professionals agree that self-assessment is the key.
Career Quizzes helps readers look inside themselves; examine their needs and
values, interests and skills, personality and preferences; and make better
choices. A career counselor for 20 years and one of the nation’s leading
developers of career assessments, author John Liptak takes readers on a journey
of self-discovery that will help them find work they love and develop their
career from start to finish.
Each chapter centers on an easy, fun, and revealing assessment that coaches job
seekers through the successive steps in the career exploration and job search
process. The book includes assessments of job satisfaction, work/life balance,
career needs, interests and skills, work values, personality, entrepreneurial
readiness, and much more.
Most importantly, unlike many other assessment–based books on the market, Career
Quizzes not only helps job seekers discover a rewarding career path, but it
helps them walk that path as well. The assessments are easy to take, score, and
interpret, and each chapter contains worksheets and activities written
specifically for the user to help personalize and make the most of the results.
It’s more than just a book of quizzes; it’s a complete career planning tool.
People love to quiz themselves. How many times have you taken a fun little
magazine quiz as a quick way to learn something about yourself and maybe work
toward self-improvement? Well, as it turns out, you can use this same method
to improve your career prospects.
Career Quizzes
is your personal career counselor, helping you not only find a career but
manage it. It features 12 easy-to-take quizzes and guidance in pulling
together quiz and activity results to see the big picture. These quizzes will
help you better understand your interests, styles, habits, and potential.
The following is a quiz from Career Quizzes that
helps evaluate how much you know about the best ways to look for a job. Try it
and review your results!
The Job Search Proficiency Scale
For each activity statement, choose the number of the response that best
reflects how effective or skilled you are at the given task. Because there are
no right or wrong answers, do not spend too much time thinking about your
responses. Be sure to respond to every statement.
| |
In looking for a job, how effective am I at... |
Very Effective |
Somewhat Effective |
A Little Effective |
Not at All Effective |
| 1. |
posting my resume on Internet job boards |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
| 2. |
identifying companies I would like to work for |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
| 3. |
networking for job leads |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
| 4. |
conducting informational interviews with prospective employers |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
| 5. |
going to conferences where I can meet people in similar positions as
me |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
| 6. |
searching the "want ads" in local papers |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
| 7. |
signing with a headhunter who can help me find a new position |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
Section I Total: ________
| |
In presenting my qualifications in writing, how effective am I at... |
Very Effective |
Somewhat Effective |
A Little Effective |
Not at All Effective |
| 8. |
writing an outstanding, professional resume |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
| 9. |
writing a cover letter that grabs an employer's attention |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
| 10. |
filling out applications correctly |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
| 11. |
stating my job objective |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
| 12. |
adapting my resume for electronic viewing |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
| 13. |
obtaining references who have writtent letters on my behalf |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
| 14. |
developing a portfolio of my best work |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
Section II Total: ________
| |
In interviewing for jobs, how effective am I at... |
Very Effective |
Somewhat Effective |
A Little Effective |
Not at All Effective |
| 15. |
researching the organization and industry ahead of time |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
| 16. |
effectively answering interview questions with specific examples |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
| 17. |
making a good first impression |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
| 18. |
dressing and grooming for success |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
| 19. |
highlighting my strengths and camouflaging my weaknesses |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
| 20. |
preparing a list of questions to ask prospective interviewers |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
| 21. |
staying upbeat and enthusiastic about the job |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
Section III Total: ________
| |
When following up after interviews, how effective am I at... |
Very Effective |
Somewhat Effective |
A Little Effective |
Not at All Effective |
| 22. |
sending thank-you notes and e-mails |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
| 23. |
telephoning employers if I do not hear from them |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
| 24. |
obtaining the business cards of interviewers |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
| 25. |
keeping accurate records of all employers with whom I interview |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
| 26. |
assessing job offers |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
| 27. |
negotiating salary, benefits, and other compensation |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
| 28. |
providing additional materials requested by prospective employers |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
Section IV Total: ________
Scoring
This assessment can measure how competent you are in four
critical aspects of the job search. Add up the scores you circled for each
section. Put that number on the line marked “Total” at the end of each
section, then transfer your totals to the spaces below:
Section I: Using a Total Marketing Approach __________
Section II: Paper Job Search Methods __________
Section III: Interviewing __________
Section IV: Follow-up __________
Improving Your Job Search Strategy
Not everyone has skills in every aspect of the job search. In
fact, most of us have one or two weaknesses that we point to as the reason we
don’t gain an interview or an offer. Someone who can create a knockout resume
may clam up at an interview. Likewise, someone who shines in the personal
exchange of an interview may not have the slightest clue how to organize a job
search.
Although you aren’t expected to master every nuance of a job
search strategy, the better you are at the four critical aspects listed above,
the better your chances of getting the job you want. The key is to identify
your weaknesses and take the necessary steps to improve them.
For each scale above, a score from 7–13 is low and suggests that
you need to develop more job search competencies in this area. A score from
14–21 is passable, but still suggests that you should further develop your job
search skills. A score from 22–28 is high and suggests that you have a good
handle on this aspect of the job search and should keep up the good work.
