When Planning out Your Career Path, It Is Helpful to Learn About Yourself Who You Are

personal exploration

When planning out your career path, it is helpful to learn about yourself – who you are, how you like to work, what is important to you in your career. This exercise will help you explore your interests, values and personal style (or personality). interests

This questionnaire will help you identify your Holland Code, which is a set of three interest categories that are most appealing to you from a career perspective. Knowing your interests can help you identify career paths that you might find most satisfying. Please check off the following activities that are most of interest to you (as many as you like):

farming/gardening studying foreign culture auto mechanics community service carpentry teaching children building things helping people fixing electrical appliances making new friends driving a truck belonging to a club

math socializing at a party astronomy working on a sales campaign physics buying materials for a store doing puzzles selling a product building working models being with leaders doing experiments giving speeches

being in a play word processing (on computer) drawing or painting using a cash register learning a foreign language typing reports going to concerts following a budget creative writing keeping detailed reports playing an instrument filing letters and reports

Add up the number of checkmarks in each letter category. The three top categories will make up your Holland Code (i.e., SEA). your code:

*If you find that you have a tie and that none of the interest groups stands out as particularly strong, this simply means that you have a wide variety of interests. You may find that careers from a number of groups appeal to you. interest results

Here are some descriptions of the different interest categories as well as some possible career opportunities that exist within OFG. Please note that these lists only include a selection of options to get you started in thinking about your career path – it is not intended as an exclusive list.

R - realistic S - social These individuals tend to be physically strong, These individuals tend to be good communicators, athletic and well coordinated. They enjoy building understanding and helpful. They enjoy working or repairing things, working with machines and with others, particularly being able to make a being outdoors. positive impact.

 food clerk (a number of departments)  food clerk (all departments)  warehouse clerk  cashier  receiver  manager (working with people)  department manager (more hands-on)  human resources assistant/specialist

I - investigative E - enterprising These individuals are scientific, curious, These individuals thrive on challenge, competition introspective and analytical. They enjoy building on and leadership. They enjoy persuading others, their expertise, working independently to advance meeting new contacts and achieving personal and intellectual ideas. business goals.

 corporate brands – product development  manager (selling)  quality assurance specialist  buyer  IT - programmer/analyst/project manager  merchandising specialist  resource protection officer or investigator  customer product manager/merchandiser

A - artistic C - conventional These individuals are often expressive, innovative, These individuals prefer organized, calm and sensitive. They enjoy creative interests, trying environments with routine tasks. They enjoy being new things and expressing themselves through able to find practical, efficient solutions to problems, their work (artistically). working in stable, secure environments.

 merchandising manager (designing  cashier displays)  office clerk/manager  marketing coordinator  accountant  communications specialist  treasury services representative  photographer

There are a number of other career paths available within OFG. Check out the office organization chart or retail success paths for more information. Knowing what your interests are will help you to determine if one of these careers is a good fit for you. workplace values

Understanding what is important to you in your workplace is key to ensuring your career satisfaction. If your career and your values are consistent with one another, you are more likely to be happy in your job.

In the table below, read the description of each value and rate how important this value is to you in your career and how well your current or desired job meets this value (scale of 0-5, where 0 is non existent and 5 is to a large extent). The closer these scores are to each other, the more likely you will feel that your job is meeting your needs. career anchor and description importance match to job security/stability You prefer steady, predictable work and a long-term employment relationship. You strongly identify with the company you work for and gain satisfaction from belonging to this organization. autonomy/independence You have a need to do things your own way; although you will work to achieve organizational goals and objectives, you will want to decide how this is to be done. You prefer to work autonomously and enjoy being able to chart your own path. technical/functional competence You are motivated by being able to apply your talents at work and by being regarded as an expert by others. It is important to you that your job remain challenging, otherwise you may become bored. Once you find your area of specialty, you will want to continue working within this area. managerial competence You are motivated by career advancement, achieving higher levels of responsibility within the company. Rather than seeking out an area of specialization, you prefer to have a breadth of knowledge about several functional areas and to be an expert instead in the overall business. entrepreneurial creativity You have a need for creative challenges, and enjoy the opportunity to create or shape your own business, department or product. You are motivated by having ownership over the area you work in and by having it become self- sufficient and successful. sense of service/dedication to a cause You enjoy working in a job where you can directly serve, support or contribute to the well-being of others. You enjoy making a difference through your work; this sense of helping others is more motivating to you than the monetary rewards of your job. pure challenge You are motivated by challenge, by being able to overcome anything or anybody. You enjoy solving problems, making sales, beating competitors and surpassing targets or standards. It is important to you to have variety in your work, as these diverse tasks help you to develop your competencies. lifestyle integration You are less motivated by what you do at work than by what you do outside of work. This does not mean that you are not interested in a meaningful career, but it will be important for you to have flexibility so that you can balance your family, friends, hobbies and other outside activities with your work. personality

