Day 1; Self Evaluation

Now That I’m Looking For A Job—What Do I Want To Be When I Grow Up??

I need a job. I need to prepare for my future. What do I want to be when I grow up? That’s a question that you may have started thinking about recently. Do you have a clear-cut plan? Have you determined your strategies? Do you find yourself leaning towards another area outside your comfort zone or field of expertise?

Is your chosen field unavailable to you? Has the economy really crashed your world? Do you need to do something—anything to re-adjust your career future?

The path to reaching your future goals begins right now, right here with small steps, each building upon one another! This blog will allow you to explore options, make decisions, determine your future, and, more importantly, teach you how to get there!

Whether you are seeking a long-term goal, just looking to get by for now, or in the midst of changing jobs or careers, this book will provide you with the skill-sets, tactics, techniques, and empowerment to achieve any and all of your goals. You will find each step in your quest towards your future can and will count towards that end.

Whatever the reason you have come to this blog, the important thing to know is that this can be a major stepping stone in your career. Any and every experience you have or have had goes into creating you. You are, therefore, quite unique, and that very uniqueness allows you to offer current and/or future employers something different from the rest of the potential employees.

Taking the sum of all of your experiences, from your first and early jobs, educational background, current job, industry knowledge, to clubs, volunteering, internships, group activities, scouting, all will make a difference in the way you are viewed by possible employers—now and in the future.

This workbook will not give you the educational credentials which may be required for certain professions, nor will it provide you with too much in the way of technical or mechanical expertise; however, it will teach you HOW TO BECOME THE BEST REPRESENTATION OF YOU to any and all future employers!

Chapter 1 –Self Assessment—The First Steps

What is Self-Assessment? Self-Assessment is the process of collecting and analyzing all of the relevant information about a very complex subject – YOU. You need to look at your education, work experience, skills, interest, work values and personality traits. You also need the courage to face your weaknesses, fears and dislikes.

By taking various self-assessment test instruments, it will help you define the position for which you are best suited. With an average of 10 to 15 job/career changes in most peoples’ lifetimes, career planning is now an on-going process, to be repeated over and over again. This process involves conducting a realistic self-assessment.

There are basically 2 steps to the self-assessment process:

1. Defining who you are internally.

2. Using that information to search for an external fit with the job market

To assist you in your determination of how you can best begin to know yourself, within what environment you are most comfortable, your future goals, your interactions with others, the following assessment instruments have been included in this chapter:

· Personality & Attitudes

· Skills & Achievements

· Personal Career Profile

These instruments will give you an idea of how you are seen by others. You may be surprised by how you are perceived; however, if your answers give you an indication of the image you portray, then this can surely assist you to either make some changes, if necessary, or consider jobs and/or careers that would suit who you are. All of us are, of course, happiest and most fulfilled when we are comfortable within our work environment.

The answers to these questions should reflect who you are no…not who you were in the past, nor who you aspire to be in the future. It’s only 10 simple questions, so grab a pencil!

Questions	Answers	My Letter Response
1. When do you feel your best?	a. In the morning b. During the afternoon/early evening c. Late at night
2. You usually walk	a. Fairly fast, with long steps b. Fairly fast, with short, quick steps c. Less fast head up, looking the world in the face d. Less fast, head down e. Very slowly
3. When talking to people you	a. Stand with your arms folded. b. Have your hands clasped c. Have one or both your hands on your hips d. Touch or push the person to whom you are talking
4. When relaxing, you sit with	a. Your knees bent with your legs neatly side by side b. Your legs crossed c. Your legs stretched out and straight d. One leg curled under you
5. When something really amuses you, you react with	a. A big, appreciative laugh b. A laugh, but not a loud one c. A quiet chuckle d. A sheepish smile
6. Wen you go to a party or social gathering you	a. Make a loud entrance so everyone notices you b. Make a quiet entrance so only a few people notice you c. Make the quietest entrance, trying to stay unnoticed.
7. You’re working very hard, concentrating hard, and you’re interrupted. Do you	a. Welcome the break b. Feel extremely irritated c. Vary between these two extremes
8. Which of the following colors do you like the most?	a. Red or orange b. Black c. Yellow or light blue d. Green e. Dark blue or purple f. White g. Brown or gray
9. When you are in bed at night, in those last few moments before going to sleep, you lie	a. Stretched out on your back b. Stretched out face down on your stomach c. On your side, slightly curled d. With your head on one arm e. With your head under the covers
10. You often dream that you are	a. Falling b. Fighting or struggling c. Searching for something or somebody d. Flying or floating e. You usually have dreamless sleep f. Your dreams are always pleasant

Circle the Point values for each response:

Question	(a)	(b)	(c)	(d)	(e)	(f)	(g)
1.	2	4	6
2.	6	4	7	2	1
3.	4	2	5	7	6
4.	4	6	2	1
5.	6	4	3	5	2
6.	6	4	2
7.	6	2	4
8.	6	7	5	4	3	2	1
9.	7	6	4	2	1
10.	4	2	3	5	6	1

Now add your total number of points:

My Points

Over 60 points: Others see you as somebody they should “handle with care.” You’re seen as vain, self-centered, and as extremely dominant. Others may admire you, wishing they could be more like you, but don’t always trust you, hesitating to become too deeply involved with you.

51 to 60 points: Others see you as an exciting, highly volatile, rather impulsive personality; a natural leader, who’s quick to make decisions, though not always the right ones. They see you as adventuresome, someone who will try anything once; someone who takes changes and enjoys adventure. They enjoy being in your company because of the excitement you radiate.

41 to 50 points: Others see you as a fresh, lively, charming, amusing, practical and always interesting; someone who’s constantly in the center of attention, but sufficiently well-balanced not to let it go to your head. They also see you as kind, considerate, and understanding; someone who’ll always cheer them up and help them out.

31 to 40 points: Others see you as sensible, cautious, careful and practical. They see you as clever, gifted or talented, but modest. Not a person who makes friends too quickly or easily, but someone who’s extremely loyal to friends you do make and who expects the same loyalty in return. Those who really get to know you realize it takes a lot to shake your trust in your friends, but equally that it takes you a long time to get over it if that trust is ever broken.

21 to 30 points: Your friends see you as painstaking and fussy. They see you as very cautious, extremely careful—a slow and steady plodder. It would really surprise them if you ever did something impulsively or on the spur of the moment, expecting you to examine everything carefully from every angle and then, usually decide against it. They think this reaction is caused partly by your careful nature.

Under 21 points: People think you are shy, nervous, and indecisive--someone who needs looking after, who always wants someone else to make the decisions and who doesn’t want to get involved with anyone or anything. They see you as a worrier who always sees problems that don’t exist. Some people think you’re boring. Only those who know you well know that you are not.

Self-Evaluation:

After taking this assessment instrument, think about the category within which you fall. Does it ring true? Are you as described? Jot down your thoughts and why you agree or disagree with the assessment:

	Agree—Why?	Disagree—Why?
Point One, (please state):
Point Two, (please state):
Point Three, (please state):
Point Four, (please state):
Point Five, (please state):
Point Six, (please state):
Point Seven, (please state):
Point Eight, (please state):