Discover Yourself:

• Take advantage of self assessment tools and tests offered at your career center and from other sources such as these web links:

  http://www.keirsey.com/

  Also, your psychology department may have tests available (befriend a Psychology major).
  
  
• Have friends, family, and others who know you well list words and phrases that describe you and how you work, both positive and negative. Take a close look at those you agree with, or those that appear more than once, and write a number of bullets that create a full description.

Make It Clear:

• Prioritize the list based on how strong and/or valuable the characteristic is to your hoped for job or field.
  
  
• Ask for feedback on who you are from close people who will be truthful. Even if you don’t like it, accept the feedback as a gift. If the weaknesses are fixable, make a plan to fix them.

Turn Features Into Benefits:

• A feature is a characteristic. A benefit shows what that characteristic can do for a future employer. (Example: Feature: You’re good with details; Benefit: You don’t let important but small responsibilities fall through the cracks.)
  
  
• Select and hone anecdotes illustrating each major feature/benefit that you can use in the interview process, or add to cover letters as appropriate. Make them short and to the point.

Add To The List As Opportunities Arise:

You’ll learn more about yourself as you go through the job-search process. Use that information to revise and expand your personal "databank" of insight.

Careers: Table of Contents

• Introduction
  • Welcome
  • Making Your Life Easier
  
  
• Taking Stock
  • What Do You Have to Offer a Future Employer?
  • Putting Together Your Package
  • Determining What You Want
  
  
• Making It Happen
  • Getting In
  • Making a Match
  • Shining at the Interview
  • Negotiating the Deal
  • It's a Career, Not Just a Job
  • If Nothing Is Happening
  • Encouraging Words