The following exercise will help you to determine your personality type. Your type will help you learn more about how you like to work, and what types of work you are likely to find rewarding.

For each of the questions, please select the answer which best describes you. At the end of the exercise, we will help you tally your scores to identify your personality type.

1. At a party do you: a) Socialize with many people, including those who are new to you b) Socialize with a few people, preferring ones you have met before

2. Do you describe yourself as: a) Realistic b) Philosophical

3. Are you more interested in: a) Facts b) Similes

4. Do you place more emphasis on: a) Being fair minded b) Being kind hearted

5. Do you tend to be more: a) Unemotional b) Sympathetic

6. Do you prefer to work: a) With a deadline in mind b) With fluid timelines and schedules

7. When making decisions, are you: a) Fairly careful b) Somewhat impulsive

8. In a social setting, do you: a) Stay late, getting more energized as the event goes on b) Leave early, finding the experience more draining

9. Do you believe that you are more: a) Sensible b) Reflective

10. Are you more compelled by: a) Hard data or facts b) Complex ideas

11. Do you find it easier to be: a) Fair b) Nice

12. When you meet someone new are you: a) Distant and detached b) Engaging and friendly personality

13. Do you tend to be more: a) Punctual b) Leisurely

14. Does it bother you more to have things: a) Incomplete b) Complete

15. Among friends, do you find that you: a) Keep up-to-date on what is happening b) Fall behind on news

16. Are you more interested by: a) Specifics b) Concepts

17. Do you prefer authors who: a) Say what they mean b) Use analogies to illustrate their point

18. Is your natural style to be more: a) Impartial b) Compassionate

19. When decision making, are you more likely to be: a) Impersonal b) Emotional

20. Do you prefer to: a) Get things settled b) Keep your options open

21. Are you more: a) Quick to agree to a time b) Hesitant to agree to a time

22. When you call someone on the phone, do you: a) Improvise b) Rehearse what you’d like to say

23. Do you believe that facts: a) Stand alone b) Need interpretation

24. Do you prefer working with: a) Practical data b) Abstract ideas

25. Do you find that you are more: a) Cool headed b) Warm hearted

26. Would you rather be known as: a) More just than merciful b) More merciful than just 27. Are you more comfortable: personality

a) Planning timelines b) Postponing

28. Do you prefer to make: a) Written agreements b) Handshake agreements

29. When in social situations, do you: a) Initiate conversations b) Wait for someone to talk to you

30. Do you believe that traditional common sense is: a) Fairly trustworthy b) Misleading

31. Would you say that children need to be more: a) Practical b) Imaginative

32. Would others characterize you as: a) Tough minded b) Tender hearted

33. Is your tendency to be more: a) Firm b) Gentle

34. Are you more likely to keep things: a) Planned b) Open-ended

35. Do you place more importance on things being: a) Defined – “That’s just the way it is.” b) Variable – “It depends…”

36. Do you find interactions with others to be: a) Stimulating b) Overwhelming

37. Do you find yourself to be more: a) Practical b) Theoretical

38. Which of the two ideas is more attractive to you: a) Perception what is b) Conception of what could be

39. Which do you find more satisfying: a) To discuss an issue thoroughly b) To arrive at agreement on an issue

40. Which guides you more in making decisions: a) Your head b) Your heart 41. Are you more comfortable working on a: a) Contract personality

b) Casual basis

42. Do you prefer for things to be: a) Neat and orderly b) Optional

43. Do you prefer to have: a) Many friends with shorter interactions b) Fewer friends with longer interactions

44. Would you prefer to have: a) Substantial information b) Credible assumptions

45. Do your interests lie in: a) Production b) Research

46. Do you find you are more comfortable being: a) Objective b) Personal

47. Do you value being: a) Unwavering b) Devoted

48. Are you more comfortable with: a) Final statements b) Tentative statements

49. Are you more comfortable: a) After a decision has been made b) Before a decision has been made

50. Do you: a) Find it easy to speak with people you do not know b) Have difficulty making conversation with people you do not know

