Rutgers: Career Services (Skills Assessment)

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Rutgers Online Career Planning > Assess Yourself > Skills Assessment

Skills Assessment

Below is a simple skills assessment exercise that may help you learn more about your strengths and abilities. It is based on John Holland's Theory of Vocational Development. This theory maintains that people can be loosely classified into six categories: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. College majors and careers can also be sorted into these same categories. This assessment will help you learn about which of the six areas tend to relate to your skills. Next, you can look at college majors and careers that may be consistent with your abilities. You are more likely to be satisfied with career choices that are consistent with your skills, interests, and values.

Read through the statements below and rate your level of skill in each area. Click on "click for total scores" at the end of each section and a summary of your scores will be profiled at the end of the inventory. Print out this page when you are done to have a record of your results. We recommend you meet with a career counselor to discuss your results and career plans when you are finished.

This is not a test with right or wrong answers, nor has this inventory been reviewed for reliability or validity. Your results, however, may help you identify some specific skills you possess and become aware of related college majors and career options.

REALISTIC

Rate the level of skill you think you have for each ability listed below from 0 (very little skill) 9 (a high level of skill).

	Participate in athletic competitions
	Work with your hands
	Help plants grow and stay healthy
	Understand mechanical operations
	Use tools to fix a broken object

Click for Total Realistic Score:

INVESTIGATIVE

Rate the level of skill you think you have for each ability listed below from 0 (very little skill) 9 (a high level of skill).

	Analyze data and information
	Understand scientific and technical concepts
	Research journals at the library
	Study subject matter extensively to develop expertise
	Work independently to solve complicated problems

Click for Total Investigative Score:

ARTISTIC

Rate the level of skill you think you have for each ability listed below from 0 (very little skill) 9 (a high level of skill).

	Create new ideas, objects, or concepts
	Express emotions freely
	Perform on a musical instrument
	Write creative stories
	Design brochures, flyers, or posters

Click for Total Artistic Score:

SOCIAL

Rate the level of skill you think you have for each ability listed below from 0 (very little skill) 9 (a high level of skill).

	Work with groups of people on a project
	Give emotional support to a friend in need
	Contribute to society to make it better for others
	Teach your friend how to do something new
	Counsel and advise a friend with a problem

Click for Total Social Score:

ENTERPRISING

Rate the level of skill you think you have for each ability listed below from 0 (very little skill) 9 (a high level of skill).

	Oversee and manage school activities
	Lead people to complete a project
	Convince your friends to change their minds
	Negotiate changes to an agreement
	Approach new tasks with self-confidence

Click for Enterprising Total Score:

CONVENTIONAL

Rate the level of skill you think you have for each ability listed below from 0 (very little skill) 9 (a high level of skill).

	Finish your school projects in an organized manner
	Follow directions thoroughly to accomplish a goal
	Work in a highly structured environment with very concrete rules and procedures
	Develop an organized way of achieving a goal
	Complete each step of a process and move to the next in an orderly way

Click for Total Conventional Score:

Summary of Skills Assessment Scores

Below is a summary of your scores. Click on the 3 areas in which your scores are highest to develop a better understanding of that type and learn how it relates to Rutgers University college majors and career options. Print out this page and discuss your findings with a career counselor at Career Services.

Realistic		Social
Investigative		Enterprising
Artistic		Conventional

Print out this page for future reference. After you complete the interests assessment, go back to "Assess Yourself" and complete the skills assessment and the values assessment. Once you have finished each assessment, go to the next section, "Generate Options," to brainstorm ideas of college majors and careers that might be suitable for you.


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