1
CAREER SELF-ASSEMENT ANALYSIS
Career Self-Assessment and Exploration
Cynthia Carodine
Department of Counselor Education and Family Studies, Liberty University
Author Note
Cynthia Carodine
I have no known conflict of interest to disclose.
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Cynthia Carodine
Email: [email protected]
2
CAREER SELF-ASSEMENT ANALYSIS
Abstract
I am conducting a professional self-evaluation in this paper to determine and evaluate my
ideal job path. The O*NET Interest Profiler was used to show the three primary personality
domains of sociable, enterprising, and investigative. According to the sociable personality trait, I
am passionate about using my communication talents in my chosen line of work. Social skills
include fundamental abilities like chatting to people and actively listening. My description in the
first section of this assignment aligned with the top three values in the Value Sort Activity:
freedom, meaningful work, and work peacefulness. Occupational exploration, the second part of
this task, focused on my planned or selected career path. This paper offers a comprehensive
summary of the entire field of mental health therapy, which was the recommended choice. An
Asian American teenager in need of career counseling services was the subject of a case study in
the third section of the assignment. But because of cultural differences, she is uncertain about
what to do next. I suggest utilizing the O*NET Interest Profiler, cognitive behavior therapy, and
visualization to help plan how best to assist the patient.
Keywords: interest, values, career, social, and exploration
3
CAREER SELF-ASSEMENT ANALYSIS
Career Self-Assessment and Exploration
Part I: Career Self-Assessment
Career Instruments
According to my O*NET Interest Profiler data, the social interest category had my highest
score. The score for the Social Interest component is 39. The investigative curiosity category
received a score of 24, while the entrepreneurial region received a score of 29. I scored a zero in
the realistic interest category, a fourteen in the conventional interest category, and a nineteen in
the artistic interest category. I like working with people and helping them with a variety of tasks,
including information-related work, computers, and other items, according to my highest social
rating. This also shows that I'm interested in teaching, helping people, and giving advice
(National Center for O*NET Development, 2022). According to Niles and Harris-Bowlsbey, the
first domain, social, states that I choose to engage in tasks that require the use of communication
skills to assist others in professions like social work, teaching, counseling, and nursing (2022). In
the scientific or mathematical domain, the investigative personality type carries out tasks that
need observation (Niles & Harris-Bowlsbey, 2022). The sociable personality attribute can
therefore be viewed as the opposite of this category. The Enterprising category indicates that I
like engaging in tasks that involve a feeling of organizational or financial richness. This can also
be used while launching a new business, overseeing financial projects, or managing a team
within a corporation. My major interest area search found two of the most popular occupations:
mental health counselor and marriage and family therapist. To pursue these career tracks, one
must be extremely well-prepared for these occupations.
4
CAREER SELF-ASSEMENT ANALYSIS
The top three values that were chosen are freedom, meaningful work, and job tranquility.
Freedom is described as autonomy in decision-making and a flexible schedule. This is a value
that I can completely agree with from my past experience career. My favorite career position I
had was the epitome of creating my own curriculum and making decisions that were based on the
needs I saw fit. This is one of the main focal points in determining my next career. One way to
describe meaningful work is as work that is particularly cared for and in line with my personal
ideals. This may also be portrayed as work of which one is proud or that inspires others. Finally,
I place a high value on job calm. Job tranquility is defined as stability, serenity, and peace.
Considering where I was in my current profession during the pandemic, this value caught my
attention. career counseling and mental health counseling are the two job options that were
chosen based on my personal principles.
When choosing a career, I have discovered that applying common sense, seeking guidance
from God or waiting for signs, personal desires, gifts, and strengths, as well as understanding and
meeting the needs of others, are essential factors in making decisions (Horton, 2009). The Bull's
Eye method is the one that most closely aligns with my values. According to Horton (2009), this
method is more in line with the "traditional view" and is quite popular. I believe that God has a
purpose for us that is made in his image and that it is our responsibility as people to discover this
purpose and incorporate it into our everyday lives (Niles & Harris-Bowlsbey, 2022). This
approach emphasizes God’s timeliness and is very specific. There is a strong notion that
everything revolves around God's time and that we should not question the plan but anticipate
the unfolding of the plan. These values for myself have evolved throughout the years. As a child,
I grew up in my grandmother's church and frequently attended bible study sessions. I'd often chat
to God and ask him questions about life. Then, as a teenager, I wanted God to prove that he
5
CAREER SELF-ASSEMENT ANALYSIS
existed by showing me things or saving me from them. As an adult, I consult the Bible for
clarification, but I mostly rely on what God is trying to teach me through my daily life
experiences.
