The Easy 10 Step Job Hunting Guide

by James C. Gonyea

STEP 2 - CONDUCT A SELF-ASSESSMENT

As stated in Step 1, the key to landing a rewarding job is to first clearly define your employment value. Your employment value is your talent and what you can do with it to help an employer. By first knowing your employment value, you can then more easily determine where to look for employment.

Job hunters typically describe their talent in terms of a job title that represents the type of work they would like to secure. Their strategy is simple: the job hunter tells the employer what job he is interested in securing and then the employer determines whether he has a need for such talent. Using job titles to describe your talent is sometimes risky business as they usually do not describe the depth or breath of your talent and, therefore, can sell you short. Also, a complete description of your talent may only be possible by the use of several job titles - meaning that you can do several different things equally well. In spite of these limitations, the use of job titles is the common method of selling one's talent. As a result, let's examine how you can best capitalize on this strategy.

To determine which job title or titles best define your talent, answer the following four questions about yourself:

1. What activities do I find most enjoyable? (Interests)

2. What tasks can I do well? (Skills)

3. What factors in life are most important to me? (Values)

4. What are the typical ways in which I behave - my “modus operandi,” especially how I behave when carrying out work assignments? (Behavioral Traits)

When combined, these factors are usually referred to as your “personality style.” Defining your personality style can be done through various means, such as:

• Self-Assessment - This strategy can be accomplished by sitting quietly and “searching your soul” and then by defining each factor based upon what you know about yourself.

• Peer-Assessment - This strategy involves asking other people (who know you well) to describe each factor based upon what they know about you.

• Self-Help Materials - With this strategy, you typically use a career guidance book to help you define each factor. Many good books exists that can help you better understand your personality. Personally, I recommend “What Color Is Your Parachute?” by Richard Bolles. See our Career Bookstore to purchase a copy.

• Testing - This strategy involves the use of a series of standardized tests and inventories designed to help you identify your personality factors. Some testing services can be found on the Internet, including our own Career Focus 2000 Interest Inventory. Also, most colleges and universities, private career counseling services, and many public employment services offer testing services.

• Professional Counseling - With this strategy you employ the services of a professional career counselor who through analysis attempts to help you define your personality factors.

Please note that the more options you use, the better the picture will be of your personality style.

Directions for completing this step:

Using as many of the above 5 options as possible, answer each of the following questions about yourself. Record your answers on paper.

1. What are my interests? What activities do I most enjoy doing?

2. What are my skills?  What tasks am I most skilled at completing?

3. What are my values?  What factors in life are most important to me?

4. What are my behavioral traits?  What behavior best describes how I operate when working?

Do not write a novel for each question, just try to list several items for each. When you have completed this step, move on to Step 3.

© 2001 James C. Gonyea.  All Rights Reserved
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