Your interests
Make a list of what activities or areas really interest you, eg you may enjoy:
- Education/ training/ coaching others
- Interpreting data/ disseminating information or results
- Government/ political events
- Working with young people or animals
- Designing or building machines or structures
- Developing IT systems
- Managing resources
- Restoration or conservation
- Advice or legal work
- Writing/ journalism/ research
- Culture/ media/ performing arts
- Using scientific or engineering principles to solve problems.
What careers might incorporate these interests?
Your lifestyle and values
Think about your values and how you would like to work. How important are:
- Gaining promotion rapidly.
- Being self-employed.
- Helping others to cope or succeed with their lives.
- Receiving financial rewards.
- Having job security.
- Working in a team or working independently.
- Travelling.
- Working in a large global company or working in a small local one.
- Working in a creative environment.
- Living in a particular location.
What type of employer could match your criteria?
Your personality
Particular careers may suit particular personalities or temperaments. These characteristics can impact how you interact with others, approach tasks, and deal with challenging situations.
From the list below, select the characteristics you feel you relate to, do not relate to and have no opinion on.
- Consistent, empathic, outgoing, reliable, professional, organised, independent, imaginative, methodical, objective, motivated, cheerful, co-operative, energetic, decisive, adaptable, enthusiastic, conscientious, persistent, resilient, confident.
Be honest in your responses. This is not about portraying yourself in a way that might impress others. Some characteristics will simply relate better to particular jobs. Ask family members and friends, tutors and fellow students how they would describe you.
You skills
We work with employers to understand what they’re looking for. The skills they most frequently look for include:
- Self-Management skills including self-assessment, career planning, application techniques, wellbeing.
- Communication skills including written and spoken communications, presentation skills, emotional intelligence and networking.
We work with employers to understand what they’re looking for. The skills they most frequently look for include:
- Self-Management skills including self-assessment, career planning, application techniques, wellbeing.
- Communication skills including written and spoken communications, presentation skills, emotional intelligence and networking.