SELF ASSESSMENT

WHAT IS SELF – ASSESSMENT?

Self-assessment is simply a matter of having students identify strengths and

weaknesses in their own work and revise accordingly. Effective self-
assessment involves students comparing their work to clear standards and
generating feedback for themselves about where they need to make
improvements. It is a tool that can promote learning if it is used while the
learning is taking place. In order for self-assessment to be effective,
students must be able to use their self-generated feedback to revise and
improve their work before it is due for grading. Self-assessment is the first
step of the career planning process.

Step4
Action

Step3
Decision Making

(Incorporate information below

to identify
Identify your options)

Step2
Career Exploration

(What kind of jobs are out there?)

Step1
Self-assessment

(Learn about yourself: Skills, interest, values, personality, and ability

During a self-assessment they gather information about themself in order to
make an informed career decision.

A self-assessment should include a look at the following: values, interests,

personality, and skills. Values are the things that are important to you, like
achievement, status, and autonomy. Interests are what you enjoy doing, i.e.
playing golf, taking long walks, hanging out with friends. Personality is a
person's individual traits, motivational drives, needs, and attitudes. Skills are
the activities you are good at, such as writing, computer programming, and
teaching.

WORK VALUES

The following list describes a wide range of satisfaction that people gain
from their jobs. Rate the degree of importance of the following words, using
the scale below:

1. Not important at all

2. Not very important

3. Reasonably important

4. Very important in my choice of career

4 Help Society: Do something which contributes to improving the

world we live in.
4 Help Others: Be directly included in helping other people, e i t h e r
i n d i v i d u a l l y o r i n small groups.
3 Public Contact: Have a lot of day-to-day contact with the public.
4 Work with Others: Work as a team member toward common goals.
4 Work Alone: Do projects by myself, with limited contact with
others.
34 Competition: Engage in activities which fit my abilities against
others.
3 Make Decisions: Have the power to decide courses of action and
policies.
4 Work under Pressure: Work in situations where time pressure is
prevalent.
 3 Influence People: Be in a position to influence the attitudes
or opinions of other people.
4 Knowledge: Engage in the pursuit of knowledge and
understanding.
4 Work Mastery: Become an expert in whatever work I do.
4 Artistic Creativity: Engage in creative artistic expression.
3 General Creativity: Have the opportunity to create new programs,
materials, or organizational structures.
3 Aesthetics: Participate in studying or appreciating the beauty
of things, ideas, etc.
4 Supervision: Have a job in which I am directly responsible for the
work of others.
4 Change and Variety: Have work activities which frequently
change.
3 Precision Work: Work in situations where attention to detail
and accuracy are very important.
3 Stability: Have a work routine and job duties that are largely
predictable.
4 Security: Be assured of keeping my job and receiving satisfactory
compensation.
3 Recognition: Be publicly recognized for the high quality of my work.
4 Fast Pace: Work in circumstances where work must be done
rapidly.
4 Excitement: Experience a high degree of (or frequent) excitement in
the course of my work.
3 Adventure: Have work duties which require frequent risk-taking.
3 Financial Gain: Have a high likelihood of achieving very great
monetary rewards for my work.
4 Physical Challenge: Do activities that use my physical capabilities.
4 Independence: Be able to determine the nature of my work
without significant direction from others.
4 Moral Fulfillment: Feel that my work contributes to a set of
moral standards which I feel are very important.
3 Community: Live where I can participate in community affairs.
4 Time Freedom: Be able to work according to my own schedule.

Add others which are important to you:

Able to do what is right.
My 5 essential values are:
Integrity, Motivated to Grow and Learn, Posessing a positive attitude,meeting deadlines,self-motivated

INTERESTS

The following exercise will help you organize an inventory of your interests and then
relates them to general occupational fields. Answer the following questions with a Yes or
No depending on how strongly you feel about each item.

Please add up your scores in each interest category along the questions. Use the
following: Yes!= 4; yes = 3; no = 1; No! = 0.

Important: There is no right answer and the point of this test is not to score the highest
score, it will only categorize your interest in order to asses them.

Mechanical Interests

Mechanical Interests Yes! yes no No!