Personal Reactions
I became incredibly curious about each instrument and its potential applications in career
counseling. According to the O*NET Interest Profiler, I was able to view my possible job
options from a comprehensive perspective. This assessment includes five personality domains
that helped me choose a career choice that was solely based on my personal traits. I was able to
cleanse my mind of any prejudices that might have influenced the outcome through this
approach. The Value Sort activity helped me better understand my values and how they connect
to the job path I want to pursue. I had no idea how hard it would be to reduce the ten values to
three or four.
Determining the right and adequate professional path is more complicated than other
people portray it. These three resources provided a range of perspectives to take into account
when selecting the best career choice. The overall conclusions of my self-evaluations are
consistent with my present self-perception since I am an open-minded person who also pursues
interests that may offer up new career opportunities. Growing up I struggled with picking one
career because I had so many interests, ideas, beliefs, and passions. This is in alignment with the
domain results, I have a wide range of interests, as seen by my sociable, investigative, and
enterprising. The belief that I trust in God's plan while making decisions is illustrated by the
importance of freedom, meaningful employment, or even the bull's eye approach. Lastly, it is
possible to view congruence as a characteristic that is connected to the Holland code descriptors.
The author claims that if a person possesses personality traits that are closely related to their line
6
CAREER SELF-ASSEMENT ANALYSIS
of work or the workplace environment, they will feel more in line with their professional path
and become happy in their chosen field (Niles & Harris-Bowlsbey, 2022). One area where I
dispute the Holland code descriptors is the idea of change. A person's career choice may vary as
a result of media influences, societal shifts, and changes in their existing surroundings. In the
long term, newly found research may influence an individual's choice of career.
There are past and future factors that can influence my approach to spiritual discernment.
First, my family background plays a major role in how I approach spiritual discernment. As a
child, my siblings and I went to our grandmother’s church every Sunday. This was during a time
when women were not likely to be pastors. Seeing my grandmother run her own church without
a husband showed me that when God calls you to your purpose there is nothing anyone can do to
block it. We also learned what it meant to be Christian. My grandmother described being
Christian simply as people who believe in Jesus Christ as their savior and will follow his
teachings. So, unlike being Southern Baptist, we were categorized as non-denominational. As my
future factors, I believe becoming a parent will impact my spiritual discernment. Psalm 139:13-
14 states, “For you created my inmost being you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” This
scripture embodies the notion that a piece of God is in the creation of life, and I know this
process will unlock a different level of closeness to God. Also, having a child will impact my
career choices, which leads me back to my first value of freedom. Becoming a mental health
counselor will offer a more flexible schedule as I would like to be with my child as much as
possible.
Evaluation of Instruments
The primary goal of all three assessment tools is to assist people in determining their
values, personality traits, and method of making decisions so they may choose the career that
7
CAREER SELF-ASSEMENT ANALYSIS
best suits them. Others with differing perspectives, values, or cultures may not believe this
assessment is fair because it ignores beliefs, customs, or other defining characteristics, but I have
personally found these exams to be helpful. Neither gender, age, nor ethnicity had a significant
effect on the examination's outcomes. Perhaps time and location had an impact on my own
reactions. Although I experienced trouble with time zones and internet access while I was out of
town for a big event, I don't believe it had a big influence on my choice of instrument response.
After reading the instructions multiple times, I was able to calm my nerves and answer the
questions to the best ability.
Conceptualization
My top three Holland scores showed a sense of connection and consistency between my
personal traits and my chosen professional environment in the social, enterprising, and
investigative areas. In my opinion, the social-enterprising-investigative (SEI) Holland score is
the best. The ideal workplace would be a social setting where I could personally assist others,
offer guidance or information, and possibly even chair meetings. Career-related subjects that can
come up include networking, interviewing, and counseling. Since it demonstrates the connection
between my Christian faith and my potential career route, spiritual discernment has been crucial
to the career selection process. Since these evaluation findings aid in identifying my talents, they
also served to represent my pleasure with my current work decision. As an educator, I am able to
identify moments when I am giving advice, problem solving, and most of all find meaning in the
work. I really enjoy the social interactions I have with my students and peers. Therefore, the
sociable side of me is one of my strongest traits. This contributes to the development of my
prospective future profession.
