1. Unit 4: Assessments
The most difficult thing in life is to know yourself.—Thales

2. Whole Person Assessment
The assessments are pieces of the puzzle.
No one assessment should be used in career exploration and career guidance.
Include other information as well – personality, motivation, preferences, emotional intelligence,etc.
From Onetcenter.com

3. Common Assessment Pitfalls
Overdependence on Tests - allowing clients to rely on tests to make decisions for them
Inadequate Preparation - not preparing the client adequately prior to assessment
Inappropriate Use - using the results of an inventory incorrectly
Confidentiality - failing to keep results of assessment confidential and secure

4. Basic Uses of Assessments
Vocational Exploration - understanding interests, skills, values, preferences
Vocational Decision-Making - exploring clients’ decision-making styles
Educational Planning - charting educational progress and finding needs
Vocational Adjustment - helping clients make current jobs as satisfying as possible

5. Informal Assessment Forced-choice activities Card sorts
Checklists or structured worksheets
Guided imagery
Transferable skill activities
Interviews
Group discussions

6. Informal Assessment Writing samples Observation of skills
Job shadowing

7. Comparing Informal and Formal Assessment
Informal assessments are more subjective.
Informal assessments can require more time to administer or tailor.
Informal assessments demand thoughtful interpretation from a counselor.
Informal assessments have no established validity and must be used with caution.

8. Types of Formal Assessment
Interest inventories
Abilities tests
Skills inventories
Work values inventories
Personality inventories
Career beliefs and thoughts inventories
Career maturity inventories

9. Technical Aspects
Validity - Does the instrument measure what it was designed to measure?
Reliability - Does the instrument produce similar results over time?
Bias - Is the instrument less valid for some clients than for others?
Types of results - In what way(s) are the results available?
Methods of administration - How is the instrument administered?

10. Uses of Career Portfolios
Chronicle a client’s career journey and job search process
Store clients’ assessment results, resumes, work samples, etc.
File relevant occupational and labor market information
Store client information
Assist clients with action planning

11. Benefits of Career Portfolios
Promote clients’ ownership of their career decisions
Provide documentation of self-assessment, career progress, and goals
Help clients relate self-knowledge to educational and occupational choices
Enhance clients’ sense of accomplishment
Organize information related to job search