Do you like to work with your hands? 4

Do you like to repair things? 4

Do you like to work with tools? 4

Do you like to operate machinery? 4

Do you like physical work? 3

Do you like to work outdoors? 3

Totals Yes! yes no No!

Total Mechanical interests 16 6 0 0
Theory Interests

Theory Interests Yes! yes no No!

Do you like to solve problems? 4

Do you like ambiguous challenges? 4

Do you like to read and study? 3

Do you like math or science? 3

Do you like to investigate physical things? 3

Do you like to investigate physical things? 3

Do you like to think through problems more 2

than work them out?

Totals Yes! yes no No!

Total Theory interests 8 12 2 0

Artistic Interests

Artistic Interests Yes! yes no No!

Do you like to express yourself? 3

Do you like freedom from structure? 4

Do you like unconventional solutions? 3

Do you like aesthetic statements? 4

Do you like to work alone? 4

Do you like creative situations? 4

Totals Yes! yes no No!0

Total Artistic Interests 16 6 0
Social Interests

Social Interests Yes! yes no No!

Do you like to care for others? 4

Do you like to work with people? 4

Do you like to be part of a group? 4

Do you like to help others? 4

Do you like to train others? 4
Do you like to supervise people? 3

Totals Yes! yes no No!

Total Social Interests 20 3 0 0

Business Interests

Business Interests Yes! yes no No!

Do you like to persuade others? 3

Do you like to be the leader? 3

Do you like to speak to groups? 4

Do you like to make things happen? 4

Do you like to manage projects? 3

Do you like to sell things? 3

Totals Yes! yes no No!

Total Business Interests 8 12 0 0
Organizational Interests

Organizational Interests Yes! yes no No!

Do you like to be orderly? 4
Do you like well-defined tasks? 3

Do you like office procedures? 4

Do you like stable situations? 4 3

Do you like a chain of command? 3
Do you like to know what is next? 4

Totals Yes! yes no No!

Total Business Interests 16 9 0 0

Please report all scores below:

Mechanical interests Yes 16, yes 6

Theory interests Yes 8, yes 12, no 2

Artistic interests Yes 16, yes 6

Business interests Yes 8, yes 12

Organizational interests Yes 16, yes 9

CAREER FIELDS

The following occupations show how your interests compare to people with similar
interests who are employed in various fields.

Circle job titles that you find most appealing (2 in each group) and calculate the scores at the
end.

They will help you categorize your work interests.

Group 1 Group 2
Bus driver A Firefighter A
Art teacher B Architect B
College professor C Physical therapist C
Court reporter D Pharmacy technician D
Cosmetologist E Child care assistant E
Florist F Food service manager F

Group 3 Group 4
Carpenter A Plumber A
Musician B Chef B
Computer programmer C Nurse C
Revenue Canada agent D Dietician D
Special education E Recreation Leader E
Buyer F Caterer F

Group 5 Group 6
Electrician A Painter A
Advertising artist B Author/ writer B
Chemist C Chiropractor C
Bank teller D Bookkeeper D
Athletic trainer E Guidance counsellor E
Barber F Car/ Gift shop manager F

Group 7 Group 8
Police officer A Tool/Die Maker A
Copy Writer B Flight attendant B
Dental Hygienist C Medical technician C
Secretary D Food service Manager D
Operating room tech E Social worker E
Elected public official F Hotel manager F

Group 9 Group 10
Sheet metal worker A Truck driver A
Librarian B Photographer B
Surveyor C Systems analyst C
Accountant D Waiter/ress D
Occupational therapist E YMCA Director E
Insurance agent F Real estate agent F

Majority of As: Mechanical interests Majority of Bs:

Artistic interests Majority of Cs: Theory interests
Majority of Ds: Organization interests Majority of Es:
Social interests Majority of Fs: Business interests
OCCUPATIONAL DAYDREAMS

Below, list the occupations you have considered when thinking about your future. List the
careers you have daydreamed about, as well as those you have discussed with others. Try to
recount a history of your tentative choices and daydreams. Put your most recent thoughts
about job choice on line 1 and work backwards.

