Self-Assessment Tools IVYT 107 Professional Presence Week 3

Is there a test or something that can tell me what career is right for me? No! You can use self assessment tools that will help you find your way. Values Interests Personality Skills

Your Values Perhaps the most important factor for consideration The things that are important to you, like achievement, status, and autonomy Intrinsic – directly related to the work and the contribution it makes to society Extrinsic – physical setting, income potential, relationships Soul Survival: Career Values http://www.career-intelligence.com/assessment/career_values.html Value Questionnaire http://www.mrs.umn.edu/services/career/career_planning/valquestion.php

Your Interests What you enjoy doing, i.e. playing golf, taking long walks, hanging out with friends Your interests can be matched with occupations Strong Interest Inventory http://www.cpp.com/products/strong/index.asp Self-Directed Search – available in Career Services Center http://www.self-directed-search.com/index.html

Your Personality Your traits, motivational drives, needs, and attitudes Eight personality types — extroverts, introverts, thinking, feeling, sensing, intuitive, judging, and perceptive. Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI) http://www.myersbriggs.org/ Keirsey Temperament Sorter http://www.keirsey.com/

Your Skills Activities you are good at, such as writing, computer programming, teaching Consider the time you are willing to spend on acquiring more advanced or new skills Skills Profiler http://www.careerinfonet.org/acinet/skills/default.aspx?nodeid=20 What's Your Skillset http://www.career-intelligence.com/assessment/career_assessment.asp

Other Resources OSCAR: The Occupation and Skill Computer-Assisted Researcher http://www.ioscar.org/tx/oscar.asp The Testing Room http://www.testingroom.com/ Career Assessment Tools & Tests, http://www.quintcareers.com/career_assessment.html Body-Mind Queendom http://www.queendom.com/ Manifest Your Potential http://www.manifestyourpotential.com/ 3SmartCubes.com http://www.3smartcubes.com/

Using the MBTI In Career Decision Making

Purpose: Understanding MBTI and how it can be used in career decision making Objectives: 1.  review the 8 preferences and 16 types 2.  consider your own MBTI scores and what they can tell you about yourself 3.  Consider the implications of the MBTI for career development

Some Things About the MBTI Origins: Based on Carl Jung’s theory of perception and judgment Developed by Katharine Briggs and Isabel Briggs Myers In existence over 50 years; used world-wide; in many languages 2 million+ assessments administered annually in the U.S. alone One of the most valid, reliable, researched assessments in existence Based on a ‘type theory’ of personality - innate qualities Type tends to remain constant throughout life Results: No good or bad results; used to understand individual differences Split results, or results that are very close, may vary on different takings of the assessment, but one is slightly preferred over the other

Understanding MBTI Describes rather than prescribes Describes preferences, not skills or abilities Says all preferences are equally important Is well documented and researched Results are subject to a variety of influences. Treat them with skepticism and individually verify. Determine the type which best describes you.

Four Scales and Eight Preferences • A Preference: a preferred way of doing things Right-handed versus left-handed • Each of the 4 MBTI scales has 2 preferences When you use your preference, you are behaving naturally. When you are required to use the other preference, it takes extra work and you’re not as good at it. • We don’t always behave according to type preference We modify our behaviors to receive rewards, avoid punishment, i.e. Morning person versus not-a-morning person

Four Scales and Eight Preferences How You Prefer to Focus You Attention (E) Extraversion or Introversion (I) How You Prefer to Acquire Information (S) Sensing or Intuition (N) How You Prefer to Make Decisions (T) Thinking or Feeling (F) How You Prefer to Live Your Life (J) Judging or Perceiving (P)

Everyone has all eight preferences. Some preferences are stronger than others. Some are much stronger. As we review the eight preferences, consider which sound like you and which don’t. Take notes - figure yourself out!

Scale 1 - Extravert and Introvert Where do you focus your attention? What gives you energy? What drains you of energy?

Extraversion Extraverts focus on the outer world of people and events. They are energized by the outer world of people and activities. And this is where they tend to direct their own energy. Extraverts prefer to communicate more by talking than by writing. They need to experience the world in order to understand it. They like action and variety.

Extraverts tend to: think out loud become easily energetic be animated and energetic enjoy generating ideas with a group be very comfortable in social settings seek out social situations and settings find listening more difficult than talking

Introversion Introverts focus more on their inner world. They are energized by what goes on in their inner world. Introverts are more interested and comfortable when they can work quietly without interruption. They like to understand the world before experiencing it, and also need time to reflect before acting.

