Self-Assessment Resources

Studies show that people are more successful and satisfied in jobs and career fields consistent with their skills, values, interests, and personality traits. Gathering information about these qualities is called self-assessment. See a counselor to discuss your background and preferences--you may decide that formal assessments would help you narrow your career focus: 

• Self-Assessment - Who Am I?
  Take a look inward and identify your interests, personality traits, values, and skills through a variety of activities.
• Action - How Do I Get What I Want?
  Develop a set of goals to put your plan into action and then follow your plan to achieve short-term, mid-range and long-term goals.
• Career Exploration / Occupational Research - What’s Out There?
  Learn about different career options through internet research, networking and informational interviewing, job shadowing and volunteer work.
• Decision-Making - What Do I Want?
  Bring together your knowledge of self (from self-assessment) and your knowledge of the occupation to decide on a career pathway to pursue.

Assessments Offered Through Each Campus Counseling/Career Services:

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) a personality inventory with a wide range of applicability, including career choice.

Strong Interest Inventory - a career assessment instrument based on work related interests.

With authorization from a counselor, MBTI and Strong assessments can be purchased for a reasonable fee. Most assessments will require one or more follow-up sessions with a career counselor.

Kuder Planner - complete online career information delivery system with interest, values, and skills and transferable skills assessment components. Also includes extensive occupational, school and financial aid information databases. Visit your local NOVA Counseling Center for password information.
Several career-related self-assessments are also available on the Internet. Below is a sampling:

Personality Types:

• Personality Pathways - Offers a Cognitive Style Inventory based on the MBTI.
• Humanmetrics - This Jung Typology Test is a free assessment based on the MBTI.
• The Keirsey Character Sorter - an online personality inventory based on the MBTI. Site includes extensive information on type theory and its application to career and life choices. Click button at top of page for the assessment.
• TypeFocus™ - Provides an opportunity for individuals to complete the TypeFocus™ Personality Profile, which is a short version of the MBTI. Click on “Free Assessment” button at top of page.
• Personality Page - Offers a fee-based ($5.00) personality assessment similar to the MBTI and links personality type to careers (www.personalitypage.com/careers.html).
• Type Logic - Provides background information and profiles of the 16 MBTI types.

Interests:

• Career Interests Game (University of Missouri) - A quick assessment to help you match your interests with similar careers.
• Interest Themes (George Mason University)) - An interest checklist that relates your preferred interest themes to careers and majors.
• Holland Code Quiz (Rogue Community College)- Ashort assessment based on Holland’s theory of occupational themes. Results match you to selected majors and careers.
• Career Ship-Mapping Your Future - Provides a brief interest assessment and information regarding careers relating to interest themes.
• Career Cluster Interest Survey - An assessment that links your interests to 16 broad career clusters/areas.
• Career Clusters - Offers background information on the 16 career clusters/areas and skills profiles.
• Career Clusters in Virginia - Provides additional background information and pathway plans of study in conjunction with 16 career clusters/areas.

Values:

• Work & Personal Values (George Mason University) - Checklist to assist with ranking your preferred work conditions, purposes, and relationships and personal values.
• Work Values - Provides a values checklist/assessment.

Skills:

• STEPS Skills Model (Arizona State University) - Provides a skills inventory.
• Know Yourself Skills (George Mason University) - Inventories designed to help you determine transferable, content, and self-management skills.

Combination of the Above:

• Career Key - Offers assessments to help determine career and major interests and skills.