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Alumni

Career Inventories and Tests

The foundation of sound career decision making at any stage of life is an understanding of skills, interests, values and personality traits and how they relate to the work world. Such an understanding facilitates choices and decisions regarding more education, short term experiences to be sought out, and whether to pursue employment or further formal education. We use assessment instruments to help alumni to understand their own personal foundation and to make better career decisions.

At our consultants' disposal are numerous counseling tools to facilitate self-assessment. Such tools provide the undecided alumnus/a with structured methods to examine important personal building blocks for career exploration. They may also suggest possible career fields for exploration based on personal profiles resulting from such assessment. CHOICES has an extensive occupational information database which can further the understanding of specific career fields.

Each of the following inventories are available for alumni on an individual basis:

World of Work Inventory (WOWI) is a comprehensive career/vocational assessment instrument to help individuals learn more about themselves in relation to the variety of available occupations. The inventory helps individuals explore occupational choices which are compatible with their interests, temperaments and aptitudes. The WOWI can be used for: career exploration; career decision-making; job placement; education and training and personnel selection.

Campbell Interest and Skills Survey (CISS) is a survey of self-reported interests and skills. The results reflect an individual's degree of attraction to specific occupational areas and provide a comparison to individuals employed in those occupations. Its 11-page report provides information designed to help individuals understand how their interests and skills map into the occupational world, thereby helping them make better career choices.

Strong Interest Inventory also helps individuals explore their interests and discover careers, occupations and areas of study that best match these characteristics. It is administered online with results available in a follow-up with an advisor.

Self-Directed Search (SDS) helps individuals explore their interests and competencies and discover careers, occupations and majors that best match these characteristics. It has the advantage of being self-administered and self-scored, thus providing quick results.

CHOICES PLANNER is a comprehensive computerized career information and planning system designed to meet individual career and educational planning needs. It provides a systematic approach to evaluating one's interests, abilities, values and experiences and determining how these fit into the academic and work environment. It is also an excellent source of information about colleges, universities, and careers.

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is the most widely used personality inventory. It is used in career counseling to help individuals make career and educational decisions congruent with their personalities. It also allows examination of issues likely to impact a client's job search, and their strengths and weaknesses once employed.

SkillScan is a card sort exercise to help individuals identify and label their skill preferences to assist in career decision making, resume writing, interviewing and skill development

Life Values Inventory is used to help people make critical life decisions such as choosing a career or a course of study by prioritizing their values and examining how they fit with specific career and educational options.

Values Driven Work is a card sort exercise to assist individuals in understanding the importance of alignment between one’s values and work satisfaction.

Alumni should discuss their individual situations with a CCS consultant to determine the advisability and benefits of one or more of the tools available. Appointments may be scheduled by calling 315 443-3616.