Introverts tend to: focus their energy inwardly need time alone to recharge be less animated, more reserved have a calm, measured demeanor become easily absorbed in thought talk slower and usually more quietly proceed cautiously in meeting people

Are You an Extravert or an Introvert? Examples: Behavior at a party Waiting for an airplane Asking questions in class Going river rafting

Scale 2 - Sensing and Intuitive What type of information is important to you? What do you do with information? What approaches and procedures do you prefer?

Sensing Sensors focus on the realities of a situation. They take information in through their senses; they want to see it, hear it, feel it. Sensors accept and work with what is “given” in the here-and-now. They are very realistic, practical and good at remembering and working with a great number of facts. They prefer to use proven procedures and are careful with detail.

Sensors tend to: be quite literal be direct and to the point prefer precise and exact information enjoy traditional and familiar ground value solid, recognizable achievements use clear, straightforward speech patterns prefer a sequential, step-by-step approach

Intuition Intuitives prefer taking in information through a “sixth sense.” They look for meanings, relationships and possibilities. They look at the big picture and try to grasp overall patterns. They are good at seeing new possibilities and they value imagination and inspiration.

Intuitives tend to: envision the future leap from thought to thought have complex speech patterns finish other people’s sentences focus on possibilities, what might be value different and unusual attainments talk about global issues, the “big picture”

Are You a Sensor or an Intuitive? Examples: - Buying a car - Solving a problem - Receiving recognition

Scale 3 - Thinking and Feeling How do you prefer to make decisions? What is a good decision? How do you handle conflict?

Thinking Thinking types make decisions objectively, on the basis of cause and effect, by analyzing and weighing the evidence. They focus on the logical consequences of any choice or action. Thinking types seek an objective standard of truth. They are good at analyzing what is wrong with something.

Thinkers tend to: get right to the point often appear businesslike choose truthfulness over tactfulness give praise sparingly; point out negatives convince others with impersonal reasoning make decisions with their heads, not hearts

Feeling Feeling types make decisions based on person-centered values. They consider how important choices are to themselves and others. They like dealing with people and tend to be sympathetic, appreciative and tactful. They value harmony and work to make it happen.

Feelers tend to: Decide with the heart Get their feelings hurt easily Avoid arguments and conflict Be sensitive to the feelings of others Act warm and friendly toward others Pay attention to the feelings of others Be generous with praise; slow to criticize

Are You a Thinker or a Feeler? Examples: - Committee work - Making plans with friends - Handling disagreements

Scale 4 - Judging and Perceiving How you prefer to organize your time and your life Need for structure and closure Attitudes towards time and life

Judging Those who prefer judging like to live in a planned, orderly way. They want to regulate life and control it. They want to make decisions, come to closure, and then carry on. They like to be structured and organized and want thing settled.

Judgers tend to Make decisions; decide quickly Enjoy setting and reaching goals Discuss schedules and timetables Like to take charge and be in control Be more serious, formal, conventional Regulate and control their life and yours Enjoy having things settled, taken care of

Perceiving Those who prefer perceiving like to live in a flexible, spontaneous way, gathering information and keeping options open. They seek to understand life rather than control it. They prefer to stay open to experience, enjoying and trusting their ability to adapt to the moment.

Perceivers tend to: Be good at adapting Be somewhat disorganized Deal with issues as they arise Procrastinate, put off decisions Be more playful, casual, unconventional Keep their lives as flexible as possible Find rules and structure confining, limiting

Do You Prefer Judging or Perceiving? Examples: - Meet for dinner - End of class - Plans for Friday night

There are 16 possibilities. Look at your notes, think about the information you have just received and determine what you think is your four-letter type.

Guidelines for Using Type Wisely Type is about preferences; people can still make choices about behavior. Some tasks will be more natural for some types than others, but all types can learn skills in their non-preferred areas. Doing things in non-preferred areas will likely take more energy, but these tasks do become easier with practice. Type is most useful when we use it to understand ourselves and our impact on others, to maximize our strengths, and to minimize our weaknesses.

USING MBTI INFORMATION IN MAKING CAREER DECISIONS Find a job where your natural preferences will be an asset. Doing what you enjoy doing, what you naturally do very well, will give you the extra edge to top performance!

Type in the Workplace*

Learn More About Your MBTI Preferences http://www.personalitypage.com/careers.html http://typelogic.com/ http://similarminds.com/ http://www.mypersonality.info/