How can you gain insight into your personality, interests, and values for career development?

My favorite, and one of the most respected, systems is called the Enneagram. Unlike many personality assessments, the Enneagram is focused on motivators instead of just behaviors; in other words, why we do what we do. It offers a practical roadmap to holistic growth that can have massive personal and professional impact. The assessment can be found online but it is really valuable to have a certified Enneagram practitioner debrief the assessment too.

Some of the best personality and strengths tests I have found are free! Here is a great list to get started with: 1. 16personalities 2. High5test 3. Bigfive-test 4. Authentic Happiness character strenghts Each of these will look at personality and strenghts in somewhat different ways, but trying them all will help you to start identifying patterns of behavior that you can look into deeper.

Here are some helpful insights when you use any personality tests for career development: - Imagine you're a detective unraveling the mysteries of your personality. Each trait you discover is a clue about what makes you tick and how you work best. - Got a hobby you love? See if your personality test highlights similar interests. This could lead you to a career you're genuinely passionate about. - Compare your results with different jobs or industries. See where you fit like a glove and where you'd be like a fish out of water. - Use the test to spot areas you're not as strong in. Not to dwell on them, but to develop them or find careers where they're not deal-breakers.

I happen to like Clifton’s Strength Finders 2.0. I prefer this test because it provides at least the top 5 traits that represent one’s strength. Once you have this i formation, you can think of existing ways in which you can make your strengths even stronger and allow them to work for you, speak for you, and use the rest of the traits (areas in which you may need some additional support or training on) by exhibiting James Clear’s 1% gains.

I’m a fan of the Hogan Assessments since they are stable overtime, unlike MBTI. The Personality Inventory provides insight into how you are likely to show up day to day. The Development Survey is an excellent scan of derailment tendencies when stressed or complacent. And the Motivations, Values and Preferences Inventory helps you understand the culture you’re likely to create for your team. It draws on the big five. For more senior leaders, you can’t beat The Leadership Circle Profile; it’s a 360 tool not a personality test. It’s the most robust tool out there and lays the foundation for individual or team development. I highly recommend this for anyone serious about their personal development and executive advancement.

Interest inventories are like a GPS for your career path. They help you determine what makes you tick and point you toward careers matching your interests and values. Instead of focusing solely on specific job titles, look at the patterns in your interests. Love solving puzzles? Careers in programming or research might be up your alley. Thrive in social settings? Consider roles in sales or hospitality. Your career doesn’t have to fit into a neat box. Love art and technology? Maybe graphic design or game development is your calling. Interests can often blend in unexpected, exciting ways.

Interest inventories can be pivotal in how you look to secure or even create the right lane for yourself. Having a deeper understanding of what fuels you can lead you to a purpose driven path that you are able to shape in any industry and capacity you see fit. I believe that tapping into these findings can offer more insight into the impact you want to have in this world in the way that works best for you. Also remember that our interest and passions are wide. Feeling overwhelmed can happen, but make sure to break it down as you explore what these mean for you.

2. Interest Exploration: Meet Yourself also provides insights into your interests and motivators. This can help you uncover areas of passion and explore potential career paths that align with your interests. For instance, if you have a high genetic motivator for creativity, you may find fulfillment in careers that involve artistic expression, design, or problem-solving.

There is an exercise that I really like to recommend to my Coachees: “The Vocation Triangle.” It consists of making 3 lists, one for each vertex of the triangle as follows: 1st vertex: its objective is to name all the activities that we like to do and that we know how to do very well. 2nd vertex: write what others say that we do very well. For this exercise, we must ask at least 10 close people, whether family, friends or colleagues. 3rd vertex: identify what needs there are in our environment that we can satisfy with what we wrote in the first two lists (vertex 1 and 2). This exercise will allow us to delve deeper into our personality, our interests and values and how we can impact others through our professional development.

We need to do the groundwork to find out what our values are so we land in a career that fulfils us rather than drains us. We can't be authentic when we’re working in a job that is misaligned with our values. To become aware of your values, you can do tests or exercises, but a big shift is to listen to your bodily sensations and what they are telling you. Misalignment with your values at work can look like: A knot in your belly, tightness in your neck, or breathing that becomes shallow and quick ... all of these signs can alert you to your values being misaligned. Pay attention to when these happen, because misalignment can lead to feelings of being an imposter and ultimately burnout. This self-reflection can lead to clarity.

Any self work has to start with a value audit. Understanding your core values and how they align is like your compass - your north store to alignment in your personal and professional journey.

Start by listing what you value most. This could include things like innovation, teamwork, integrity, or personal growth. Then, rank them in order of importance. This helps you see what truly matters to you in your career. Imagine you have 100 points to 'bid' on values. Allocate these points to different values based on how much they matter to you. It’s a fun way to quantify what’s really important to you. Write a short obituary about your career as you'd like it to be remembered. What achievements and qualities would you want to be highlighted? This can uncover your long-term aspirations and values.

