What Career is right for you? Diane Willock, SHS Business Liaison Career Exploration Opportunity Program coordinator

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1 What Career is right for you? Diane Willock, SHS Business Liaison Career Exploration Opportunity Program coordinator The decision on what to do in life starts in high school. Exploring different career options early can help you: Discover what careers best fit your interests. Decide on what college and what major is right for you. Get insight into what experiences and skills you will need to be successful in your career choice. But Why do Career Planning? The decision of what to do in life is important because great careers don t just happen. There is a lot of hard work and dedication that goes behind making a career choice that is right for you. Planning helps you to set goals and find ways to achieve those goals. It reminds you what is important to you and gives you something to look forward to. It is, and should be, a flexible process to incorporate new information and adjust your plans based on new interests.

2 So, Where to begin? 1. SIMPLE SELF-ASSESSMENT Take a moment to look at these questions and write down some answers, as many as apply to each question, and then..have your parents, maybe even your best friend, look at these questions and have them write their answers. Your parents and those close to you have a unique perspective and you would be surprised at how similar or different the answers can be! Figure out your EEPI: What activities have you Excelled at? Whether it is a school subject, a sport, a job, an assignment whatever.where have you really stood out (not just done an OKAY job, but EXCELLED). What activities have you most Enjoyed? It could be a subject, a hobby, a sport, a job, an activity or experience (like a great vacation). What did you enjoy most about that experience? What are you Passionate about? Is it solving world hunger? Inventing a new video game? Being a star athlete? Creating things? Finding a cure for cancer? Maybe living a healthy life or being connected with family? What is most Important to you in a job or career? Salary? Location? Interaction with people? Making a difference in the world? Working independently? Future opportunities? 2. MORE COMPREHENSIVE TESTS There are many assessment tests and personality tests that can help you access your interests and match those interests up to specific careers or areas. Start with Naviance- (you should have your login information) Use Career Cruising (see attached informational sheet on how to log on) Go to Keirsey.com and take the Keirsey Temperament Sorter test Go to and learn about Holland s theory. (See also attached sheet on Holland s Theory)

3 3. RESEARCH DIFFERENT CAREERS Research on the internet or through Naviance or Career Crusing. These programs will match up your interests with potential careers, so do some more digging and find out what the career is actually all about. Talk to family members in a career field you have an interest in. 4. GAIN EXPERIENCE IN A CAREER The best way to investigate a particular career is to participate in a Career Shadow or look for an internship in the career area. Career Shadows can be set up through the Career Exploration Opportunity Program here at Stevenson. Getting hands-on experience will help you to: Find out what you like/dislike about a particular career Make decisions about your college choices and major to pursue Connect you with individuals and mentors that, in the future, can supply you with valuable information, resources and referrals when you begin your job search. Stand out. You will have an experience to write and talk about in interviews and on essays. 5. CHECK THE CAREER EXPLORATION OPPORTUNITY WEBPAGE FOR INFORMATION Find out about internships and opportunities, upcoming events, resources for investigating careers and how to apply for a career shadow opportunity. Go to or at Stevenson s home page>academics>college and Career Center>Career Exploration. Final Steps to Career Planning After you have done your assessments, research on careers, and have had some hands-on experiences, take the time to write down what you have discovered about yourself and what careers you feel best match up to your interests and SET GOALS FOR YOUR CAREER AND STEPS TO ACHIEVE THESE GOALS. Goals can look like this: Deciding on a college/major (based on interests), getting a summer job in this area of interest, researching the best companies and organizations that hire for your chosen career. Make sure to also write down how you will achieve these goals and a TIMELINE for achieving these goals.

4 Holland s Theory can be summarized in 6 Statements: In our culture, most people are one of six personality types: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. The Realistic Personality Type Likes to work with animals, tools, or machines; generally avoids social activities like teaching, counseling, nursing, and informing others; Has good skills in working with tools, mechanical drawings, machines or animals. Values practical things you can see and touch -- like plants and animals you can grow, or things you can build or make better; and Sees self as practical, mechanical, and realistic. The Investigative Personality Type Likes to study and solve math or science problems; generally avoids leading, selling, or persuading people; Has good skills at understanding and solving science and math problems; Values science, and Sees self as precise, scientific, and intellectual The Artistic Personality Type Likes to do creative activities like art, drama, crafts, dance, music, or creative writing; generally avoids highly ordered or repetitive activities; Has good artistic abilities - in creative writing, drama, crafts, music, art Values the creative arts - like drama, music, art, or the works of creative writers; and Sees self as expressive, original, and independent The Social Personality Type Likes to do things to help people - like teaching, counseling, nursing, or giving information; generally avoids using machines, tools, or animals to achieve a goal; Has good skills at teaching, counseling, nursing, or giving information; Values helping people and solving social problems; and The Conventional Personality Type Likes to work with numbers, records, or machines in a set, orderly way; generally avoids ambiguous, unstructured activities Is good at working with written records and numbers in a systematic, orderly way; Values success in business; and Sees self as orderly, and good at following a set plan, Sees self as helpful, friendly, and trustworthy The Enterprising Personality Type Likes to lead and persuade people, and to sell things and ideas; generally avoids activities that require careful observation and scientific, analytical thinking; Is good at leading people and selling things or ideas; Values success in politics, leadership, or business; and Sees self as energetic, ambitious and sociable. People who work in an environment more similar to their personality type are more likely to be successful and satisfied

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