Why self-assessment is critical in career planning

Kenya: Effective career planning involves critical decision-making, which makes a self-assessment one of the most important steps you can  take. When done well, this assessment can help you identify the career options most suitable for you.

The self-assessment process requires you to understand yourself before you start exploring careers and jobs that you would find satisfying.

The first key step is identifying your interests. What activities do you enjoy most? What kind of people do you like working with? What are you interested in doing?

Second, establish your skills. What are your most outstanding  abilities? What are your strengths and weaknesses? Knowing your transferable skills is also useful as this means you can utilise them successfully in a  variety of jobs. An example of a transferable skill is communication.

Next, establish your personality as this will influence your career choice. If you are shy and introverted, it may be difficult for you to thrive in an environment that requires a lot of public speaking.

Finally, know your values. These are principles or qualities you find desirable. Values help you make clear choices with clear goals. They are your convictions, your beliefs and define what drives you. Which work environment makes you comfortable? What expectations do you have of a given career? What activities do you find most fulfilling?

Ultimately, doing a good self-assessment is important in helping you to make an educated career decision. However, be open-minded and do not disregard a career before you evaluate yourself.

After thorough self-assessment, you can begin to systematically gather information that corresponds to your career options.