51. Are you usually more interested in: a) A particular situation b) A general case

52. Do you feel more: a) Practical b) Innovative

53. Which of the two do you find more appealing: a) Logic and reason b) Feelings and emotions

54. Do you find yourself to be more: a) Fair b) Sympathetic 55. Do you believe it is preferable to: a) Plan out all the details b) Just let things happen personality

56. Do you have a tendency to: a) Get things decided b) Put off making a decision

57. When the phone rings, do you: a) Rush to get to it first b) Hope someone else will answer first

58. Do you prefer to have a: a) Strong sense of reality b) Good imagination

59. Do you find yourself more interested in: a) Fundamentals b) Implications

60. In when making a decision, do you tend to be more: a) Neutral b) Charitable

61. Do you think of yourself as: a) Clear headed b) Good natured

62. Are you more likely to: a) Schedule your plans b) Be spontaneous

63. Would others describe you as: a) Preferring routine b) Go with the flow

64. Do you tend to be: a) Approachable b) Reserved

65. Which of the following is more fun for you: a) Hands-on work b) Blue-sky dreaming

66. What type of writing do you prefer: a) Literal b) Figurative

67. Would you say that you are: a) Unbiased b) Compassionate

68. Do you feel that it is more important to be: a) Just b) Lenient 69. Are you more likely to: a) Make a snap judgement b) Delay making judgement personality

70. Is your tendency to be more: a) Deliberate b) Spontaneous

Record your responses to each question in the table below and total the number of responses for each number (1-8). Please note that there are two columns for numbers 3-8, so please add together your totals for both columns to reach your final score.

a b a b a b a b a b a b a b 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70

1 2 3a 4a 3b 4b 5a 6a 5b 6b 7a 8a 7b 8b

3a 4a 5a 6a 7a 8a

E I S N T F J P

Adapted from Please Understand Me by David Keirsey and Marilyn Bates, Prometheus Nemesis Book Company, Del Mar, CA, 1978.

For each of the four pairs (E/I, S/N, T/F and J/P), determine which score is higher to determine your personality preference. If you have a tie, you may designate an X for this characteristic and review the description for both options.

On the following pages, you will find a description of each of these personality preferences as well as how they relate to your career path.

When you combine the four letters together (i.e., ISTP) this is your personality type. A number of resources exist to help you learn more about what this means for you and your career interests. Here are some examples:

 Keirsey.com  Typefocus.com  “Do What You Are” by Paul Tieger and Barbara Barron-Tieger  “Please Understand Me” by David Keirsey and Marilyn Bates personality and career

Here are the descriptions for each of the factors that make up your personality type. These explanations will help you better your approach to life and your career.

Extraversion Introversion  Like interactive environments  Like quiet, private space for concentration  Impatient with long projects  Comfortable with long-term projects  Develop ideas  Develop ideas alone through reflection through discussion  Like to work alone, occasionally in groups  Like group and  Depth of interests - similarity team activities  “Still Waters Run Deep”  Breadth of interests - variety  “What You See Is What You Get” Sensing INtuitive  Gather information  Gather information via the five senses via the sixth sense  Concerned with  Concerned with present realities future possibilities  Proceed step-by-  Proceed in burst of step or piece-by-piece energy  Enjoy applying  Enjoy the challenge perfected skills of learning  Prefer routine with  Prefer change, minor improvements sometimes radical  Practical  Innovative  Precise  General  Literal  Figurative  Trust experience  Trust inspiration  Accounting and  Science and Mechanics Computers  “See the Trees” -  “See the Forest” - Detail Big Picture Thinking Feeling  Decide by  Decide by impact objective, impersonal analysis on people/values  Detached and firm-  Involved and minded amicable  Head  Heart  Focus on task and  Focus on people objectives and harmony  Competitive  Cooperative  Like thought-  Enjoy jobs where provoking environments they can help Judging Perceiving  Scheduled  Spontaneous  Structured  Like flexibility in  Decide quickly in the job personality and career

the desire for closure  Always attuned to  Enjoy ending tasks incoming information  Plan  Enjoy starting  Like to control and tasks regulate events  Adapt  Like to experience and understand events

The following page will offer you a more specific look at the careers that people of your personality type are most likely to find rewarding. personality and career

Personality type theorists believe that although there are sixteen different combinations, given the four scales discussed on the previous page, there are four main groups - or temperaments - which have similar fundamental motivations.

