An Academic Advising Center and Career Services Collaboration
Lori Anderson & Karolyn Bald • University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
• • (608) 785-6950
Thinking Outside the Box
Leading questions…
Undecided
· Why do you feel undecided?
· How do you think other people choose their major or career?
· What are you doing or what have you done so far to help you decide?
· What are your biggest roadblocks to deciding?
· If you could study anything just because it’s interesting, what would you study? What’s stopping you?
· Forgetting money or talent, what would your dream job be? What’s stopping you?
· Do you want my help?
Changing majors or careers
· What caused you to change your mind?
· Do you have anything else in mind?
· Why is this a better option for you?
Major in mind/no career
· How did you decide you wanted to be a ____major?
· How is this major a good fit for you?
· Do you feel you have researched all majors at UW-L?
· Do you have a few career goals or interests?
· What courses in this major especially interest you?
· What courses outside of your major are required in this major?
Career in mind/no major
· How did you decide you wanted to be a ______?
· What kinds of classes or educational background are required to become a ______?
· What other careers have you considered?
· What have you done to discover what being a ______is like?
· How do you know you will like being a ______?
· Do you think there’s a chance you might change your mind if another, better career came along?
Advisee Introduction
Please bring to first appointment with Lori
In order to assist you, it is helpful for me to know more about you. Before your first individual appointment, please take a moment to answer all of the questions as thoroughly and honestly as possible. Bring this form to your first advising meeting. Thank you!
Name: ______Preferred first name: ______
Hometown: ______
Has anyone in your immediate family (parents or siblings) gone to college ? _____Yes _____No
What motivated you to go on to college & invest all this time and money in your education?
______
I have: ______no idea about my major ______some ideas about my major (list:
______
______
I have: ______no idea about a career direction ______some ideas about a career direction (list:
______
______
What sorts of things do you look forward to and get excited about? ______
In my free time I like to: ______
What are you really good at? What comes naturally to you? ______
What classes have come easiest to you and/or what classes have you outperformed your classmates? ______
What is your dream job and what makes it sound fun? ______
What activities, organizations, or sports are you involved in or would like to be involved in while at UW-L?
______
____ I have a job this fall. I will work approximately _____ hours per week.
Do you anticipate encountering any challenges or obstacles that might interfere with your success here?
_____ No _____ Yes (We can share at our first individual meeting.)
Right now, how do you feel about being here at UW-L? Please explain:
______
Is there anything else that might be helpful for me to know about you?
______
______
C:\Documents and Settings\User\My Documents\Lori\orientation meeting \1st year intake form 7/3/14 lja
Exercise I ~ LOST
Imagine you are flying an airplane alone. After flying for some time, you find yourself approaching six remote islands. Suddenly, your plane develops engine trouble, and you realize that you are going to have to make a forced landing on one of the islands.
You know that highly civilized and advanced people populate each island. They have moved to these locations to associate with other compatible people and to enjoy the balmy climate.
The people on each island have the characteristics described below. You realize you will be on the island for a long time since ships make only infrequent visits. You also know that transportation between these six islands is nonexistent. Where you land, therefore, determines what kind of people you will be staying with for a long while. Therefore you will want to choose your landing spot with care.
Which group of people would you prefer as companions for a significant amount of time? Then assume that for some reason you cannot land on your preferred island. Which group of people would be your second choice? Third choice?
Save this document to a file on your computer. Indicate your top three choices by putting 1 - 3 in the designated blanks.
Save again and send back to me
___A. People who particularly value people who are practical and mechanical -- who are good at working with objects, tools, mechanical or electrical drawings, machines, plants or animals. People who tend to enjoy being outdoors. Value practical things you can see and touch -- like plants and animals you can grow, or things you can build or make better. They often prefer using “action solutions” such as mechanical, athletic and manual skills over interacting with groups and using interpersonal skills. Generally avoid social activities like teaching, counseling, nursing, and informing others. They tend to be interested in scientific or mechanical areas rather than cultural and aesthetic areas.
