Comprehensive, Validated, Reliable Tests:

• Kuder Career Planning System (Low Cost)
• Myers Briggs Type Indicator
• Self Directed Search - PRINTED Form R (English) , Form R (Spanish), Form R (English Canadian), Form E, Form CE, & Form CP or INTERNET Versions
• Strong Interest Inventory
• MBTI & Strong Interest Inventory Reports (Special Discount)

Low Cost, Informal Tests:

• Career Interests Inventory
• Transferable Skills Scale - See the connection between Holland Codes and Transferable Skills

Children, Limited Reading Ability, or Special Needs Tests:

• Paint Careers With Colors System (Children's or RIASEC Versions) & Young Person's Occupational Handbook
• Picture Interest Career Survey

As parents, teachers, and counselors, we are called to be career coaches.  We are to train our children and teens according to their interests, abilities, and skills. We must answer the following questions -

• What are our children's and teen's  vocational interests, the motivational gifts, the attributes, the endowments, and faculties?
• What are our children's and teen's destinies, courses of action, or modes of action?
• What are the steps and resources that are necessary to develop the qualities and talents that our children and teens possess?

Each child, teen, or adult receives in a seed form the vocational interests, abilities, skills, and talents that will develop into careers, jobs, tasks, assignments, or ministries.  Our interests, abilities, skills, and talents will produce earnings, wages, and spiritual rewards as we receive pleasure from knowing that we are fulfilling our purposes and potentials.

The Steps in the Career Exploration Process

Here are the steps in the career planning process. 

Step One: Self Assessment

We identify the right computerized, online, or printed career assessments.  From these assessments, we gain knowledge and understanding of our abilities, ambitions, aptitudes, identities, interests, life goals, resources, skills, and values.

Step Two: Educational and Occupational Exploration

We should gather information about -

Specific programs of study

Training opportunities

The economy or labor market

Step Three: Problem solving

We solve career problems  when we -

Make educational choices

Make Occupational choices

Set achievable goals

Break down big problems into smaller, more manageable steps

Step Four: Implementation

While we implement and execute our learning and career plans -

We translate vocational interests, abilities, and skills into occupational possibilities.

We do reality testing through interviewing current workers, job shadowing, part-time employment, full-time employment, and volunteer work.

We obtain skill training, for example, social skills, resume writing, networking, and preparations for interviews.

Dr. Mary Askew

Learning for Life Resource Center
4133 E. Siesta Lane
Phoenix, AZ 85050
(602) 569-1050
(602) 569-9640 (fax)
learning4life@qwest.net
http://www.hollandcodes.com