Choosing a career or college major is a very confusing and often overwhelming experience for high school and college students. One of the major reasons for the confusion is that most students know very little about the world of work. Another reason is that most people have very little understanding of their own vocational assets.
Here are a few questions to ask yourself:
Job success is determined by a good match between you (your abilities) and the job (its qualifications). Here you will have the opportunity to learn how to assess your vocational assets (your abilities) and find out about the requirements (qualifications) for a variety of occupations. You will learn how to determine your vocational assets by thinking about:
Once you have a good idea about your vocational assets, you can compare your assets with those that are required of a variety of occupations.
Every person has vocational assets. Some people can solve math problems quickly and accurately; others relate more to people; some workers prefer to work with instruments, gages, and other things; and still others like frequent changes in work assignments. Your best friend may be great at putting things together while you may be a better writer. We are all different. The important thing is to understand the assets you possess and to match those assets with careers that require them.
You need to begin this exploration by understanding the major types of assets and, once you understand what comprises an asset, to honestly assess your level of ability for that asset. You may want to print these sections as you develop them so you can review the various descriptions at your leisure. You can also get some help from your guidance counselor, teacher, or parents. You may want to discuss your choices with someone who does that kind of work.
You can also go to Vocational Assets Profile and use the form there to record your choices. Once you have an idea about your vocational assets, you can review the various job description listed at Popular Careers
Ok. Let's get started. Below you will find sections on each major component of your vocational assets. Go to each section and follow the directions. You're on your way to learning more about your future career!
If you have questions or need further clarification or help, you can contact us by sending a note to The Student/Athlete Educational Foundation, Inc. There is a staff of vocational counselors waiting to help you.