Career Assessment Use the following links to navigate this page: Use of Assessment Self-Assessment Formal Assessments Informal Assessments Computerized Career Information Delivery Systems (CIDS) Use of Assessment Success in choosing a satisfying and lasting career will depend on how well you evaluate your skills, abilities, and interests. Conducting an effective self-inventory is not an easy task. It requires individual reflection, as well as guidance from family, counselors, and teachers. The appropriate test will help you get started. Self-Assessment Take a moment and think about the following questions. What do you like doing? How do you spend your time? What are your natural talents and abilities? What do you do best? What skills do you already have from previous experiences that may qualify you for new jobs? What are your unique traits and characteristics? What is important to you? What do you need in your career to stay motivated and energized? Do you really know yourself? The first step in planning your job search involves getting to know yourself. Start with one of these tests: Employment Search Readiness Inventory Career Planning/Competency Model Formal Assessments There are literally hundreds of formal assessments that could be used in the workplace. As you consider the array of career assessments, both formal and informal, keep two basic points in mind: Identify those instruments/methods that meet your information needs. Be aware that a fee may be charged for the use of some tests. Some tests can be administered on a computer and give instant scoring. Others are administered by paper and pencil and can be self-scored, and many can be sent out for machine scoring by the test publisher. Although more expensive, the test interpretation booklets and summary reports available from some publishers may be very helpful. CareerLab provides a menu of Assessment Products and Prices for conducting formal assessments. For more on Formal Assessment instruments, click here. Informal Assessments Informal assessment involves gathering information from: Observations Reports from instructors and supervisors School and work records Personal interviews and conferences Computer programs These assessment methods provide you with information about your current interests, attitudes, and feelings—all of which have a bearing on employability and promotability. Computerized Career Information Delivery Systems (CIDS) Computerized Career Information Delivery Systems have interactive components that provide self-assessment activities for interests, temperament, work values, and other work-related factors. Occupations that match the entered data are suggested for exploration. Using a CIDS can be highly motivational and time-efficient. The Department of Labor has developed a computerized occupational information system called O*NET.