8
CAREER SELF-ASSEMENT ANALYSIS
Part II: Occupational Exploration
Career Field and Occupation of Choice Introduction
Unless otherwise cited, the career information presented in this paper was obtained from
O*NET On-Line (National Center for O*NET Development, 2022). I have decided to pursue a
career as a mental health counselor. My next move page shows 21-1014.00 as the O*NET SOC
Code.
The Nature of the Work
The O*NET Interest Profiler indicates that mental health counselors use social skills,
problem-solving abilities, and fundamental communication skills in their counseling work
(National Center for O*NET Development, 2022). Communication skills include talking and
listening to others without interjecting. Problem-solving incorporates the idea of determining the
most effective means of resolving a dispute (National Center for O*NET Development, 2022).
Developing empathy or awareness for other people and helping those in need are examples of
social skills. Helping people in their time of need, obtaining data for evaluations, talking to
colleagues for extra support, conducting research to improve counseling methods, and setting
goals for the client's treatment plan are all tasks performed by a mental health counselor.
The American Counseling Association states, that an occupation as a mental health
counselor incorporates many tasks or responsibilities necessary for this role (2014). These duties
involve evaluating a person's mental, emotional, and physical well-being to establish a treatment
plan; counseling or suggesting treatment plans or objectives to clients; assisting clients in
learning new skills to support their recovery; identifying risks or behavioral decisions that have
had a significant impact on the client's treatment plan; teaching clients or their family members
9
CAREER SELF-ASSEMENT ANALYSIS
new techniques; referring clients to other resources to support their treatment; and reporting any
signs of domestic violence and suicidal or homicidal thoughts (ACA, 2014). In addition to
ensuring their clients' well-being, mental health counselors educate them to control their
emotions, regulate stress, and create good coping mechanisms (National Center for O*NET
Development, 2022). A typical workday would involve previewing their schedule of
appointments, reviewing session notes, and utilizing research to support clients in sessions. A
counselor will conduct sessions and attend training.
Working Conditions
Psychiatric hospitals, private practices or clinics, medical hospitals, employee assistant
programs, residential facilities, detox facilities, juvenile detention centers, schools, prisons, and
halfway houses are just a few of the jobs available to mental health counselors, according to the
Occupation Outlook Handbook (2022). Typically, mental health counselors work full-time
hours. This may also mean that licensed professionals have to work on the weekends, holidays,
and at night. The hours of a private practice conducted by a professional mental health counselor,
on the other hand, can be determined by their own needs. If they have their own private practice,
mental health counselors can work independently, but they can also work with other
professionals who share their licensure and a supervisor.
Individuals obtaining a degree in mental health counseling must complete clinical
supervision. Children, adults, seniors, drug addicts, victims of abuse, and couples are just a few
of the diverse clientele that mental health counselors serve (National Center for O*NET
Development, 2022). Counselors are also expected to help clients from a variety of ethnic and
religious backgrounds. As part of the psychological components of this discipline, counselors
10
CAREER SELF-ASSEMENT ANALYSIS
may assist clients who need assistance with emotional functioning, occupation functioning, stress
management, coping mechanisms, and problem-solving techniques.
Preparation and Qualifications
A bachelor's degree, a master's degree in a comparable field, and completion of internship
requirements are prerequisites for becoming a mental health counselor (U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics, 2022). Knowing your state's standards and credentials is crucial because different
states may have different or additional requirements. Since mental health counselors are
expected to interact with a wide spectrum of clients from various ethnic and cultural
backgrounds, the profession requires a number of abilities, including basic communication,
listening, empathy, patience, and interpersonal skills (ACA, 2014). It is anticipated that aspiring
mental health counselors will continue their education through post-degree work with a qualified
supervisor (Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council). Compassion for those in need of
assistance is a vital personal qualification.
Opportunities and Future Outlook
In 2022, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that there were 388,200 mental
health professionals. In addition, it is projected to rise to 18% in 2022 and 2032. Over the next
ten years, the field of mental health counseling is expected to grow by 23 percent (U.S. Bureau
of Labor Statistics, 2022). Large psychiatric hospitals, mental health or substance abuse
facilities, or specialized organizations employ mental health counselors. Related professions or
opportunities include mental health social work, substance addiction counseling, and marriage
and family therapy.
