Learning more about what kind of work you want to do

I did not plan to be an educator. Yet, upon reflection, many things I've done in my 30+ years of professional life have prepared me for the work that I do now as director of general education. Reflecting on my careers as a journalist, public relations counselor, and college instructor reveal that some of the skills and experiences that might not have seemed important to me at the time I was going through them, are valuable to me now.

For example, when I completed the Job Skills portion of the Self-Assessment on Indiana Career Connect, under "General Skills" are many activities like advise people, answer inquiries, and obtain information, all of which have been useful in all three of my careers. There are also skills like conducting meetings, making decisions, and using conflict resolution techniques -- which help explain why I ended up in leadership positions in each career turn.

It is no surprise that my basic skills of writing, listening, and problem-solving have been key factors in my career choices. But possessing social skills like perceptiveness, persuasion, negotiation, and an interest in service have been just as important to my success.

When I combine these skills with Work Interests of being artistic and social, and Work Importance Values of achievement and relationships, it is clear to me that I have always sought careers in which I can express myself creatively and easily see the difference I make in other people's creative lives.

I am interested in what your Self-Assessment tells you about the kinds of positions you might be looking for in your chosen field. We'll talk about this in class, but you might also blog about what you learned in this assessment.