Understand Yourself

Understanding Yourself

Before you start exploring different career options, it's important to understand your own interests, values, skills, and personality traits. This can help you identify potential careers that align with your strengths and preferences. 

Things that you enjoy doing or are naturally drawn to. Reflect on your courses, student organizations, volunteer activities, and hobbies. What do you enjoy working with?

  • People: instructing, teaching, facilitating…
  • Data and Information: analyzing, categorizing, computing…
  • Things: manufacturing, operating, testing…
  • Ideas: designing, conceptualizing, synthesizing…

Find Your Interests through Holland Code

Holland Code Theory is a framework to categorize interests and personalities. Each Holland Code is associated with certain skills, preferences, and work environments. You will learn about potential career paths that align with your strengths and interests.

 

Assess your career interests via O*Net Interest Profiler to get your Holland Code!

 

 

Skills

Reflect on your experiences, what skills have you acquired? Apart from the technical skills, do not forget about your interpersonal skills! 

Technical Skills
Interpersonal Skills
  • Programming languages
  • Software proficiency
  • Lab technique
  • Operating systems
  • Technical writing
  • Project management
  • Data analysis
  • Career & Self Development
  • Communication
  • Critical Thinking
  • Equity & Inclusion
  • Professionalism
  • Teamwork
  • Technology
  • Read more

 

Strengths

Think about all the things you're good at, no matter how small or insignificant they might seem. This could include skills, talents, personal qualities, or achievements.

Create Your Top 10 Reasons to Hire Me List

  1. Identify 10 reasons why you think you would be a valuable addition to the team

  2. Use the categories provided in the table to organize your reasons

  3. Provide specific evidence to support each of your reasons

  4. Prioritize your top 10 reasons in order of importance. 

  5. Use the information in the table to write a summary of your top 10 reasons to hire you. This summary can be used in your cover letter or interview to showcase why you're the best candidate for the job.

Category Reasons to Hire Me! Supporting Evidence
Career interest & choice of college major e.g. Passion in this field  
Specific courses that support career goals e.g. Relevant knowledge learned through a course  
Personality characteristics e.g. An easygoing team player
Skills e.g. Programming skills such as Python  
Work ethic strengths e.g. Self-discipline  
Professional development activities e.g. Internship experience in this profession  

Clifton Strengths

Clifton Strengths is a strengths-based approach to personal development that emphasizes identifying and leveraging one's unique strengths to achieve success and fulfillment in life. The Clifton Strengths Finder assessment is a popular tool used to identify an individual's top five strengths out of a list of 34 themes, providing a framework for personal and professional growth.

Take a free Clifton Strengths Assessment

In terms of job satisfaction, what matters to you most? What are the most important things you look for in a job?

  • Job security
  • Financial income
  • Intellectual challenge
  • Working independently/with a team
  • Recognition
  • Professional status
  • Opportunity for advancement

Learn more about your work values through Value Cards Exercise

Next Steps?

Schedule an Appointment

Discuss your concerns, questions, or findings with a career advisor.

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Know Your Options

Learn about what options are available in the job market based on your interests.

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Take Actions

Create your action plans to further explore your career decisions or work towards your goals.

Start Here →