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   Milepost 4:   My Work Skills Assessment

At this stop, let's identify your work skills!

Suppose you were to volunteer for one of these assignments -- organizing the meeting, publicizing the meeting, speaking at the meeting, or setting up equipment for the meeting -- which one would you choose?  You're likely to choose the task that best capitalizes on your skills and abilities, and provides you with the most opportunity for success -- and enjoyment.  In other words, you're likely to choose the assignment that makes you most comfortable.

Similarly, when it comes to selecting a career, you want to choose a career that comprises job duties and tasks that capitalize on your skills and abilities (strengths), provides you maximum opportunities for success, and makes you comfortable -- and happy.  This will require your becoming familiar with a career's job duties and tasks, and analyzing, realistically, your skills and abilities.

You need to be able to knowledgeably answer these questions:

The following assessment will help you identify your skills and abilities (strengths).  In a later exercise, you'll be able to compare your skills and abilities with careers of possible interest!

________________________________________

My Work Skills Assessment

The following assessment is divided into three skill categories:  
A)  working with information,  B)  working with people, and  C)  working with things.

In each category, place a check ( ) next to those skills you do well.

A.   Working with Data (Information)

1.     ___  Synthesizing (putting information together)

                  I'm good at:

                  ____   Problem-solving
                  ____   Imagining, visualizing
                  ____   Inventing, creating
                  ____   Designing, developing
                  ____   Creating -  images, shapes
                  ____   Creating -  words, music
                  ____   Dealing with colors
                  ____   Visualizing in third-dimension  (making drawings, models, blueprints)
                  ____   Experimenting, improvising
                  ____   Forecasting, using foresight  (planning ahead)
                  ____   Perceiving intuitively  (figuring out and sizing up a complex situation)
                  ____   Relating abstract ideas
                  ____   Operating in an unstructured environment  (doing things with few 
                              instructions)
                  ____   Writing papers and reports

2.     ____ Coordinating

                   I'm good at:

                   ____ Reviewing, evaluating things
                   ____ Organizing my time
                   ____ Initiating projects and tasks on my own
                   ____ Self-direction  (deciding and doing things without help)
                   ____ Risk-taking
                   ____ Decision-making
                   ____ Policy-making
                   ____ Trouble-shooting, figuring out problems
                   ____ Leading, motivating others
                   ____ Promoting change
                   ____ Developing, planning materials
                   ____ Setting goals, achieving goals

3.     ____ Analyzing

                  I'm good at:

                  ____ Analyzing things, ideas, and data
                  ____ Diagnosing problems
                  ____ Systematizing  (creating systems for doing things)
                  ____ Separating important from unimportant
                  ____ Recognizing need for more information
                  ____ Finding ways to speed up a job
                  ____ Reading for information
                  ____ Editing written work
                  ____ Translating, interpreting what something means
                  ____ Counseling, guiding
                  ____ Analyzing costs
                  ____ Working within a budget

4.    ____ Compiling

                  I'm good at:

                  ____ Gathering information
                  ____ Inspecting, checking things
                  ____ Testing and screening things to be sure they are suitable
                  ____ Reporting information accurately
                  ____ Organizing, classifying information
                  ____ Exploring, discovering new things
                  ____ Memorizing facts
                  ____ Memorizing designs, faces
                  ____ Memorizing names, places
                  ____ Memorizing numbers
                  ____ Musical knowledge
                  ____ Using visual communication
                  ____ Layout of design, designing
                  ____ Expressing myself clearly
                  ____ Listening
                  ____ Describing, defining
                  ____ Interpersonal communications, communicating with others
                  ____ Working with accuracy
                  ____ Developing a budget plan
                  ____ Bookkeeping

5.     ____ Computing

                  I'm good at:

                  ____ Computing numbers
                  ____ Mathematical problem-solving
                  ____ Managing money
                  ____ Making change
                  ____ Counting money
                  ____ Counting items

6.     ____ Copying

                  I'm good at:

                  ____ Copying, recording
                  ____ Taking inventory
                  ____ Keeping financial records
                  ____ Tolerating repetition and routine
                  ____ Doing word processing or data entry on a computer

7.     ____ Comparing

                  I'm good at:

                  ____ Paying attention to details
                  ____ Comparing things, recognizing similarities
                  ____ Observing, surveying
                  ____ Examining, inspecting
                  ____ Diagnosing, determining if something is right or wrong
                  ____ Matching colors and textures
                  ____ Proofreading, recognizing errors
                  ____ Filing, classifying, retrieving information

B.   Working with People

1.     ____ Mentoring

                  I'm good at:

