Career Exploration Guide Copy

Introduction

As deciding on a career is not as simple as just matching you and your program of study to an occupation, the objective of this guide is to help you reflect on your personality, interests, values, skills and other factors instrumental to making career decisions. Taking the time to reflect and learn more about yourself will assist you in deciding career options that are aligned with who you are.

Decision Making

Making career decisions can be a stressful and often overwhelming process. The Making Career Decisions Model featured below was developed by the York University Career Centre to help you understand the different stages of making informed career decisions and empower you to make choices aligned with who you really are.



For further understanding, we strongly encourage you to learn more about the Career Decision Making Model, which will help in your career decision process.

Please note the results of each section will be provided in the final summary page, and will be e-mailed to you upon completion.

My Personality

Think about the type of person you are, and what friends and family have said about you. The secret is to match who you are with what you might love to do as a career.
According to Carl Jung’s Theory of Personality Type, many of the valuable differences between individuals are a result of natural inborn preferences like ways of gathering energy, taking in information or making decisions and dealing with the outside world. Understanding these natural preferences can help people find career happiness and satisfaction.

Please note the results of each section will be provided in the final summary page, and will be e-mailed to you upon completion.

Type Preference

Personality type is one of the many ways to assess what types of career options may be a good fit for who you are.

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is one of the most widely-used career assessment tools and is one of the many tools the Career Centre uses regularly.

It is important to note that people have characteristics of every dichotomy and are not "one or the other." Instead, we fall somewhere on the spectrum between the two dichotomies. For example, you may have characteristics of both sensing and intuition, but you know you rely much more on your intuition and thus would be closer to the "Intuitive" end of the spectrum.

Dichotomy descriptions adapted from:
Looking at Type: The Fundamentals by Charles R. Martin (CAPT 1997),
http://www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/mbti-basics/

Read about the different MBTI dichotomies and select where you think you might fall on the spectrum between each of the two dichotomies.

Introversion (I) or Extraversion (E)

Introversion - I like getting my energy from dealing with the ideas, pictures, memories, and reactions that are inside my head, in my inner world. I often prefer doing things alone or with one or two people I feel comfortable with. I take time to reflect so that I have a clear idea of what I'll be doing when I decide to act. Ideas are almost solid things for me. Sometimes I like the idea of something better than the real thing.

Extraversion - I like getting my energy from active involvement in events and having a lot of different activities. I'm excited when I'm around people and I like to energize other people. I like moving into action and making things happen. I generally feel at home in the world. I often understand a problem better when I can talk out loud about it and hear what others have to say.

Sensing (S) or Intuition (N)

Sensing - Paying attention to physical reality, what I see, hear, touch, taste, and smell. I'm concerned with what is actual, present, current, and real. I notice facts and I remember details that are important to me. I like to see the practical use of things and learn best when I see how to use what I'm learning. Experience speaks to me louder than words.

Intuition - Paying the most attention to impressions or the meaning and patterns of the information I get. I would rather learn by thinking a problem through than by hands-on experience. I'm interested in new things and what might be possible, so that I think more about the future than the past. I like to work with symbols or abstract theories, even if I don't know how I will use them. I remember events more as an impression of what it was like than as actual facts or details of what happened.

Thinking (T) or Feeling (F)

Thinking - When I make a decision, I like to find the basic truth or principle to be applied, regardless of the specific situation involved. I like to analyze pros and cons, and then be consistent and logical in deciding. I try to be impersonal, so I won't let my personal wishes--or other people's wishes--influence me.

Feeling - I believe I can make the best decisions by weighing what people care about and the points-of-view of persons involved in a situation. I am concerned with values and what is the best for the people involved. I like to do whatever will establish or maintain harmony. In my relationships, I appear caring, warm, and tactful.

Judging (J) or Perceiving (P)

Judging - To others, I seem to prefer a planned or orderly way of life, like to have things settled and organized, feel more comfortable when decisions are made, and like to bring life under control as much as possible.

Perceiving - To others, I seem to prefer a flexible and spontaneous way of life, and I like to understand and adapt to the world rather than organize it. Others see me staying open to new experiences and information.

Click your type combination below to learn more about how your type fits into potential career choices as well as many aspects of your life.
(Eg. If you chose Introvert, Sensing, Thinking and Judging, your personalty type would be ISTJ)

ISTJ | ISFJ | INFJ | INTJ
ISTP | ISFP | INFP | INTP

ESTP | ESFP | ENFP | ENTP
ESTJ | ESFJ | ENFJ | ENTJ

Personality profiles provided by University of Saskatchewan - Student Employment and Career Centre.

We also recommend that you complete the official Myers Briggs Type Indicator online at http://www.myersbriggs.org/ (go to “My MBTI Personality Type”) and see a career counsellor in order to verify your type.

Please note the results of each section will be provided in the final summary page, and will be e-mailed to you upon completion.

