Strong Interest Inventory The most widely used interest assessment in North America Started after WWI – veterans returning to the workforce

Warm-up Exercise Guess the Occupation Guess the Occupation

Why Use the Strong? The Strong Interest Inventory can help you identify your interests, which can lead to greater job satisfaction The Strong Interest Inventory can help you identify your interests, which can lead to greater job satisfaction You can use the information to assist you in determining your career path You can use the information to assist you in determining your career path

The Assessment Measures your INTERESTS - NOT skills, aptitudes or abilities to do any of the occupations Measures your INTERESTS - NOT skills, aptitudes or abilities to do any of the occupations

How the Assessment Works The Strong is organized in four ways: 1- General Occupational Themes (GOT) An overall view of your interest patterns 2- Basic Interest Scales Specific interest areas based upon your GOT 3- Occupational Scales Specific interest patterns to people working in certain occupations that share your likes and dislikes 4- Personal Style Scales Your preferences on 5 different scales

General Occupational Themes There are six broad areas that all occupations can be classified under People (and occupations) usually have a combination of two or three of the themes What is your theme code? (middle of page 2)

The Six G.O.T Theme Codes: Realistic Realistic Active, hands-on Investigative InvestigativeAnalyzing Artistic Artistic Creative expression Social SocialPeople-oriented Enterprising EnterprisingBusiness-oriented Conventional ConventionalOrganizing

Realistic R People are generally interested in mechanical, construction and repair activities People are generally interested in mechanical, construction and repair activities Enjoy nature and outdoors, adventurous, physical activities Enjoy nature and outdoors, adventurous, physical activities Providing public safety Providing public safety Like working with tools, machines, equipment, computers and computer networks Like working with tools, machines, equipment, computers and computer networks Interested in action Interested in action Enjoy work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions Enjoy work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions

RealisticR Potential Skills Mechanical ingenuity and dexterity Mechanical ingenuity and dexterity Physical coordination Physical coordination

RealisticR Work activities include: Operating equipment Using tools Building and repairing Providing security

RealisticR What kinds of occupations do you think are in this theme?

Investigative I Interested in activities related to science, math, medicine and research Interested in activities related to science, math, medicine and research Like gathering information, uncovering new facts or theories, and analyzing and interpreting data Like gathering information, uncovering new facts or theories, and analyzing and interpreting data Scientific and inquiring Scientific and inquiring Enjoy abstract problems Enjoy abstract problems

InvestigativeI Potential Skills Mathematical ability Mathematical ability Researching and analyzing Researching and analyzing Writing Writing

InvestigativeI Work activities include: Performing lab work Solving abstract problems Conducting research

Investigative I What kinds of occupations do you think are in this theme?

Artistic A Generally interested in visual art, performing arts, culinary arts and writing Generally interested in visual art, performing arts, culinary arts and writing Like observing and participating in arts Like observing and participating in arts Need to express artistic interests Need to express artistic interests Interested in aesthetics and self-expression Interested in aesthetics and self-expression Interested in communication and culture Interested in communication and culture

ArtisticA Potential skills Creativity Creativity Musical ability Musical ability Artistic expression Artistic expression

ArtisticA Work activities include: Composing music PerformingWriting Creating visual art

ArtisticA What kinds of occupations do you think are in this theme?

SocialS Generally interested in being with other people Generally interested in being with other people Enjoy working in groups, sharing responsibilities, communicating with others Enjoy working in groups, sharing responsibilities, communicating with others Like to solve problems through discussions of feelings and through interactions with others Like to solve problems through discussions of feelings and through interactions with others Interested in teamwork, helping, community service Interested in teamwork, helping, community service

SocialS Potential skills People skills People skills Verbal ability Verbal ability Listening Listening Showing Showing Understanding Understanding

SocialS Work activities include: Teaching Teaching Caring for others Caring for others Counselling Counselling Training others Training others

SocialS What kinds of occupations do you think are in this theme?

EnterprisingE Generally interested in persuading and leading Generally interested in persuading and leading Seek positions of leadership, power and status Seek positions of leadership, power and status Enjoy working with other people and leading them towards organizational goals and economic success Enjoy working with other people and leading them towards organizational goals and economic success Interested in business, politics, leadership, entrepreneurship Interested in business, politics, leadership, entrepreneurship

EnterprisingE Potential skills Verbal ability Verbal ability Ability to motivate others Ability to motivate others Ability to direct others Ability to direct others

EnterprisingE Work activities include: Selling Selling Managing Managing Persuading Persuading Marketing Marketing

EnterprisingE What kinds of occupations do you think are in this theme?