                  ____ Raising others' self-esteem
                  ____ Providing support, encouragement
                  ____ Counseling, advising
                  ____ Healing, curing
                  ____ Developing rapport  (good relationships)
                  ____ Drawing out people  (getting people to communicate)

2.     ____ Negotiating

                  I'm good at:

                  ____ Representing others, speaking for others
                  ____ Accepting different opinions
                  ____ Recruiting others
                  ____ Mediating, resolving conflicts or disputes
                  ____ Negotiating, debating
                  ____ Risk-taking
                  ____ Promoting change
                  ____ Decision-making
                  ____ Persevering, keeping at a task no matter the obstacles
                  ____ Confronting others with difficult matters
                  ____ Sharing credit for work done
                  ____ Showing appreciation for others' work

3.     ____ Instructing

                  I'm good at:

                  ____ Teaching others
                  ____ Coaching others
                  ____ Leading discussions
                  ____ Presenting information to a group

4.     ____ Supervising

                  I'm good at:

                  ____ Initiating projects, starting projects and tasks on my own
                  ____ Leading, motivating others
                  ____ Directing others
                  ____ Reviewing, evaluating others' work and performance
                  ____ Organizing people
                  ____ Organizing tasks

5.     ____ Entertaining

                  I'm good at:

                  ____ Creative writing
                  ____ Composing
                  ____ Acting
                  ____ Dancing
                  ____ Singing
                  ____ Playing an instrument
                  ____ Directing
                  ____ Modeling, demonstrating
                  ____ Public speaking
                  ____ Public performing
                  ____ Public sports
                  ____ Conducting public events
                  ____ Using a sense of humor, telling jokes

6.     ____ Persuading

                  I'm good at:

                  ____ Initiating relationships, starting conversations
                  ____ Developing rapport, trust
                  ____ Promoting, selling things
                  ____ Promoting, selling ideas
                  ____ Relating to many kinds of people
                  ____ Advertising, publicity

7.     ____ Speaking

                 I'm good at:

                 ____ Expressing myself clearly
                 ____ Describing, defining things clearly
                 ____ Using visual communication
                 ____ Talking, speaking
                 ____ Applying good interpersonal communication skills
                 ____ Making presentations
                 ____ Speaking to a group of people

8.    ____ Serving

                 I'm good at:

                 ____ Caring for others
                 ____ Providing pleasant surroundings for others
                 ____ Helping other people
                 ____ Caring for animals

C.   Working with Things 

1.    ____ Precision Working

                 I'm good at:

                 ____ Shaping things with my hands
                 ____ Working with shapes, spaces
                 ____ Drafting, designing
                 ____ Illustrating, drawing
                 ____ Layout, paste-up
                 ____ Playing a musical instrument
                 ____ Speed precision working
                 ____ Finger dexterity, doing fine work with my fingers

2.    ____ Operating Equipment

                 I'm good at:

                 ____ Operating machines   
                 ____ Operating electronic equipment  (computers, calculators, VCRs)
                 ____ Operating power tools
                 ____ Operating hand tools
                 ____ Keyboarding on a computer

3.   ____ Driving Equipment

                 I'm good at:

                 ____ Operating and driving equipment
                           ___ Car
                           ___ Truck
                           ___ Tractor
                           ___ Forklift
                           ___ Boat
                           ___ Motorcycle

4.    ____ Manipulating Things

                 I'm good at:

                 ____ Assembling things
                 ____ Constructing, building things
                 ____ Fixing, repairing things
                 ____ Sports, physical coordination
                 ____ Hiking, camping, outdoor activities
                 ____ Cooking
                 ____ Cleaning
                 ____ Growing plants, caring for plants

5.    ____ Handling Things

                 I'm good at:

                 ____ Obtaining materials and items needed
                 ____ Filing, retrieving files
                 ____ Lifting, pulling, pushing, balancing
                 ____ Sorting items

You're done!

Now, let's summarize your results below.

My Work Skills Profile

Summarize your results by placing a check ( ) next to those skills you do well.  These are your strengths!

I'm good at:

1.     ____ Working with Data (Information)

                   ____ Synthesizing information
                   ____ Coordinating
                   ____ Analyzing
                   ____ Compiling
                   ____ Computing
                   ____ Copying
                   ____ Comparing

2.     ____ Working with People

                   ____ Mentoring
                   ____ Negotiating
                   ____ Instructing
                   ____ Supervising
                   ____ Entertaining
                   ____ Persuading
                   ____ Speaking
                   ____ Serving

3.     ____ Working with Things

                  ____ Precision working
                  ____ Operating equipment
                  ____ Driving equipment
                  ____ Manipulating things
                  ____ Handling things

Save these results for the final Assessment Summary!

Now, let's head back to the Assessment Contents Page and move on to Milepost 5!

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