Step 1: Self Awareness

5 Steps in Successful Career Planning

Self-Awareness Know yourself, your preferences, needs, desires

Career Awareness Know what careers are available and what they involve

Career Immersion Engage in specific career-related learning and activities

Evaluation and Decision Making Review your options and make informed decisions

Planning Know yourself, your preferences, needs, desires

Do you really know yourself? Did you know that research suggests that many people put more time and research into buying an automobile than they do into selecting a career path? There are many factors to consider when trying to decide on your career path. However, the first step in this process is to know yourself.

Many people believe that the focus of self-assessment is primarily on interests and skills, but knowing your interests and skills are not enough. Things that interest us don’t necessarily make the best careers. Interests are also influenced by opportunity and exposure and may be related to what you are familiar and comfortable with. While interests and skills are important, they are only part of the picture. You must also gather information about other key factors such as:

• Your Personality Type

• Work Environment Preferences

• Work and Personal Values

• Competencies (strengths/weaknesses)

• Learning Style Preferences

• Lifestyle Preferences

• Needs

• Academic Strengths

Some Key Assessment Instruments:

Personality Assessment tools:

• The MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) - Jungian Type preferences
• TYPEFOCUS - Jungian Type preferences

Interest and Skills Inventories:

• The Strong Interest Inventory
• Career-Leader (for business career options)
• Canada Career Explorations - www.jobsetc.ca

The goal of the self-assessment process is to broaden your awareness of yourself and your options. Numerous tools and strategies exist to help you generate your personal career profile. It is important to not rely fully on any single tool during this process! In addition to various inventories and assessments, the Career Centre offers Career Development Workshops and appointments with professional career consultants to assist you in assessing and interpreting your career profile.

As part of your self-awareness journey, it will be important to talk to others to assist you in interpreting your assessment results so you can see your results from different perspectives. At times we all come to see ourselves in certain ways. Sometimes this is a function of what we must become or could become and not truly based on who we are or could be. Consider not only your own views or those of career professionals. Ask your friends, family, colleagues and supervisors questions about your skills, strengths and weaknesses. Do not ask vague questions. Ask about specific qualities. For example, ask if you are good at ‘x’ or ask what you did well during a specific project or task. Learn what others think about your abilities, skills, interests, preferences.

When considering career possibilities, remember to seriously think about your abilities, not your limitations. Understanding your strengths, abilities and talents are important when brainstorming career options, choosing your career direction and knowing what you need to succeed in your chosen career.

Summarize Key Information:


(Information can be gathered using resources at the Career Centre or on the Internet - click here)

You should also assess your current tolerance for risk. This might depend on finances, family, need for security, recent changes and more.


Just because you ‘can’ do something and even do it well does not necessarily mean that is what you would be happy doing. Contact the Career Centre to learn more about doing the self-awareness process or to arrange a meeting with someone to assist you. Do remember that self awareness is a journey and not a destination.