___B. People who particularly value people who are precise, scientific, and intellectual -- who are good at understanding and solving science and math problems. People who enjoy observing, learning, investigating, analyzing, evaluating, or solving problems. They like to work independently and on a cognitive level. Generally avoid leading, selling, or persuading people. They like to think about and analyze ideas, problems and issues. May have strong math, science, and analytical abilities. They prefer to study and understand situations and expand their knowledge on subject matters. They are not always apt to be “people-oriented”.
___ C. People who particularly value people who are expressive, original, and independent -- who have good artistic abilities in creative writing, drama, crafts, music, or art. Innovative, intuitive, or artistic people like to use their imagination or creativity working in unstructured situations.Often enjoy innovative and open experiences over organized and structured activities. They prefer to let their emotions soar and guide them. Generally avoid repetitive, regimented and routine activities.
___D. People who particularly value people who are helpful, friendly, and trustworthy -- who are good at teaching, counseling, nursing, giving information, and solving social problems. Like to be around people and are sensitive to the needs of other people. They enjoy helping others and contributing to the good of society. Have strong interpersonal and communication skills and tend to be empathetic, patient and understanding. They may prefer to avoid technical work or activities involving machines or objects. They perceive themselves as good at working with, informing, inspiring, enlightening, helping, training, or developing other people.
___E. People who particularly value people who are energetic, ambitious, and sociable -- who are good at politics, leading people and selling things or ideas. People who are verbally skilled and enjoy working with, influencing, and persuading other people. They tend to be comfortable with their decision-making skills and may be ambitious, competitive, and self-confident. They enjoy leadership and public speaking responsibilities. Often attracted to economically rewarding endeavors and are comfortable exerting power over others. Generally avoid activities that require careful observation & scientific, analytical thinking.
___F. People who particularly value people who are orderly, and good at following a set plan -- good at working with written records and numbers in a systematic, orderly way. People who enjoy working with data, possess clerical or numerical abilities, carry things out in detail, and follow through on the instructions of others. They prefer very structured and organized activities. They like to have a clear understanding of expectations and follow established procedures. They tend to prefer an orderly, calm and efficient environment where they can be part of a team with an organized, established routine. Value success in business. May have strong verbal and numerical abilities and prefer to avoid ambiguous, unstructured activities.
Adapted from Richard N. Bolles, The Party Exercise (Berkley, CA National Career Development Project)
Exercise II - PersonalityMosaic – Highlight or bold the numbers of the statements that clearly sound like something you might say,do or think – that feels like you, not who you would like to be.
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1. Itisimportantformetohaveastrong,agile,body.
