1. Non-standardized Career Assessments

2. Purpose
To “get at” underlying beliefs, unspoken goals and fears, modes of operating
Individualized, no psychometric properties
Card sorts, Decision Space Worksheet,Others

3. What are Card Sorts? “Cards” occupations, values, interests....
Projective technique
Alternative to standardized and/or computerized assessments

4. Samples

5. Virtual Card Sort
careerresource.coedu.usf.edu/linkcareerlab/card%20sort.dcr)

6. Instructions
Sort into 1 of 3 piles

7. Alternative Instructions
“Sort the cards in a way that makes sense to you.”

8. Traditional General reactions Rank order would choose Look for themes
RIASEC, gender, family, tasks, educational level, avoidance
Determine next steps (including moving might choose cards)

9. Cognitive Map

10. Values Card Sort

11. Vistas

12. Sample Skill Wheel

13. Decision Space Worksheet
How task approached
Look at size

14. Other Non-Standardized Approaches
Five Lives
Autobiography
Genogram
Diverse Decision Makers

15. Five Lives Activity
If you had five lives to live, what career would you have in each of those lives?

16. Analyze-think pair and share
What is it about each one?
Look at themes
Compare to family 5 lives
Can you do any of these things now?

17. Ideal Day Describe the perfect day of work.
Start in the morning and go through the evening.
Give as much detail as possible.
Notice changes in non-verbals, vocal tone.
Ask for reflection on the experience.
What stood out to them?
Surprises?
Next steps?

18. CREATE YOUR CAREER GENOGRAM
Divorce
Female
Male
Female
Male
Children/Twins-Oldest at Left
Marriage/Common Law
Female
Male
Female
Male
Separation
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male

19. Career Genogram, continued
Adoption
Index Person
Death (give date)
Circle members of current household
Zig-zags in the lines can resemble conflicted relationships
4 straight lines = strongly attached; 3 = moderately; 2 = slightly; 1 = very slightly

20. Career Genograms
Special attention should be given to identification of
occupations represented in a 3-4 generation family tree
status and value rankings typically assigned occupations by various family members
career choice patterns or ways in which family members make career decisions
economic expectations or pressures
family work values

21. Suggested Questions What are dominant values in the family of origins?
Vocationally, are certain “missions” valued?
Are there any “ghosts” or “legends” which serve either as anchor points or “rightful roles” for the family?
What myths or misconceptions seem to transcend generations?
Are there any psychological pressures or expectations emanating from “unfinished business” of the family?

22. Questions, continued
How does the individual’s description of economic values and preferences fit in with the family’s history?
How has the family addressed the 3 boxes of life (learning, working, playing)? Any imbalances?
What family interaction rules and relationship boundaries have been passed through generations?
Are there any voids in client’s memory of family? Any significance to these voids?

23. Questions, continued
Does client have a sense of “owing” family traditions? What are the accrued debts and credits?
How have the primary life tasks of love, work and friendship been addressed by the family?
What vocational patterns emerge, in terms of choices, as well as the choice and development process?

24. Diverse Decision Makers
Rank
Name
Description
Pros of making decisions this way
Cons of making decisions this way
Hasty Harry
Makes a decision immediately, no matter what. He wants to eliminate the discomfort of ambiguity as soon as possible.
Last Minute Louie
Always waits until the very last possible second before deciding on anything.
Stubborn Susan
Makes a firm decision and refuses to consider any other alternative.
Mia Fraid
Delays any decision for fear of being wrong or appearing foolish.
Wilbur the Worrier
Avoids deciding because he lacks self-confidence in his ability to live with the consequences of the decision.
Adapted from Donald & Carlisle, 1983

25. Narrative Questions
If you were to see a career counselor today, what career concern would you want to discuss?
Identify 3 people you consider role models, whom you admire, and tell what it is you admire about each. “Follow up question, How are you similar/different from each of these people?
What is your favorite story? Tell me about it. Describe the main characters.” Which character is most like you and why? What’s the moral of the story?
What are your favorite magazines? What are each of them about? What do you like about each
What are your favorite t.v. shows? What are they about? What do you like about each of them? Who are the main characters and tell me about their personalities. Which character are you most like?
Describe your favorite hobbies, or what you like to do in your free time. What do you like about each of them?
What is your favorite saying? What is it that you like about that statement?
What were your favorite subjects in school (any grade level is fine) – and what was it about each that you liked?
What are three early memories that you have? After they have described each, create a headline or title for each. 26

27. To learn more Counselor’s Guide to Career Assessment
Whitfield, Feller & Wood (
Using Assessment Results for Career Development
Osborn & Zunker (