Occupations

1. Nurse_________________________________________________

2. Teacher____________________________________________________

3. Computer
Technician____________________________________________________

4. Soldier____________________________________________________

5. Cosmetologist___________________________________________________

Now that you have identified several career interests, assess your situation and ask yourself
some difficult questions. Take each job you have identified and answer the following
questions for eachoption.

Occupation 1:

What are the qualifications required to obtain a job?

Finished the course and passed the LET.

Which ones do I already have?

Teacher

Which ones I don’t have?

Nurse, Computer Technician, soldier, cosmetologist

Am I willing or able to invest my time and money to acquire these missing skills? Yes, if given a
chance.

If yes, make a step by step action plan towards the goals. If no, move on to the next job on your
list. Do this for all your careers listed and your goals should begin to look clear.
SKILLS

According to a 2015 survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and

Employers (NACE), the top qualities/skills employers seek in hires are:

1. Ability to work in a team structure

2. Ability to make decisions and solve problems
3. Ability to verbally communicate with persons inside and outside the organization
4. Ability to plan, organize, and prioritize work
5. Ability to obtain and process information
6. Ability to analyze quantitative data
7. Technical knowledge related to job
8. Proficiency with computer software programs
9. Ability to create and/or edit written reports
10. Ability to sell or influence others

Throughout the course of your life, you have gained competencies in many areas. In which of
the following do you excel? This list will help you to realize your strong points that you can
apply to career decision-making as well as to transitioning to different fields. Check off the skills
that you have demonstrated inside and outside of the study or working field. Then, go back
andcircle those skills you most enjoy using and cross off those that you do not enjoy using.

Communication Skills

1. Present information to large and small groups ✓

2. Handle complaints in person/over the phone ✓
3. Sell ideas, products, or services ✓
4. Listen carefully and attentively ✓
5. Develop rapport easily with diverse individuals and groups of people ✓
6. Read or speak another language ✓
7. Edit and proofread written material ✓
8. Write clearly and concisely ✓
Counseling, Serving, and Interpersonal Relations Skills

1. Counsel, advise, consult, guide others

2. Demonstrate empathy, sensitivity, and patience.
3. Help people make their own decisions
4. Help others improve health and welfare.
5. Listen empathically and with objectivity.
6. Create positive, hospitable environment
7. Encourage, empower, advocate for people

Creative and Innovative Skills

1. Visualize concepts and results

2. Brainstorm and make use of group synergy
3. Design materials, products, or service
4. Express ideas through an form
5. Use computer software for artistic creations
6. Write poetry, fiction, plays

Financial Skills

1. Develop/stay within a budget

2. Eye for profit
3. Recognize money making opportunities
4. Manage money/make money grow
5. Set financial priorities
6. Develop cost cutting solutions
7. Negotiate financial deals
8. Understand economic principles

Leadership, Management, and Administrative Skills

1. Envision the future and lead change

2. Establish policy and/or procedures
3. Set goals and determine courses of action
4. Create innovative solutions to complex problems
5. Develop and facilitate work teams
6. Provide training for development of staff
7. Demonstrative flexibility during crisis
8. Evaluate performance
9. Streamline processes
Mechanical and Technical Skills

1. Invent
2. Assemble/build/install
3. Perform precision work
4. Operate hand/power tools
5. Troubleshoot/diagnose problems
6. Drafting/mechanical drawing
7. Understand manuals/diagrams
8. Learn new technology easily
9. Program/Code

Numerical Skills

1. Solid ability with basic arithmetic

2. Multiply numbers in your head
3. Figure out percentages
4. Recognize patterns and relationships in numbers
5. Gain valuable information from graphs, tables, and charts
6. Quickly spot numerical errors
7. Make decisions based on numerical data
8. Make rough calculations/estimates in your head
9. Analyze statistical data

Planning and Organizing Skills

1. Identify and organize tasks or information

2. Coordinate and organize people, activities, processes, systems, and programs
3. Develop a plan and set objectives
4. Set up and keep time schedules
5. Anticipate problems and respond with solutions
6. Plan and manage events

