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Decision-Making and Setting Goals
This stage of career planning involves integrating knowledge of self and the world of work in order to make decisions and to set goals. An important thing to know about this process is that an individual can have a large degree of control over the outcome. Informed people can shape their own destiny and take charge of their careers.
Although this process seems relatively clear cut and simple, gaining an understanding of self and the world of work and using that information to make successful career decisions can often be difficult, confusing and a bit overwhelming. That’s why the Career Counseling Center can be a valuable resource to you. Don’t hesitate to visit and make an appointment
with a career counselor to discuss any of your career concerns.
Career Quiz: A Look into Your Future
Put Your Personality to Work for You
Put your personality to work for you! Very often, the key to a successful career is "doing what comes naturally." Are you a born scientist, salesperson or teacher? To find out more about your type and to learn how you can apply this to choosing the right career for you, complete the following quiz.
Pretend you are at a party where people with similar personalities and interests gather in small groups. Check out each group and then select which group is most like you.
Group A
Robust, rugged, physically strong, practical, good motor coordination, mechanical, like the outdoors, like to work with machines or tools, uncomfortable in a social setting.
Group B
Task-oriented, get all wrapped up in their work, like to learn, investigate, analyze, solve problems, like to work independently, dislike repetitive activities, introspective and not social, don’t think of themselves as leaders.
Group C
Creative, imaginative, impulsive, intuitive, original, dislike rules, deal with problems through self-expression in the arts (painting, writing, dancing, etc.), not assertive, sensitive and emotional.
Group D
Sociable, responsible, humanistic, like to work in groups, have verbal and interpersonal skills, like to cure, train, develop, or enlighten others, people-oriented.
Group E
Strong leaders, like power, status, leadership, enjoy making things happen, like to influence or persuade others, aggressive, popular, self-confident, value money and material possessions.
Group F
Like clear-cut, definite situations, conscientious, efficient, practical, like to work with data, have clerical or numerical ability, orderly, calm, dependable, like carrying things out in detail or following through on other’s instructions.
More Answers
These basic types represent a broad overview of the six basic occupational types. Most people have characteristics and interests that fall into several of these categories.
For example; an investigative and artistic type has interests in scientific and artistic or creative areas and might enjoy being a medical illustrator, an inventor or a language interpreter. A person with social and enterprising interests might enjoy a career in the area s of public relations, sales, personnel and politics. The combinations are numerous and the possibilities abound!
The Final Answer
Obviously there is much more to knowing about your style and type and choosing a career. This short quiz is just a peek into the process and offers some general suggestions. If you’d like to know more about your career type, drop into the Career Counseling & Testing Center (M-14) for a free booklet called, "Understanding Yourself and Your Career." You may also want to make an appointment to see a career counselor.
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Some Career Planning Tips
Know Yourself.
Identify your interests, strengths, work values and personality style. Ask yourself the following questions: How do I like to spend my time? What activities do I find satisfying?
What are my favorite subjects? Which subjects do I excel in? What is really important to me?
What kind of work environment would I feel most comfortable in? What adjectives would I use to describe myself?
Explore the World of Work.
Select coursework that interests you; take some risks and challenge yourself.
Read about career fields that interest you. Some helpful resources available in
our career information center include:
The Occupational Outlook Handbook
The Guide to Occupational Exploration
The O*Net Dictionary of Occupational Titles
"The Occupational Outlook Quarterly"
The VGM Career Horizon Series
Major Options, by Nicholas Basta
College Majors and Careers, by Paul Phifer
"Discover" This software program has information on over 750 careers.
A listing of Professional Associations and Organizations, these organizations
often provide students with free literature about careers and are wonderful
resources for career information.
Conduct information interviews.
Talk to people about their work, and observe them in their workplace.
Develop work-related experience.
Try to obtain part-time work in a career area related to your interests
or try volunteer work.
Attend special career programs and events.
Develop writing, reading, communication and computer skills.
Don’t overlook or underestimate the importance of developing good writing,
reading, communication and computer skills. Employers look to hire people
who can think; express themselves well orally and in writing and who can get
along well with others. Computer literacy is fast becoming a prerequisite in
today’s job market.
Develop your personal management skills.
Employers want employees who are reliable, dependable and who use their time wisely. Work on developing self-confidence and a positive self- image.
Be patient.
Choosing a career doesn’t happen over night. It is a process that
occurs over time. As you learn more about yourself and the world of work, the
more you will be able to identify possible career options that are meaningful and
satisfying to you.
Remember to visit the Career Counseling Center and to utilize the services and
resources available to you.
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Career Assessment (Self-Exploration) Sites:
The Career Key
Please note the NCC Disclaimer for links to third party web sites.
http://www2.ncsu.edu/unity/lockers/users/l/lkj/
This site contains a questionnaire that helps you to identify your interests, abilities and values. Based on the three-letter code results, you can research career possibilities. The site links its list of occupations directly to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, and by clicking on any occupation in Career Key's list, you are taken to a detailed description of that occupation.
The Princeton Review Quiz
http://www.review.com/career/careerquizhome.cfm?menuID=0&careers=6
This site has a short questionnaire that will give you a general description of your interests, skills, and preferred style as well as a list of careers that all of this points to, chosen from a list in the Princeton Review's Guide to Your Career. There is a detailed description of each career online, a starting point for any subsequent face-to-face exploration.
Personality Type
www.personalitytype.com
This site contains a brief questionnaire, which allow you to explore your “type” and relate it to career possibilities.
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