Introduction
Career planning is an on-going, life-long process of decision-making regarding the world of work. Career
planning is a dynamic process that encourages you to accept individual responsibility for your life. The three
stages of career development are:
• Self-Assessment
• Career Exploration
• Career Implementation
Stage one provides an important foundation for finding a career. As you learn about yourself and about
occupations, you become better prepared to make career choices.
Self-Assessment
Before you begin exploring careers and trying to identify jobs and careers which will prove satisfying, you must
first develop a true understanding of your self, your skills, interests, values, and personality characteristics.
Questions to ask:
Skills
• What are my strengths and weaknesses?
• What are my most prominent skills and abilities?
• What skills do I want to use on the job?
• What skills do I need to acquire?
Values
• What satisfactions do I seek in a career?
• In what ways must I be challenged and rewarded?
• In what type of work environment would I be
happy?
Interests
• What am I interested in doing?
• What activities have I enjoyed the most?
• What kinds of people would I like to work around?
• What kind of job settings would I enjoy?
Personality
• What personal qualities do I possess that will help
me?
• How will my personal style influence my career
choice?
• How will I get along with my supervisor/co-workers?
Self-Assessment is the first and most important step in the career development process and can greatly affect
the decision-making process. If you are willing to invest the time and effort, you should be able to use this self-
assessment information to identify career options that are most appropriate for you.
The Career Center offers several options in terms of resources and services to help you conduct a self-
assessment inventory. Stop in or call the Career Center to schedule an appointment to discuss your