Career Planning Step 1: Self Assess

Are you unsure of where to begin? The first step in the career planning process is to take inventory of your personality, interests, values, and skills using self-assessments. Knowing what industries or job functions are of greatest interest to you will make your internship and job search more manageable. More importantly, you will be better prepared to find a career that best suits YOU. Employers also appreciate applicants who can articulate their interests and have a career direction.

Take the following online assessments. Hopefully, it will be a fun and informative experience. Remember to schedule an appointment with a career counselor to discuss your results and possible career paths.

Learn about your personality

Take the SkillsOne Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) to learn more about your personality. Using your answers and preferences, a personality profile is generated, as well as a broad range of possible career choices. These tests can be helpful in determining concentrations and career choices. This is a password protected site. Please contact our Office at occ@sarahlawrence.edu for a username and password.

Identify your interests

The SkillsOne Strong Interest Inventory measures your degree of interest in a variety of subject areas and then suggests different kinds of occupations that might be a good fit. This is a password protected site. Please contact the Office at occ@sarahlawrence.edu for a username and password.

Explore your values

What really matters to you? A sizable paycheck? The chance to make a difference in society? A flexible work schedule to support your creative career? Knowing what’s really important to you can make a big difference in assessing job opportunities that come your way. Explore these questions and more at MyPlan: Values Assessment.

Assess your skills

Are you a leader? A strong writer? A good communicator? By zeroing in on your skills, you can better articulate which unique qualities you bring to the workplace. Find out more by taking the skills profiler on CareerOneStop, a U.S. Department of Labor-sponsored website that offers career resources and workforce information to job seekers, students, businesses, and workforce professionals to foster talent development in a global economy. 

Additional assessment resources

CareerPath: Career Tests
The Keirsey Temperament Sorter
The Princeton Review: Career Quiz
Quintessential Careers: Online Career Assessment Tools Review
Self-Assessment: The Riley Guide
ToGetUnstuck.com: Renaissance Soul Quiz

Next Step

Now that you’ve self-assessed, you’re ready for Step 2: Explore and Research Careers.