My Interests

Psychologist John Holland developed a theory based on the notion that most people fit into six interest categories: Realistic (R), Investigative (I), Artistic (A), Social (S), Enterprising (E) and Conventional (C).
According to Holland, people are more likely to find career satisfaction if their work environment allows them to express their interests.

Adapted from John Holland, Making Vocational Choices: A Theory of Careers, 3rd Edition, Psychological Assessments Resources, 1997.

Check off what interests you. Then, select the names of the three themes that describe you the best.

R - Realistic (Technical, Doers)

Realistic people like to be active and they enjoy hands-on or manual activities. They prefer to work with things, plants and animals rather than ideas and people.

I – Investigative (Science, Thinkers)

Investigative people like to observe, learn, and solve complex problems using logic. They like science and research. People who fall in this category prefer to focus on solving abstract problems rather than assuming leadership roles.

A – Artistic (Arts, Creators)

Artistic people like to work in unstructured environments using their imagination or creativity. They enjoy expressing ideas and feelings through dance, music, visual art, design, writing, film, and other outlets.

S – Social (Social Services/Education, Helpers)

Social people like participating in activities that involve or engage others. They enjoy helping, training, counselling or empowering others. They are focused on human well-being and on providing support to those in need.

E – Enterprising (Business Contact, Persuaders)

Enterprising people are ambitious, sociable and like to take leadership roles. They enjoy using their persuasive abilities to obtain organizational goals or economic gain. They consider themselves as assertive and self-confident public speakers.

C – Conventional (Business Operation, Organizers)

Conventional people like to work with data and numbers. They enjoy organizing schedules and prefer following well-defined instructions. They are usually not interested in leadership roles, however, they are essential to keep things organized, systematic and efficient.

For a more in-depth test visit http://www.truity.com/test/holland-code-career-test.

For a greater variety of occupations you can search by interests here.

Please note the results of each section will be provided in the final summary page, and will be e-mailed to you upon completion.

My Natural Talents

Natural talents are the things that you do well or which come naturally to you. For example, you may be naturally good with your hands, or you may be more technologically inclined.

Career Core Competencies

Below are some of the core competencies that employers look for in an individual. Developing proficiency within these six areas will position you for personal and professional success.

Skills are things that may not have come naturally to you and that you had to learn in order to master them.

Check off skills that you possess or you would enjoy using in your career.

Skill Development Action Plan

Based on your choices above, write out:

Now take some time to reflect on any experiences that you felt were memorable or you were particularly proud of. Also consider what skills you used and values you held during your achievement.

Eg.
Receiving a 'B-' on a test in a subject you feel less confident in.
Coaching a soccer team.
Booking an academic advising appointment.

Please note the results of each section will be provided in the final summary page, and will be e-mailed to you upon completion.

My Values

Your values are those elements of your life which you find personally important. They are core beliefs which guide you on how to conduct your life in a way that is meaningful and satisfying for you. Your values can help you to understand where you might find a role in society, and they are often a strong factor while exploring your future career path.

For a more in-depth analysis visit, https://www.123test.com/strengths-weaknesses-analysis/

Please note the results of each section will be provided in the final summary page, and will be e-mailed to you upon completion.

My Career Goals

When setting career goals, it is useful to remember that Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and, Time-specific goals have greater potential to be reached. The SMART Principle is a helpful tool for identifying goals that we want to achieve and ones that we are capable of achieving.

Specific - Consider what exactly you want to achieve as well as when, where, why and how you'll achieve this goal.
Measurable - Identify exactly what it is you will see, hear and feel when you reach your goal
Achievable - Weigh the effort, time and other costs your goal will take against the profits and the other obligations and priorities you have in life
Realistic - Is this goal within your means? Why do you want to reach this goal? What is the objective behind the goal, and will this goal really achieve that?
Time Sensitive - Make a tentative plan of everything you do

Remember to keep the SMART principle in mind when choosing your goals below.

Career Satisfaction Model

This model illustrates that to be satisfied at your work it involves doing something that you are capable of doing (skills), you like (enjoyment) and you respect (it has meaning).



John Clark, From Career Angst to Bliss: An Explorer’s Tale (Winter 1999-2000 Career Planning and Adult Development Journal)

Now what?

Now that you've completed this guide and reflected on your personality, interests, values and skills, you may have some additional questions on what to do next. That's where the Career Centre can help!

Career Consult
Not sure where to start? You can meet with a Career Counsellor for a 20-minute Career Consult to get help determining your next step(s), including which services best meet your needs.

Career Exploration Workshops
What can I do with my degree? What do I want to do next? If you have these types of questions, then the Career Exploration series of workshops is a great place to start.

Job Search Workshops
Have a specific job in mind but not sure how to get there? The Career Centre can help you research great opportunities, write an amazing résumé and cover letter, wow them at your next interview, and maximize social media to help you find and land a position that meets your needs.

What Can I Do With My Degree?
The discipline you study doesn't determine what you will do after graduation. Your degree is just one of the many important assets you bring to your future career. However, taking a look at some potential career paths for your program of study can be helpful for giving you ideas that you may not have considered otherwise.