In the table below, we will explore the general career interests for each temperament, as well as some specific interests for each type.

SJ – Guardians SP – Artisans Finding Membership and Belonging Finding Freedom and Action These individuals find it important to belong to a These individuals are often independent, preferring group and to make positive contributions to a life of action and freedom. their community. ESTP – Prefers action careers, such as emergency ESTJ – Tend to seek leadership positions; enjoy response (police, EMT) or military, as well as using technical skills; may be interested in running business, such as finance or sales. their own business. ISTP – Fast hand-eye coordination and analytical ISTJ – Accurate and precise; enjoy business, civil skills; some possible careers include chiropractor or service or professional positions. optometrist, computer programmer, pilot, banker. ESFJ – Provide for the welfare of others; have well- ESFP – Enjoy conversations with others; developed social skills; may enjoy health care, charismatic; may be drawn to sales, sports or business. entertainment. ISFJ – Keep things running smoothly; often work ISFP – Driven by values and aesthetics; may find behind the scenes; enjoy health care, education them in medical, social services or education and social service. careers; some are driven to express artistic talents; others choose service industry or clerical roles. NT – Rationals NF – Idealists Finding Knowledge and Competence Finding Meaning and Unique Identity These individuals are strong visionaries, with the These individuals are driven by seeking the greater passion and ability to make that vision come good and living in alignment with their to pass. values. They seek to have a life of meaning ENTJ – Strong leadership tendencies; driven and to help others. towards reaching goals; analytical abilities; possible ENFJ – Good at building relationships; drawn to careers include project managers, financial education, social services, training, counselling or planners or labour relations leaders. clergy. Need to connect with others and make a INTJ – Focused on an internal vision; good difference. problem solvers; enjoy intellectual puzzles which INFJ – More private, but still value making a translates well to technical positions such as difference; may be found in education, religion, research or engineering. social work, or in the arts. ENTP – Enjoy bouncing ideas off of other people; ENFP – A natural confidant, this type excels as a prefer work that involves new ideas and contact mediator, teacher, counsellor or reporter. Want to with others; drawn to politics, marketing, public experience the whole of life and may change relations. careers more often than other types. INTP – Store large amounts of information and INFP – Driven to express their own unique vision of have strong analytical capabilities; drawn to the world through music, art, entertainment or professions such as medicine, law, financial dance. Can also find reward as a professor or analysts. May be drawn to express themselves teacher, social worker, counsellor or human creatively through their career. resources professional. Adapted from Keirsey.com – “Finding Your Passion or What Makes a Job Right for You?”, 2011. personality and career

The Five Commandments of Preferences

Each of the 16 preference combinations represents a distinct work interest type with a style different in many characteristics from each of the others. When reviewing and considering the preference descriptions, it is important to remember the following caveats:

1. No assessment of any kind is 100% accurate in predicting every behavioral characteristic or preference of an individual. An assessment like this is only one lens through which to view human personality, preferences, and interests.

2. How you really perceive yourself is more important than what is predicted by theory. It takes real life and self-awareness to validate your preferences. Remember that you are the one who gives credence to your career interests.

3. Do not necessarily rely completely on the assessment score to determine your preferences. If the score for the two pairs in any of the dimensions was close and you are uncertain about which you really are, read the style descriptions for both of the preferences.

4. No one preference is better than any other preference - only different! Societies of the world, organizations, families, teams, or other collections of human beings function better with every preference style. In addition, you use all the functions and attitudes at different times.

5. Your strength maximized becomes a liability. It is perfectly natural for us to rely on that part of us with which we feel the most comfortable. But by doing so, we can further neglect other parts of ourselves, which eventually become uncomfortable, underdeveloped, and unskilled. After all, a big part of career management means career self-development!

Adapted from Type Talk at Work, 1992 Delacorte Press, and Otto Kroger Associates, 1996

Knowing what you have learned from these assessments will help you determine whether a career path is a good fit for you. The career planning questions exercise may help you decide what you would like your future career to look like.