Careers
Self Evaluation
Careers
Now You Know:
Using the Skills, Values, and Interests Tools
You have just prioritized what are perhaps the most important aspects of any job and the factors that determine your satisfaction with your work. These tools provide a synopsis of the characteristics you should look for in job advertisements and informational and job interviews. You have decided that there are certain skills, values, and interests that must be met in the workplace and others that are negotiable. You have also indicated some skills you would like to develop. Now, when you look for employment you can use this list to screen employment opportunities and to direct your search.
You can also use what you have learned in these exercises in interviews to talk about those skills you wish to use and the level of development of each. If all of the skills you wish to use are not well developed, you may need to consider methods for developing these skills before an employer will hire you to use them as the primary part of your practice. These skills may be honed through continuing education programs, training institutes, professional organizations, etc.
You can also formulate questions for potential employers based on the skills, values, and interests that must be present for you to be fulfilled by a job. Use those questions to evaluate the job, agency, supervision, benefits, etc., to determine if they meet your standards. Knowing what you need is empowering because it allows you to interview the potential employer.
The exercise regarding personal qualities is yet another step toward self-evaluation and understanding. Standardized personality tests (such as the Myer's Briggs Personality Inventory) or skills inventories (e.g., the Strong Interest Inventory) are also available for a reasonable fee through the Boston University Office of Career Services. Having completed a comprehensive self-evaluation process will allow you to convince the employer that you have done the introspection to know what you can do well, what you have yet to learn, what is important to you, and how you will fit into the organization.
If, after completing the process, you are still unsure about the kind of social work you want to practice, you may wish to contact the Boston University Office of Career Services at 19 Deerfield Street (Kenmore Square), 617-353-3590. Terry Brown is the Career Counselor there who has previous social work experience.
