PLANNING: SELF-ASSESSMENT

Knowing your interests, values, skills and abilities and understanding their relationship to specific jobs on campus is a critical first step in your career development.

Where do I start?

• Attend an Introduction to Career Planning workshop. These workshops will help you identify components of career development at Berkeley and help you clarify your particular career development needs. You will also learn about career services and resources available to staff. To register for this introductory workshop, visit the Interactive Course Enrollment System (ICE).

I'm not sure what I like….? What does my personality have to do with choosing a satisfying career?

• The first step in career planning on campus involves self assessment or learning more about yourself - your likes, values, skills and personal preferences. Engaging in self-assessment exercises can help you identify and understand aspects of your personality that are important to your career satisfaction. People who are in jobs that are interesting to them tend to like their work, are more productive on the job, and are more motivated to develop their career skills!
• Attend one or all of the assessment workshops offered: Strong Interest Inventory Workshop, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Workshop, Values Assessment Workshop, Skills Assessment Workshop, and Taking Action and Moving Forward in Your Career Workshop. Participating in workshops is often a great way to begin career planning at Berkeley. By attending workshops you can gain self-awareness, start networking with colleagues, and learn effective career skills and strategies that will help you work towards your career goals on campus. To read a description of each workshop and to register visit ICE.
• Visit the Career Counseling Library and sign up for Eureka, a self-directed computerized assessment and information tool which contains questionnaires to help you match your personality, skills and preferences to general careers that may be right for you. The online system also provides a wealth of career information including job descriptions, salary, outlook, skills required, training needed, and professional associations. Once you identify occupations of interest, you can look for similar jobs on campus using eRecruit. Register for a Eureka account at the Library to access the web-based program on or off-campus.
• Visit ONET and the Occupational Outlook Handbook, free career information system which provides comprehensive information on key attributes and characteristics of workers and occupations. ONET contains a Skills Search function designed to help you assess your skills and identify occupations that match your particular skill set. The site also allows you to search for occupations based on work activities, interests and values. Once you identify occupations of interest, you can look for similar jobs on campus using eRecruit.
• Visit The Career Place for additional suggestions on self-exploration tools.
• Meet individually with a career counselor. Career Counseling is recommended if you are unable to attend the workshops or when the career workshops and resources do not adequately meet your career development needs. Assessments are often used in the counseling process to identify your interests, values, skills, and personality preferences and to help you use this information in charting a career path and addressing potential obstacles to your career development at UC.

I feel stuck…is there anyone who can help me?

• Career counseling is available! Meeting with a career counselor at Counseling and Psychological Services is recommended if you are unable to attend the workshops or when the career workshops and resources are not adequately addressing your career development needs. Counseling can help you:
  • Identify your interests, values, skills and personality preferences and gain an understanding of how these factors relate to career choice and satisfaction on campus.
  • Connect with information resources that can assist you in evaluating career opportunities at UC-Berkeley.
  • Recognize and address obstacles to career development (e.g., maintaining confidence while making career decisions, establishing healthy work/life balance, managing change in work role).
  • The counseling process often leads to personal insights and growth, as well as goals to help you maximize the resources and opportunities available to you at UC Berkeley. Visit Career Counseling Program for Staff for more information about the career program and how to apply.