INTERESTS + ABILITIES + VALUES = CAREER

Let's explore them in turn...

Activities That INTEREST You

This may seem pretty obvious, but sometimes the most obvious things go unrecognized. To help you identify some interests look to the following clues:

What college courses have been enjoyable?
Which high school subjects were the most pleasant?
What reading material do you gravitate to? For example, do you find yourself immersed in health and fitness topics? Articles of a political nature? Self-help books? Historical fiction?
What are your hobbies?

Things You're Good At (Abilities)

When selecting a career it is important to choose something that you can do well in. For many of us, there is an overlap between the things that interest us and the abilities that we have or the skills we are good at. Having this overlap can make the decision of selecting a major easier.

Things That Are Important to You (Values)

One of the most important things to know about yourself in relation to a job is what you would like to personally get from your job. Your jobs will be a place that you go to and an activity that you will do most everyday of your life. It is therefore important to be certain that you are getting something back from your job. For instance, is the job providing you with a sense of competence; does the job provide you with the sense of security that you need; does the job allow you to contribute to society the way that you feel you must; is this job challenging enough for you. These are job values.

Click here for Free Assessments to help get you started

Interests + Abilities + Values = Career

Theoretically, the combination of the above three factors can lead you to a satisfying job/career. The best ways to discover whether or not your specific factors match characteristics of a job are to do research about the job or jobs you are considering.

There are two easy ways to do this research: Perform informational interviews and research jobs and job groups on the O*Net and the Occupational Outlook Handbook.

What if I am really stuck?!
If, like many students, you are still unsure about your career direction, we recommend making an appointment to see a career counselor in the PEP office. Our counselors will explore career options and help to develop personal career goals with you.
Click here for a complete list of PEP services, office hours and contact information.