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Self-Assessment Guide - FINAL

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17 views

Self-Assessment Guide - FINAL

Uploaded by

2swgvpmmw7
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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YOUR VALUES

Whether you realize it or not, every time you make a choice about doing one thing as opposed to another, you make
a value decision. When you have a decision that involves two or more conflicting values that are of major
importance to you, the decision can be extremely difficult to make (e.g., career values may conflict with family and
friendship values). You can, however, make these decisions more effectively if you have some idea of what your
most important values are and the priority that you give to each. If you can bring your actions more into harmony
with your values, you will feel more satisfied with the decisions you make, including career decisions. Many people
find that the most satisfying and meaningful work is highly compatible with their values.

DO 
VALUES ASSESSMENT
The following exercises will help you to understand which work and personal values are important to you, and
what priorities you give to them. Because some of our influences change throughout our lives, our values are
bound to change as well. What you highly value now may become less of a priority later so it’s important
to reflect on your values frequently throughout your life.

PART I: WORK VALUES


Rate each work value using the following scale:
1 = very important to have in my work
2 = somewhat important to have in my work
3 = unimportant to have in my work

I WANT WORK CONDITIONS THAT PERMIT OR REQUIRE THE FOLLOWING:


__ Independence/Autonomy: Doing what you want to do without much direction from others.
__ Time flexibility: Arranging your own hours, working according to your own time schedule.
__ Change/Variety: Performing varying tasks in a number of different settings.
__ Change/Risk: Performing new tasks or leading new programs that challenge the established order and may
be initially resisted.
__ Stability/Security: Working in a secure job that pays you reasonably well.
__ Physical challenge: Performing dangerous tasks that challenge your physical capabilities.
__ Physical demands: Performing physically strenuous but relatively safe activities.
__ Mental challenge: Performing demanding tasks that challenge your intelligence and creativity.
__ Pressure: Performing in a highly critical environment with constant deadlines.
__ Precise work: Performing prescribed tasks that leave little room for error.
__ Decision making: Making choices about what to do and how to do it.

Loeb Center for Career Exploration and Planning, College Hall • (P) 413.542.2265 • [email protected] 9
DO 
I WANT TO WORK FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES:
__ To pursue truth/knowledge.
__ To acquire expertise/authority.
__ To use creativity/innovativeness.
__ To foster aesthetic appreciation.
__ To make social contributions.
__ To acquire material gain.
__ To seek recognition.
__ To promote ethics/morality.
__ To seek spiritual/transpersonal gain.

I WANT MY RELATIONSHIPS AT WORK TO INVOLVE THE FOLLOWING:


__ Working alone doing assignments by yourself, with minimal contact with other people.
__ Public contact interacting in predictable ways with a continuous flow of people.
__ Developing close friendships with coworkers.
__ Group membership belonging to a group with a common purpose and/or interest.
__ Helping others
__ Influencing others
__ Supervising others
__ Controlling others

LIST YOUR THREE MOST IMPORTANT WORK VALUES IN EACH OF THE THREE CATEGORIES.

WORK CONDITIONS WORK PURPOSES WORK RELATIONSHIPS

1. 1. 1.

2. 2. 2.

3. 3. 3.

Loeb Center for Career Exploration and Planning, College Hall • (P) 413.542.2265 • [email protected] 10
DO 
PART II: PERSONAL VALUES
Rank your top five values, with #1 being the most important to you. Then put an “X” next to the
five values that are least important to you.

__ Good Health __ To be remembered for my accomplishments


__ Many close friendships __ Helping those in distress
__ A large family __ Freedom to live where I wish
__ A fulfilling career __ Time to myself
__ A stable marriage __ Enjoyment of arts, entertainment, and cultural
__ A financially comfortable life activities
__ Independence __ A life with many challenges
__ Creativity __ A life with many changes
__ Participating in an organized religion __ Opportunity to be a leader
__ Having children __ To make a major discovery that would save lives
__ A variety of interests and activities __ A good physical appearance
__ Freedom to create my own lifestyle __ Opportunity to establish roots in one place
__ Owning a house __ Opportunity for physical activities
__ A happy love relationship __ An exciting life
__ Fulfilling careers for me and my spouse __ A chance to get into politics
__ Contributing to my community __ To live according to strong moral values
__ Abundance of leisure time __ Opportunity to teach others
__ Ability to move from place to place __ To write something memorable
__ A stable life __ A chance to become famous
__ A life without stress __ To help others solve problems
__ Strong religious values __ To make lots of money
__ A chance to make social changes

Loeb Center for Career Exploration and Planning, College Hall • (P) 413.542.2265 • [email protected] 11
DO 
LIST FIVE OF YOUR MOST IMPORTANT PERSONAL VALUES.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Adapted for use from Training for Life: A Practical Guide to Career and Life Planning, Fifth
Edition (1994), with permission from the authors, Bernadette M. Black and Fred J. Hecklinger.

REFLECT 
1. What was the process of deciding like for you? Was this easy or difficult?

2. Our values change throughout our lifetime, but what observations can you make about your values
right now?

3. How important is it to you to live out your personal values in your work life?

4. How have your most important personal values impacted your life choices thus far?

5. How do you think your most important work and personal values will affect your career choice(s)?

Loeb Center for Career Exploration and Planning, College Hall • (P) 413.542.2265 • [email protected] 12

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