computers, wall charts, overhead projectors, blueprints, etc. Work with survey data or other information on public opinion Conduct investigations, research Work with documents and records Appealing?
Personal Career Profile Directions: To create a composite picture of your self, summarize your results from the previous exercises Personality & Attitudes Skills & Achievements Knowledge Values Vocational Interests