The Career Management Cycle | Starting Self Assessment

"What are you going to do after graduation?" Many students wish they had $100 for every time they are asked this question! Yet, how many students actually ask themselves this question and when do they begin to ponder their possibilities?  For some, not soon enough. And how many really have a grasp of all the activities beyond their academic work that contribute to an ultimately successful launch of a career?  Not that many.  Why?  Preparing to transition to a career is a new adventure requiring decision making for which life to-date may have provided little by way of similar life situations.

The answer to the question above lies in a learning process whose foundation components are self assessment, i.e. knowing one's skills, potentials, interests, temperament, expectations from work, and personal priorities, and work world assessment, i.e. learning just what career fields are all about through reading, speaking with professionals and gaining experience.  Add to this foundation a sense of how selection processes for employment and further study are actually conducted, and the ability to set and execute realistic strategies to attain results, and students will have a framework for lifelong career management.  The cycle resembles this:

To translate this concept into a sequence of purposeful activities while at Syracuse, students should generally follow the six-stage career development model formulated by the Career Services Network, which indicates when such assessment should begin.
 

STARTING SELF ASSESSMENT

As far as self help resources, certain college-based career offices and the Center for Career Services (235 Schine) maintain some print resources such as What Color is Your Parachute that address self assessment. Checklists included in The Career Guide, a publication available from the Center for Career Services, can also start people to thinking about their skills, interests, and temperament.

As far as available staff assistance, students should check with their home college career office to determine if assessment services are available, or if a referral to the Center for Career Services is recommended. One of the principal roles of the Center's career consultants is to discuss and facilitate self assessment. Appointments are recommended and may be arranged by calling 443-3616, or by visiting the Center.  The consultants have at their disposal a number of career assessment instruments and will evaluate during a personal consultation which may assist the self assessment process. The assessment process generally requires a number of meetings and provides a good foundation for initial career information gathering, choosing or changing majors, and evaluating options for those with backgrounds applicable in many settings.