When it comes to values exercises, it can be helpful to have a tool to guide your introspection. There are lots of free lists available on the web; there are also great card decks available for purchase. Once you have "your" words: (1) Consider posting them near your workspace to keep you on track. (2) Get into the habit of asking yourself how your values are reflected in the decisions you're making. (3) Examine your communications - especially emails - how are your values "showing up" there for all to see?

3. Values Alignment: Your values play a crucial role in career satisfaction. Meet Yourself can help you identify your core values and ensure they align with the values of potential employers or industries. When your values are aligned, you are more likely to feel fulfilled and motivated in your career.

Feedback and mentorship are both so valuable but offer different benefits than working with a professional coach. Where feedback and mentorship place value on someone else’s opinions and experiences, coaching is focused on surfacing the coachee’s wants and wisdom based on their experience. While mentorship can give foresight that helps people avoid pitfalls, it may not take into account each person’s lived experience and mission. Coaching focuses there first and is followed by aligned action.

Professional support based on a proven methodology has always been a great tool to help us learn about ourselves. Oftentimes, we believe we are doing things right, and that our way is the only–or best–way. Coaches help us see past these habits and understand the motivations behind our behaviors, which are key to shifting things around.

3. Self-Reflection: Meet Yourself encourages self-reflection by providing a comprehensive profile of your personality, interests, and values. This self-reflection can help you gain clarity about your career goals, strengths, and areas for development. It allows you to make intentional choices and take proactive steps towards career growth and fulfillment.

One thing I've found useful is Seeking diverse experiences and exposure to a wide range of activities, environments, and opportunities to gain new perspectives and insights into your interests, strengths, and preferences. That includes: - Explore Different Hobbies and Interests. - Volunteer for Various Causes. - Travel and Cultural Immersion.es and preferences better. - Take on Varied Work Projects. - Attend Workshops, Seminars, and Conferences. - Join Clubs or Groups: Engage in clubs, meetups, or groups centered around various interests. - Online Courses and Learning Platforms.

It's been around forever (okay, since 1970), but I've found reading What Color is Your Parachute a useful tool for structuring ones self-exploration and vision for a work environment. And its been updated, so no more references to thumbing through a phone book for ideas, as long as you get a newer copy.

Grab a notebook and start jotting down your thoughts and experiences daily. It's like having a conversation with yourself. Over time, you'll start to see patterns in what excites you, what drains you, and where your mind wanders when you let it roam free. Sign up for a class or a workshop in something totally out of your comfort zone. Whether it’s coding, pottery, or public speaking, you’ll learn something new about yourself. Think back to times in your life when you felt really proud or deeply satisfied. What were you doing? These moments can be a compass pointing toward what you truly value.

Life provides us with understanding in the form of many data points on a scattergram. While each point may not hold meaningful significance, collectively, they expose trends, insights, and provide a "third eye" outside our daily happenings. This became evident as I wrote my autoethnographical dissertation chronicling my school and learning experience from primary grades to doctoral as a neurodiverse learner. Throughout my professional journey, data points built an understanding of a self/conscious purpose, the acceptance/application of risks, and the need for self/external advocacy. A person's "Emerging Capacity" is the by-product of driven exploration and self-authorship.

4. Career Planning: Armed with the insights from Meet Yourself, you can create a more effective career development plan. You can target specific industries, roles, or skill development opportunities that align with your personality, interests, and values. This targeted approach increases the likelihood of finding career satisfaction and success. It's important to note that while Meet Yourself provides valuable insights, it is just one tool in the career development process. It should be complemented by other resources, such as mentorship, networking, and ongoing learning, to create a well-rounded approach to career development.

Journaling has been a game-changer in my career journey. It's more than progress tracking—it's about discovering deeper insights. The real learning? It happens when there's a mismatch between what I expected and what actually occurred. My advice: Reflect on these moments. Question the 'why' behind these disparities. This approach can unlock an understanding of your strengths, improvement areas, and core values. Give it a try and share your experiences!

DISC is another test used to match personality traits with jobdescription . While all these test for personality traits have pros and cons ,valididity/reliability is not perfect. With good coatching and self desplined a person [adaptable,flexable etc] possibilities are endless.

A central part of any career choice, in my experience, is mapping out what your strengths and weaknesses are, what skills and abilities you have. Assessing these, learning about them and developing them where necessary can be particularly important in any career choice. As well as interest, personality and values, these are also worth focusing on.

Try something new. There is value in journalling and personality tests, etc., but you will learn more by having new experiences. Preferably something you are a little afraid of doing. Like an improv comedy class, learning to dance ... or starting a side hustle. See them as experiments in self-discovery and learning from doing.