Since that time, I’ve taken his advice to heart and now impart what I learned going through the process. I crafted a 5 Step Process for Career Planning which I hope helps you in your planning process.

However, before we get to the 5 Step Process, watch this short video of Joni Daniels, Principal of Daniels and Associates, speak about the importance of career planning.

Step 1 of 5: Self Assessment

Socrates said, “Know Thyself”. This 2,000 year old advice is the first step in developing a career plan. To uncover your passions and strengths, I suggest taking one of many assessment tools.
Below is a list of tools available to all UB/Towson MBA students. To take any of these tests, please contact the UB Career Center (410-837-5440) or the Towson Career Center at (410-704-2512). There is a small fee to take these assessment tests.

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
The MBTI provides you with information about your preferred methods for taking in information, interacting with people, making decisions and planning your life. This self-knowledge is useful; it will enable you to better assess work environments and determine if they provide you with an atmosphere conducive to your preferences. Several versions of the MBTI are available, including MBTI Interpretive Report, MBTI Interpretive Report for Organizations, MBTI Step II (Expanded Analysis Report), and the combined MBTI/Strong Report. A counselor can provide you with more information about the available versions.

Strong Interest Inventory
Whether you are exploring careers or considering a job change, the Strong Interest Inventory® provides the most valid, powerful and up-to-date information to help you make informed decisions. The Strong’s items measure your interests in a broad range of occupations, work activities, leisure activities and school subjects. Your pattern of responses is compared to the patterns of responses of people in different occupations with the idea that if you have similar interests, you are likely to find certain occupations satisfying.

Values-Driven Work Card Sort
Helps you clarify those characteristics of work that are most important to you. Values are the core principles that give meaning to your life. When your values are aligned with your work activities and surroundings, you are more satisfied; when they are not aligned with your work, you tend to be less content with your life. The Value-Driven Work Card Sort helps you assess your work values in four areas: intrinsic values, work environment, work content and work relationships.

In addition to taking these tests, there are a few other ways to “know thyself” a little better. The following exercises can help you uncover your purpose, values, and strengths.

NOTE: For all of these activities, write your comments on a sheet of paper or into your computer.

Exercise #1: Think of an activity, outside of work, that you enjoy. Pick an activity that is challenging, but fun. Pick an activity that totally engages you for hours while it only seems like a few minutes have passed. Write down the activity (or activities).

Exercise #2: Think about that activity. Why do you enjoy it so much? What qualities make it enjoyable? For example, if you play recreation league soccer, is it the game of soccer itself? The competition? The exercise? The team work? The social component? Again, why do you love this activity?

Exercise #3: Now, think of a time at work where you thoroughly and utterly enjoyed an activity. Choose an activity that made time melt away and put you in “the zone”.

Exercise #4: What was it about that activity that made you so engaged? Was it the quiet time? Was it the mental complexity? Was it the creativity you demonstrated? Was it working with others? Why was this activity so engaging? Write down your thoughts.

Exercise #5: If you became a sudden billionaire and never had to work again, what would you do for free? Why would you do it? List the qualities and skillsets that this task entails.

Exercise #6: One day, you won’t be here. Death is a reality. What is the legacy that you want to leave? Remember your legacy lasts long after your death. How do you want people to remember you? What would you want them to say about you at your funeral?

Exercise #7: How you see the world and yourself is based on your belief system. What are the beliefs you hold about yourself, others and the world? Do you see yourself as confident or insecure? Do you see the world as lacking where there are have’s and have not’s or abundant where everyone can be successful despite the odds? Do you trust or distrust others? List out everything you can possibly think of that defines how you see yourself, other people and the world in which you live.

Exercise #8: What do you do well? What do you do that is better than most other people? What can you do that no one else can? List all of your strengths (all strengths, not just the ones associated with work).

Exercise #9: Define success in your own terms.

Exercise #10: Are you happy? Not content, but truly happy. Why or why not.

After you answer these questions you will have an amazing snapshot of yourself. You’ve uncovered your passions, values, strengths, definition of success and your current state of happiness or unhappiness. This is the starting point.

In my next article I will discuss Step 2 of 5: Career Historical Assessment.

Take a look at your career; where you’ve been and where you are now. If your resume is not up-to-date, then quickly write down your job title, the company you work for and your general responsibilities.

Exercise #1: Look at all of the jobs you’ve had thus far in your career not counting your current position. What skills have you learned? What experience have you gained? What strengths have been improved? Even if you did not like the job, there is a good chance that you learned a valuable skill. Did these jobs help you discover your strengths? What are they? Did these jobs uncover weaknesses? What are they? What did you like about the jobs? What did you loathe about the jobs?

Exercise #2: Similar to exercise #1, but analyze your current job.

After these two exercises you’ll have a better idea of your total skill set and strengths and weaknesses. This helps in honing your career plan.

The next step is to look at is Your Dream Job Worksheet.

Job descriptions detail the basic responsibilities of a job. They spell out the responsibilities of the position, what is expected, who you will be reporting to, the location of the position, whether traveling is required and will sometimes list benefits and salary information.

What you want to do is write a job description for your perfect job! This won’t be a narrative but a comprehensive list of the critical characteristics of your dream job. List these characteristics on the Dream Job Worksheet. Be as comprehensive as you can. Here are some questions that will help you start your list.

• What are the general and specific job responsibilities?
• Will you be self-employed or working for an organization?
• What is the dress code (suit and tie, business casual, casual)?
• How long is the commute?
• Can you telecommute?
• Do you want to work on salary or commission or some other pay structure?
• What is the salary? What is the bonus structure? What is the commission package?
• What are the benefits (i.e. health insurance, 401K, etc.)?
• How many weeks of vacation do you expect? Sick days?
• Describe the work environment (i.e. competitive, team oriented, etc.).
• What is your supervisor’s management style?

Once you define all of the characteristics, assign a weight to each in the Dream Job Worksheet. This weight determines its importance and thus can help you analyze specific job opportunities. This tool gives you a quantitative comparison of each job for which you are applying. It also help you clarify what is really important to you in a job or career.

You must also be realistic. Don’t expect to make millions as a school teacher and don’t expect lots of vacation and flex-time as a high-powered stock broker. You may need to make concessions. Perhaps a job that has on-site daycare also requires you to work until 6PM or later. Can you make such a concession? The Dream Job Worksheet helps you to determine which characteristics are most flexible so you can find that “close to perfect” job.

When you’re ready, begin steps 4 & 5; Goal Setting and Developing your Plan.