Career Development and Employment Centre

Step 1 - Do a Self-Assessment

Why?

• It is the critical first step in generating occupational and educational possibilities
• It helps build self-confidence
• It prepares you to effectively communicate your qualifications on paper (e.g. cover letter, resume, and portfolio) and in person (interview, cold calls)
• It provides a basis for evaluating educational and employment opportunities.

What is involved?

Ask yourself questions such as:

• Interests - what do you enjoy doing?
• Skills and abilities - what are you good at?
• Personal characteristics - what are you like as a person?
• Work values - what makes what you do worth while?
• Preferred working conditions - what are the conditions under which you do your best work?
• Preferred people environment - what types of people do you want to work with?
• Material assets - what career related equipment or materials do you possess?
• Lifestyle needs and goals - what kind of lifestyle do you want to maintain or achieve?

How can I do it?

There are many approaches to self-assessment ranging from those that are highly structured (e.g. standardized tests, checklists, inventories) to those that are more creative and intuitive. Most career planning and job search publications contain a variety of self-assessment exercises.

As well, there are numerous websites devoted to this aspect of career decision - making some of which we have listed under Explore Other Resources

Talking with people who know you well is often a starting point as they can give you valuable feedback about your attributes.

How Can We Help?

We offer a number of programs, services and resources to assist Ryerson students and alumni in conducting their self-assessment.

• Workshops
  1. Essential Employability Skills
     
  2. Career Explorations
     
  3. What Are My Options
     
  4. Workplace Culture
  5. Building Your Portfolio
     
• Individual Career and employment counselling
• Career Resource Centre (POD60A) which houses a wide collection of materials related to career planning.