Self Assessment: An Introduction
Self-assessment is a process through which you become aware of your strengths and weaknesses, skills and abilities, interests, values, goals, and aspirations. For our purposes, self-assessment is aimed at preparing you to feel comfortable in interview situations where the topic is you, in negotiations where you have to be prepared to articulate your skills, and finally in planning your career where knowing where you want to go depends entirely upon knowing where you are.
Self-assessment has several benefits:
- Self-assessment helps you identify strengths that can be emphasized, and assess weaknesses that can be downplayed and worked on.
- Self-assessment gives you practice in articulating your achievements, aspirations, and goals in a way that emphasizes the fit between your profile and the strategic needs of the organization with which you're interviewing or negotiating.
- Self-assessment builds your confidence. As you review your background, you become more aware of what you can contribute to an employer. This awareness makes it easier for you to answer questions in a way that is natural and forthcoming.
Once you learn how to do it, self-assessment is never ending. It helps you refine your career goals, values, and interests as you move throughout your entire career. It not only helps you prepare for specific situations (i.e. interviews, negotiations etc.), it also helps you to keep track of the skills you are developing and identify areas for improvement.
Self-assessment is a crucial step in preparing for interviews. It helps you to anticipate questions that might be asked of you and to prepare ways to handle these questions. It is also an important step for negotiations, where you will be called on to spell out your skills, and the progress you have made. It also helps you to begin to look at your background from the perspective of the potential employer. How would you respond to the questions below?
- What are your greatest strengths?
- What are your weaknesses (and what are you doing about them)?
- Where do you want to be in five years? In ten?
- When was the last time you demonstrated leadership skills?
- How do you feel about teamwork?
- What activities do you get involved in?
- What is your ideal job and why?
The reason these questions are listed here is to get you thinking about how you would respond if a recruiter asked you these questions. How do you feel reading these questions? Nervous or uncomfortable? Talkative or reserved? Pensive or enthusiastic? Some of these questions are answered easily. The answer just rolls off your tongue. Chances are, though, that some of the questions aren't as easy. There are a number of tools and resources available to assist with the self-assessment process. The interactive quizzes in the Self-Assessment Centre will allow to practice answering questions like these on a range of career related topics.
Many jobseekers have no trouble discussing these questions and others with their friends, family or roommates, but discussing them with a recruiter is more difficult. That's because we know the questions aren't just small talk. The questions are being used as an evaluation/assessment/screening tool. The interviewer is looking for "fit" - as close of a match as possible between the needs of his or her organization and the interests, skills, and abilities of candidates who meet the organization's hiring profile. That's where self-assessment plays a role. With some self-reflection and practice, answering these questions in an interview becomes easier and more natural.
"Know thyself" is a famous quote from the ancient philosopher Socrates. More than 2,000 years later it's still sound advice. Self-assessment is a great way to prepare for beginning a job search, for interviews, and for negotiations. Not only does self-assessment help others get to know you; self-assessment helps you get to know you!