Assessment

Career and other related assessments can help individuals identify history, strengths, interests, values, competencies, life and other relevant experiences that shed light on past decisions and provide a guide for the future direction. Self-knowledge in these and other areas are critical to development of inspirational career goals, and a well-designed career path and development plan. Several types of assessment may be used as part of, and at any stage during, the career development process. Formal assessments may enhance development of career goals, but they are optional and not necessary in order to set career development goals. Conversations between a manager and employee or the work team that explore history, interests, strengths, values, aspirations and industry trends are often enough for employees to develop meaningful and relevant goals.

For example, a manager and employee assess the individual’s the work experiences, competencies, education, certification and job skills in order to verify their position within the market range associated with their job title and family. Employees may find it helpful to utilize additional career tools and activities to assess an array of past, present and future factors that will inform purposeful career goal setting and planning, including:

1. Assessments of a variety of professional and personal factors that have guided past career decisions and can be leveraged to make future career decisions.
2. An assessment of current and future career and industry trends.

Employees and managers are encouraged to partner in completing and analyzing the results of relevant career assessments within the first year of onboarding.