Self-Assessment

Many experts say the most important part of finding fulfilling employment is to understand your own strengths, weaknesses, goals, and desires. We recommend that you start by considering the following questions. Of course, this is not an exhaustive list, but it’s a good place to start as you begin your job search.

Where would I like to work?
Would I prefer a large or small organization?
Would I be willing to travel for work?
Would I consider relocating to another city?
What companies and individuals do I most admire?

What type of work am I best qualified for?
Do I prefer working as a member of a group, or on my own?
Am I a self-starter, or do I prefer having clear direction?
Do I have particular skills that employers are looking for?
Do I like to do planning that requires attention to detail?
Do I express myself well in writing? Orally?

What type of work is most satisfying to me?
Do I enjoy working with people? Or things?
Do I feel comfortable working under pressure?
Am I a good listener?
Do I analyze better than I execute?

What skills would I like to develop?
Which part of my job do I do best?
Which part of my job do I do least well?
What could I do to improve my job performance?
What type of training would I like to do?

What are my career goals?
What do I most admire in those I work with?
What am I most proud of personally? Professionally?
What would I like to be doing (and earning) in five years? In ten years?

Use this list of questions as a starting place for your job search; it can help you to look at the type of work you would most like to do, as well as the type of organization you’d like to work for. In addition, below are links to a number of Internet sites with guides to help you assess your interests and skills

Riley Guide: Self-Assessment Resources

Pearson Assessments: Campbell Interest and Skill Survey

The Career Key: Choosing a Career: Your Choices

America’s Career InfoNet: Skills Profiler