 Step One Assess:
|
- Identify Assets, Deficits
- Prepare Portfolio
- Develop Résumé
- Target Specific Jobs
|
Job hunting begins with an assessment. You have to know what type of job
you want before you can find it. And you have to assess yourself and your
situation to know what job you want.
It's like an inventory that a business takes. You see what you've got, what
you need, what works and what doesn't. Instead of widgets, though, you're
examining your skills, knowledge, abilities, interests, needs and character.
Self-assessment can be done in many ways. First, you can do exercises, such
as those on the following pages. You also can take formal tests or use computer
programs that match your qualifications with specific jobs.
Next, create your career portfolio and your
résumé. Both require you to assess
your history; list your achievements, experience and education; and to compile
evidence or examples of each. This process will help you better understand
the type of work you can do best. In addition, you'll get a head start on
preparing for future interviews.
By the time you complete Step One, you will know what jobs interest you.
You will also realize what you can offer employers and what skills, knowledge
and experience you may need to gain.
Only then can you move on to Step Two and prepare for the hunt!
|
Labor Market and Career Information, a department of the Texas Workforce Commission,
offers many free or inexpensive products to help you do your career
self assessment. Here are a few examples:
Texas
CARES is a career exploration software program that offers a
wealth of Texas-specific occupational and educational information. It
also provides a number of assessments that allow you to view occupations
that match your interests and needs.
OSCAR
has much of the same information as Texas CARES but it focuses
on translating skills for workers who are changing jobs and / or careers.
The Parent's Guide is an informative handbook for parents and
students, describing the worlds of work and education. It even includes
a special copy of Texas CARES.
You can use another product, the Career
Success newspaper, to quickly and easily assess yourself. Just
read the hundreds of job descriptions it lists and identify ten that
interest you. Then explore those ten further.
For more information or to place an order, visit www.lmci.state.tx.us
or call 1-800-822-PLAN. Also, check with your local high school,
community college or One Stop Workforce center; they may provide free
access to Texas CARES or OSCAR.
|
|
