Career Assessment: Strong Interest Inventory Prepared by

Strong Interest Inventory Assess your interests, personality, values, and skills. Learn which career opportunities are the best fit with your personality. The Strong measures interests, not abilities (if you have the interest, you can develop the abilities). There are no wrong answers! How this assessment was created: people in 121 occupations were asked about their values, knowledge and abilities. Your answers are compared to theirs. Results suggest careers in which you would find satisfaction.

Career Theory All individuals have unique characteristics related to their interests, abilities, needs, values, and personality. All occupations/jobs have unique characteristics related to work tasks, skills required, demands, and rewards. Workers and employers are most satisfied when there is a match between the characteristics of the worker and the characteristics of the occupation/job. Adapted from Facilitating Career Development by JoAnn Harris-Bowlsbey, Barbara H. Suddarth, and David M. Reile, 2005

Holland’s Theory of Vocational Interests People can be described as a combination of two or more of six types: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, Conventional. Job environments can also be described as a combination of the same six types. People of a given type seek job environments of the same or similar type. If a person can find such a compatible job environment, he/she is likely to be satisfied and productive. Adapted from Facilitating Career Development by JoAnn Harris-Bowlsbey, Barbara H. Suddarth, and David M. Reile, 2005

THE HEXAGON OF GENERAL OCCUPATIONAL THEMES REALISTIC INVESTIGATIVE ARTISTIC CONVENTIONAL These interests and environments can be categorized into one or a group of 6 themes. ENTERPRISING SOCIAL

Realistic Motivated by building, repairing, being outdoors Some of the best skills are making/repairing things, problem solving with tools/machinery, mechanical ingenuity and dexterity, physical coordination, handling emergencies Think about it: What kind of car would an “R” drive? hat kind of vacation would appeal to an “R”? What magazines would an “R” read? Car: truck, SUV, Jeep Vacation: Camping, hiking, sporting event Read: Sailing/boating magazines, home repair books, Sports Illustrated, ESPN Magazine

Investigative Motivated by analyzing, inquiring, and researching Some of the best skills are scientific investigating, researching, analyzing, writing technical documents, performing mathematics Think about it: Car? Vacation? Magazines? Car: Bike, “Hybrid” Vacation: Archaeological dig, space camp, science museum Read: Scientific journals, mystery novels, Consumers Reports

Artistic Motivated by creative insights, expressing individuality, self- expression through art, music, writing, cooking Some of the best skills are creativity, imagination, verbal-linguistic, music, dramatics Think about it: Car? Vacation? Magazines? Car: PT Cruiser, Mini Cooper, Cargo Van Vacation: Broadway plays, art museum, art/music camp Read: Art books, Pulitzer prize novels

Social Motivated by helping others, empowering others, instructing, nurturing Some of the best skills are developing relationships, verbal communication, teaching, listening, understanding others Think about it: Car? Vacation? Magazines? Car: Mini vans, SUVs Vacation: Habitat for Humanity, family reunion, Disney World Read: Oprah magazine, romance novels, People magazine

Enterprising Motivated by persuading, selling, leading Some of the best skills are public speaking, persuading/selling, social/interpersonal interaction, leading, focusing on organizational goals Think about it: Car? Vacation? Magazines? Car: Lexus, Cadillac, BMW Vacation: Luxury cruise, spa, golf vacation Read: Wall Street Journal, Donald Trump’s biography, books by Steven Covey

Conventional Motivated by organizing, processing data, managing information Some of the best skills are organization, efficiency, patience, persistence, managing systems/data, mathematics, operating computers Think about it: Car? Vacation? Magazines? Car: Saturn, Accord, Camry Vacation: Sight seeing tour, same beach house every year, knitting workshop Read: Real Simple, hobby books, Consumer Reports

Tips for Taking the SII There are no right or wrong answers. Answer all 291 items; go with your first instinct. No one answer will affect your results, so try to give the first answer that comes to mind Remember: Your answers should be based on whether you have an INTEREST in something, not if you have an ABILITY or SKILL in something. Don’t let COST or SALARY be a factor in your answers. Allow 30-45 minutes to complete the assessment. Don’t over-analyze; first choice is usually the best choice