Assess interests, strengths and skills.

What do you like to do? This will greatly influence your career choice and the necessary skills or training required. Aim for a career that piques your interest, builds on your strengths and elevates your skills.

Interests and Strengths

Interests are the things you like to do, which may differ from what you’ve learned through education or training. Strengths are things you are good at.

Sample Strengths

  • Organizing and coordinating
  • Demonstrating efficiency and resourcefulness
  • Planning
  • Instructing
  • Negotiating
  • Motivating
  • Working in teams
  • Communicating

For example, if you like to build things in your spare time, you could combine your interest in design and your strength in organizing by pursuing a career in architecture. But, you may need to learn additional skills related to construction or physics.

Also consider your everyday activities. Which of your courses are most appealing to you? What have you excelled at in your studies? What about your hobbies and pastimes? What qualities do others notice in you? Has anyone ever told you that you have extreme patience or that you are good at planning?

Use the CareerOneStop Interest Assessment Links to an external site. from the U.S. Department of Labor to reflect on your interests and strengths while shaping your career plans. The University of Kent Links to an external site. also offers a free online test matching your strengths to appropriate occupations.

Highlighting Your Skills

Employers look for candidates who bring some skills with them on Day 1. Of course, some skills will be learned on the job, but it makes sense to look for work that builds on training and experience you already have. Match your skills to occupations and their respective pay levels at the CareerOneStop Skills Matcher Links to an external site..

Short on basic professional skills? Consider a work-study program at your school. Working with faculty, staff and other students establishes fundamental skills in organization, responsibility, customer service and leadership.

 

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