Exploring Majors and your VIPs

Values are desirable qualities, standards or principles that guide you in making decisions and pursuing options that best meet your needs and lead to increased happiness. While work and personal values may change over time, you should consider them in your career planning process as they will influence what "work" will look like for you; they serve to filter duties, roles, organizations, and environments.

Ways to explore and understand your unique personal and work values include:

• Values Identification and Reflection Worksheet
• Life Values Inventory: Life Values Inventory is a free values clarification and personal development program developed to help individuals and organizations clarify their values and serve as a blueprint for effective decision-making and optimal functioning. To learn more, visit https://www.lifevaluesinventory.org

Your interests relate to how you like to spend your energy. People tend to thrive in work environments that align well with their interests. 

One informal assessment you may wish to explore to discover your career interests is the My Next Move Interest Profiler from O*Net. This short activity helps you identify career interest clusters based on your personality type. Once you complete the assessment, O*Net provides comprehensive information on the careers and industries that align well with your interests. You can also start with the My Next Move resource to research careers. 

• Schedule an appointment with a BCC staff member to discuss your interests and career exploration questions. 
• Visit Marquette University’s Career Services Center website for information on additional assessment options. 

Skills are competencies you learn and sharpen, often categorized as hard/soft. technical/transferable, and most recently as "power" skills. Strengths are natural gifts that you discover and develop. Considering your current skills, strengths, and as areas for development can contribute to your career exploration \\research and reflections as well as the ways you market yourself to an employer.   

For additional and expanded information about skills, and how you can identify and utilize your skills take a look at our Skills Guide

Interested in completing the assessment and reviewing your preferences (including career ideas)? Contact the Career Services Center career.services@marquette.edu

• Interest, Skills, and Values
• Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
• Strong Interest Inventory

Before you begin the assessment:

• They will take time (20-30 minutes) to complete.
• Complete the assessment at a time when you are feeling like your usual self – not overly stressed or relaxed.
• Answer the items from your perspective, letting go of others’ expectations of you.