Economic and Non-Economic Benefits
11
CAREER SELF-ASSEMENT ANALYSIS
A mental health counselor in the United States is expected to make $53, 710 per year as
of May 2023, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In Texas, the average yearly
salary is $59,443, and in the vicinity of my home, it is $59,930 (National Center for O*NET
Development, 2022). Paid time off, maternity leave, sick leave, dental, medical, vision, and life
insurance are possible benefits for this job. Certain student loan forgiveness options may be
available, contingent on the state's licensing requirements. Benefits that are not monetary could
include learning life skills, practicing self-care, and possibly altering your brain through the
application of cognitive behavioral approaches.
Disadvantages and/or Special Situations
Despite their mission to promote mental health, counselors face numerous challenges in
their profession. Maintaining emotional control and mental well-being when handling
challenging subjects or circumstances is a particular important that easily comes to mind.
Furthermore, an excessive workload may result in stress, emotional disputes, challenging
clientele, and physical stress from burnout. To complete any tasks that remain unfinished, mental
health counselors may also put in extra time or work irregular hours.
Reflection
One of the professional aspects of mental health counseling that appeals to me is helping
others. My goal has always been to help others, especially underprivileged populations. My
social talents, interpersonal ability, and eagerness to help others through communication make
me the most suitable candidate for mental health therapy. There aren't many things that I find
unpleasant right now. My personal interests are excited by the application of fundamental skills,
problem-solving techniques, and social skills since I like learning about mental health and
12
CAREER SELF-ASSEMENT ANALYSIS
challenging the stereotype that mental health disorders are a sign of weakness, particularly in my
culture. My career aim is to open a wellness clinic for young athletes. I can utilize this career
knowledge as a tool to assist me progress in my field of work, which is an advantage. The fact
that research is always changing and that it is almost impossible to know what to expect when
working with new clients that have various demands could be a limitation.
Part III: Practical application
Due to my own viewpoint, the cultural component will significantly affect my counseling
approach. This 19-year-old Asian American customer is worried that she might make a poor
professional decision. Her mental stress manifests physically as migraines, lack of energy, and
sleep deprivation. It is clear from the cultural disparities that she respects her parents' views and
does not want her own biological parents to reject her or view her as a failure. I can relate to this
experience when I was in college I changed my major three times, and each time I thought about
how my father would feel. This was difficult because ever since I was a young girl, I had always
wanted to be a doctor. In high school, I took extra courses related to the field and even studied
college science classes with professors.
I will need to review the American Counseling Association's code of ethics to decrease
the chance of me imposing my own views. The American Counseling Association states that
"Counselors are aware of—and avoid imposing—their own values, attitudes, beliefs, and
behaviors" (2014Counselors look for training in areas where they could be tempted to impose
their views on their clients, especially if those values are discriminatory or conflict with the
client's goals. Additionally, they honor the diversity of study participants, trainers, and clients
(A.4.b). I must remain aware of the client's presenting problem as well as my own cultural
differences. Finding the career that best fits the patient's needs requires patience and steady
13
CAREER SELF-ASSEMENT ANALYSIS
guidance in managing her emotions. The application of cognitive behavior therapy is one
technique that helps the client in managing her emotions (Niles & Harris-Bowlsbey, 2022). I
would like to use a visualization approach as a second method, which can assist the client in
seeing her dream career. The final approach aims to provide the client with the O*NET Interest
Profiler so she can compare her personality attributes to current employment options. This is my
best plan to help assist the young client.
14
CAREER SELF-ASSEMENT ANALYSIS
References
American Counseling Association. (2014). 2014 ACA code of ethics.
https://www.counseling.org/knowledge-center
Horton, D. (2009). Discerning spiritual discernment: assessing current approaches for
understanding God’s will. The Journal of Youth Ministry, 2(7), 7-31.
https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=lsdar&AN=ATLA0001716564&site=ehost-live&scope=site
National Center for O*NET Development. (2010). Summary Report: Mental Health Counselors.
(O*Net Report No. 21-1014.00). Retrieved from O*Net Online website:
http://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/21-1014.00
Niles, S. G. & Harris-Bowlsbey, J. (2022).RCareer Development Interventions(6th ed.).
Pearson. ISBN: 9780135842638.
Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council. (n.d.). Licensed professional counselor (LPC)
requirements. Retrieved from https://www.bhec.texas.gov
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2023). Mental health counselors and marriage and family
therapists: Occupational outlook handbook. Retrieved from
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/mental-health-counselors-and-
marriage-and-family-therapists.htm