Problem-Solving Skills

1. Anticipate/solve problems
2. Bring order in a chaotic situation
3. Determine root causes
4. Select most effective solution
5. Improvise under stress
6. Help a group identify solutions
7. Handle difficult people
8. Stay calm in emergencies
Research and Analytical Skills

1. Identify appropriate information sources

2. Hypothesize and test for results
3. Compile numerical and statistical data
4. Classify and sort information into categories.
5. Write analysis of study and research.
6. Compare and evaluate information.
7. Formulate insightful and relevant questions.
8. Use technology for statistical analysis
9. Keep accurate and complete records

Training and Teaching Skills

1. Use a variety of media for presentations.

2. Develop educational curriculum and materials.
3. Create and administer evaluation plans.
4. Facilitate a group
5. Explain difficult ideas, complex topics
6. Assess learning styles and respond accordingly
7. Consult and recommend solutions

Know y o u r P e r s o n a l i t y T y p e w i t h t h e Holland Code

One way of exploring careers is by looking at occupations according to occupational

interest. John Holland conducted research that divided job seekers into six broad personality type
categories:

 REALISTIC  INVESTIGATIVE

 ARTISTIC  SOCIAL

 ENTERPRISING  CONVENTIONAL

All types have both positive and negative qualities and none are better than the others. The
Holland Code is a generalization, and not likely to be an exact fit. This condensed survey is not
intended to be as accurate or comprehensive as a full instrument. Completing this survey might
help you identify the cluster(s) of occupations in which you would have the most interest
and get the most satisfaction, and it will give you a place to start your career exploration.
Step One:

Circle the number of all items below that are appealing to you – leave the rest blank.
t
1. Planting and growing crops
2. Solving math problems
3. Being in a play
4. Studying other cultures
5. Talking to people at a party
6. Working with computers
7. Working on cars or lawnmowers
8. Astronomy
9. Drawing or painting
10. Going to church
11. Working on a sales campaign
12. Using a cash register
13. Carpentry
14. Physics
15. Foreign language
16. Working with youth
17. Buying clothes for a store
18. Working from nine to five
19. Setting type for a printing job
20. Using a chemistry set
21. Reading fiction or plays
22. Helping people with problems
23. Selling life insurance
24. Typing reports
25. Driving a truck 26. Working in a lab
27. Playing a musical instrument
28. Making new friends
29. Leading a group
30. Following a budget
31. Fixing electrical appliances
32. Building rocket models
33. Writing stories or poetry
34. Attending sports events
35. Making your opinions heard
36. Using business machines
37. Building things
38. Doing puzzles
39. Fashion design
40. Belonging to a club
41. Giving talks or speeches
42. Keeping detailed records
43. Wildlife biology
44. Using science to get answers
 45. Going to concerts or the theater
46. Working with the elderly
47. Sales people
48. Filing letters and reports

Step Two:

On the chart below, again circle the numbers of the items which appealed to you. Then count
the number for each row and write the number in the box to the left. The two highest
categories are the clusters in which you have the most interest, and their corresponding labels
are your Holland Code. (For example, if you scored highest in Social, and second highest in
Artistic, your Holland Code would be SA. This is where you will concentrate your
career explorationefforts.

R = REALISTIC 1 7 13 19 25 31 37 43
I = INVESTIGATIVE 2 8 14 20 26 32 38 44
A = ARTISTIC 3 9 15 21 27 33 39 45
S = SOCIAL 4 10 16 22 28 34 40 46
E = ENTERPRISING 5 11 17 23 29 35 41 47
C = CONVENTIONAL 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48

In the lists below, you can identify your type, and then focus on your job search

REALISTIC - Robust, rugged, practical, physically strong - Uncomfortable in social settings -

Good motor coordination - Weak verbal and interpersonal skills - See themselves as
mechanically and athletically inclined - Stable, natural, persistent - Prefer concrete to abstract
problems - Have conventional political and economic goals - Rarely perform creatively in the
arts or science - Like to build things with tools - Like to work outdoors - Cool to radical new
ideas - Like to work with big, powerful machines - Buy boats, campers, snowmobiles,
motorcycles