ConventionalC Generally interested in activities that require attention to organization, data systems, detail and accuracy Generally interested in activities that require attention to organization, data systems, detail and accuracy Work well in large organizations Work well in large organizations Like to use information to solve problems efficiently Like to use information to solve problems efficiently Interested in organization, data management, accounting, investing, information systems Interested in organization, data management, accounting, investing, information systems

ConventionalC Potential skills Ability to work with numbers Ability to work with numbers Data analysis Data analysis Finances Finances Attention to detail Attention to detail

ConventionalC Work activities include: Setting up procedures and systems Setting up procedures and systems Organizing Organizing Keeping records Keeping records Developing computer applications Developing computer applications

ConventionalC What kinds of occupations do you think are in this theme?

Your Assessment Do you agree with your theme code? Page 2 summarizes your interest level on each of the six scales

Basic Interest Scales Each General Occupational Theme is narrowed down further into more specific areas

Basic Interest Scales RealisticInvestigative Computer Hardware & Electronics Mathematics Mechanics & Construction Science MilitaryResearch Nature & Agriculture Medical Science Athletics Protective Services

Basic Interest Scales ArtisticSocial Visual Arts & Design Religion & Spirituality Performing Arts Human Resources & Training Writing & mass communications Social Sciences Culinary Arts Teaching & Education Healthcare Services Counselling & Helping

Basic Interest Scales EnterprisingConventional Entrepreneurship Finance & Investing Law Programming & Information Systems Sales Taxes & Accounting Management Office Management Marketing & Advertising Politics & Public Speaking

Basic Interest Scales Page 3 of your assessment summarizes your top five interest themes Page 3 of your assessment summarizes your top five interest themes Your interest level is anywhere from very little interest (VL) to very high interest (VH) Your interest level is anywhere from very little interest (VL) to very high interest (VH) Notice that your LEAST favorite are also included… why do you think this is included? Notice that your LEAST favorite are also included… why do you think this is included?

Basic Interest Scales What do you think about your highest interest areas? Do you agree?

Basic Interest Scales Realistic Do ‘er InvestigativeThinker ArtisticCreatorSocialHelperEnterprisingPersuader ConventionalOrganizer

Occupational Scales Different from previous scales – does not measure your interest level in the occupation itself, but measures how similar or dissimilar you are to the people working in the occupations Different from previous scales – does not measure your interest level in the occupation itself, but measures how similar or dissimilar you are to the people working in the occupations Page 4 summarizes your top 10 occupations, while pages 5, 6 and 7 list all occupations Page 4 summarizes your top 10 occupations, while pages 5, 6 and 7 list all occupations

Occupational Scales Occupations are listed in order from your highest to lowest interests Occupations are listed in order from your highest to lowest interests Occupations that have a result over 40 shows that you have similar likes and dislikes to the people working in that occupation Occupations that have a result over 40 shows that you have similar likes and dislikes to the people working in that occupation

Occupational Scales You will notice that there are one, two or three letters in the Theme Code column next to each occupation The theme code for Attorney is A… why do you think that is? The theme code for Attorney is A… why do you think that is? The theme code for Health Information Specialist is C… why do you think that is? The theme code for Health Information Specialist is C… why do you think that is?

Occupational Scales Ultimately you want to look at occupations that have your theme code in it… what is an occupation with your theme code? Ultimately you want to look at occupations that have your theme code in it… what is an occupation with your theme code? Introduce the Holland Occupation Book

Personal Style Scales Page 8 states your preference on five different scales Work Style Work Style Learning Environment Learning Environment Leadership Style Leadership Style Risk Taking Risk Taking Team Orientation Team Orientation

Personal Style Scales Your score is in the right hand column Below 50 – your preference is the left Above 50 – your preference is the right

Personal Style Scales Work Style Prefer working alone vs working with people Learning Environment Prefer practical learning environment, learn by doing vs an academic environment and learning through lectures

Personal Style Scales Leadership Style Not comfortable taking charge of others, prefer doing job yourself vs comfortable taking charge of others and directing others Risk Taking Dislike risk taking, like quiet activities vs like risk taking, appreciates original ideas, seek thrilling activities

Personal Style Scales Team Orientation Prefer accomplishing tasks independently vs prefer working on teams and collaborating

You’re Done! Congratulations! You made it! Are there any clarifying questions? Keep in mind, if you have a question, someone else probably does too Are there any clarifying questions? Keep in mind, if you have a question, someone else probably does too Review supplementary handouts Review supplementary handouts As well, your individual counsellor can help As well, your individual counsellor can help

Last game… Mix & Match Split into groups or pairs Match occupation definitions to occupational titles

Choose One Offbeat Occupation 1. What is it? 2. What type of education do you think it requires? 3. Do you think there are lots of jobs? If so, where? 4. Who would hire someone in this occupation? (where do they work?) 5. Would you do this job????