INVESTIGATIVE - Scientific orientation - Task- oriented, all wrapped up in their

work Introspective and asocial - Think through rather than act out a problem - Strong need to
understand the world - Enjoy ambiguous tasks - Prefer to work independently - Have
unconventional attitudes - See themselves as lacking in leadership skills - Confident of
their intellectual abilities - Analytical, curious, reserved, independent - Great dislike for
repetitive activities - Buy telescopes, calculators, electronic equipment.
ARTISTIC - Like art, music, drama, other creative interests - Prefer free, unstructured situations
- Impulsive, non-conforming, independent - Adverse to rules - Deal with problems
through self-expression in art - Value beauty and aesthetic qualities - Expressive, original,
intuitive - Like to work in free environments - Like small, intimate groups - Willing to take
risks to try something new - Dress in freer styles than other people - Have need for
individualistic expression - Not assertive about own capabilities - Sensitive and emotional -
Spend money on art objects–books, paintings, DVD‘s, CD‘s.

SOCIAL - Sociable, responsible, humanistic, religious - Like to work in groups - Have

verbal and interpersonal skills - Avoid both intellectual problem-solving and physical exertion -
Enjoy healing, developing, training, or enlightening others - Understanding, helpful, idealistic -
Dislike working with machines or in highly structured situations - Like to discuss philosophic
questions - Concerned with the welfare of others - Cooperative, friendly, generous - Attend
workshops, other group experiences

ENTERPRISING - Good verbal skills, persuasive - Strong leaders - Avoid work involving long
periods of intellectual effort - Strong drive to attain organizational g o a l s - Concerned with
power, status, and leadership - Aggressive, popular, sociable, self-confident - High energy level
- Adventuresome, ambitious - Enjoy making things happen - Value money and material
possessions - Dislike science and systematic thinking - Buy big cars, nice clothes, country club
memberships

CONVENTIONAL - Prefer well-ordered environments - Like systematic, verbal and numerical

activities; avoid ambiguous situations and problems - Conscientious, efficient, practical -
Identify with power - Value material possessions and status - Orderly, persistent, calm - Adverse
to free, unsystematic, exploratory behavior in new areas - Do not seek outside leadership -
Stable, controlled, dependable - Most effective at well- defined tasks - Save money, buy
conservatively
THE FAMILY TREE

You have surely heard of families that carefully collect the souvenirs, various documents, letters
related to their family. If needed, they can also write the history of the family. A
family‘s history does also involve what the profession of the family members was and they
achieved in those professions.

Traditionally, the history of a family is depicted in a so-called family tree. However, we have
drawn the tree below to show the members of your family.

Having completed the tree, note each member‘s profession too. Write the highest level degree
too next to the professions. If you can, ask for the help of your parents.

If you wish, you can continue drawing the tree, and can indicate the professions and
qualifications of further relatives.

ME

my brothers or sisters my brothers or sisters

my FATHER my MOTHER

fathers‘ brothers and mother‘s brothers and

sisters sisters

GRANDFATHER GRANDFATHER

GRANDMOTHER GRANDMOTHER
My grandparents:

…………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………

My parents:

…………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………

My brothers and sisters:

…………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………

Other members of my family:

…………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………

1. Count the number of professions that you have found in your family. What
are these?

2. Write also down how many types of school they went to.

3. Can you find members of your family with the same profession? What is this
profession?

4. How many similar professions could you find? And how many family members had the
same profession?

5. The number of similar professions:

6. The number of family members with the same profession:

7. Could you find related professions? What do you think are their related professions?

8. Is there somebody in your family who became well-known and publicly honored through
their profession? (You can also write relatives who are no longer alive.)

Yes – no

What is (was) his/her profession?

What made him/her well-known, publicly honored?

9. Look at again the family tree and think about if there is a profession in it that you like?

Yes, because

No, because

10. Is there a profession there that you would be pleased to choose, however, it is no longer
possible to study it? Namely:
 today there is no longer such a profession existing,
 the school where I could study it is very far,
 I should live in a boarding school, but I do not really feel like
going there,
 my school achievement is poor,
 there are financial reasons for it,
 there is another reason, namely:

11. Summarize what you have learned about the professional history of your family