2. Ineedtounderstandthingsthoroughly.
3. Music,color,beautyofanykindcanreallyaffectmymoods.
4. Peopleenrichmylifeandgiveitmeaning.
5. IhavestrongconfidenceinmyselfthatIcanmakethingshappen.
6. IwantcleardirectionssoIknowexactlywhattodo.
7. Icanusuallybuildorfixthingsmyself.
8. Icangetabsorbedforhoursinthinkingsomethingout.
9. Ilikecoloranddesignandappreciatebeautifulsurroundings.
10. I’llspendtimefindingwaystohelppeoplethroughpersonalcrises.
11. Ienjoycompeting.
12. I’llspendtimegettingcarefullyorganizedbeforeIstartaproject.
13. Ienjoymakingthingswithmyhands.
14. It’ssatisfyingtoexplorenewideas.
15. Iamalwayslookingfornewwaystoexpressmycreativity.
16. Ivaluebeingabletosharepersonalconcernswithpeople.
17. Ivaluegood,hardphysicalwork.
18. Itakeprideinbeingverycarefulaboutallthedetailsofmywork.
19. Ilovetodressinunusualways,tryingoutnewstylesandcolors.
20. Ienjoygettingpeopleorganizedandonthemove.
21. I’dratherplayitsafethanbeadventurousinmakingdecisions.
22. SometimesIcansitforlongperiodsoftimeandworkonpuzzlesorreadorjustthink.
23. Ihaveanamazingimagination.
24. Iliketohelppeopledeveloptheirtalentsandabilities.
25. IusuallypreparecarefullyaheadoftimeifIhavetohandleanewsituationorjob.
26. I’dratherbeonmyowndoingpractical,hand‐onactivities.
27. I’meagertoreadaboutanysubjectthatarousesmycuriosity.
28. Ilovetotrycreativenewideas.
29. IfIhaveaproblemwithsomeone,I’llkeeptryingtoresolveitpeacefully.
30. Isaywhat’sonmymindanddon’tbeataroundthebush.
31. IneedtoanalyzeaproblemprettythoroughlybeforeIactonit.
32. Igetprojectsstartedandletotherstakecareofdetails.
33. Beingontimeisimportanttome.
34. Ilikemyworktobeanexpressionofmyfeelingsandvalues.
35. It’sexcitingtotakepartinimportantdecisions.
36. Ilikemysurroundingstoberelativelyplainandpractical.
37. IneedtostaywithaproblemuntilIfigureoutananswer.
38. Close,personalrelationshipsareimportanttome.
39. Promotionand advancement are very important to me.
40. Ilook forward to seeing arts shows, plays and good films.
41. Iliketofindwaystohelpothers.
42. It’sexcitingtoinfluencepeople.
43. WhenIsayI’lldoit,Ifollowthroughoneverydetail.
44. Iliketolearneverythingthereistoknowonsubjectsthatinterestme.
45. Idon’twanttobelikeeveryoneelse;Ilikedoingthingsdifferently.
46. WhenpeoplehaveaproblemIgooutofmywaytobeflexibleandcaring.
47. I’mwillingtotakesomeriskstogetahead.
48. IfeelmoresecurewhenIfollowtherules.
49. ThefirstthingIlookforinacarisawell‐builtengine.
50. Iusuallyknowhowtotakecareofthingsinanemergency.
51. Justreadingaboutnewdiscoveriesisexciting.
52. Iamagoodlistenerwhenpeopletalkaboutthemselves.
53. IliketotakethingsaparttoseeifIcanfixthem.
54. Iliketobecarefulaboutspendingmoney.
Scoring: Circle your responses again below and add the number of circled responses, 1 – 9 for each column. Save again and send back to me.
R / I / A / S / E / C1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12
13 / 14 / 15 / 16 / 20 / 18
26 / 22 / 19 / 24 / 30 / 21
36 / 27 / 23 / 29 / 32 / 25
49 / 31 / 28 / 38 / 35 / 33
50 / 37 / 34 / 41 / 39 / 43
53 / 44 / 40 / 46 / 42 / 48
17 / 51 / 45 / 52 / 47 / 54
R_____ I______A______S______E______C______
1.______2.______3.______
From Coming Alive From Nine to Five, Betty Neville Michelozzi, Mayfield Publishing Co.
Exercise III ~ Personality Identity Exercise
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Circle or bold all words that you believe describe you as a person (a few words will appear twice). Use a dictionary if you don’t understand any word. After doing so, total the number of words circled in each of the six groups and record those totals at the bottom of each column.
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athletic
conservative
focused
honest
humble
mechanically inclined
nature lover
outdoor-type
persistent
practical
realistic
shy
straight-forward
strong
thrifty
TOTAL_____ / GROUP B
analytical
complex
critical
independent
inquisitive
intellectual
logical
mathematical
methodical
observant
precise
rational
reserved
scientifically inclined
studious
TOTAL______/ GROUP C
artistic
complicated
creative
disorderly
emotional
expressive
imaginative
impulsive
independent
innovative
insightful
intuitive
non-conforming
original
reflective
TOTAL_____
accepting
cooperative
friendly
generous
helpful
humanitarian
idealistic
insightful
kind
outgoing
responsible
sociable
sympathetic
understanding
warm
TOTAL_____ / GROUP E
ambitious
articulate
assertive
attention-getting
confident
domineering
energetic
enthusiastic
extroverted
impulsive
influential
optimistic
persuasive
risk-taker
sociable
TOTAL_____ / GROUP F
accurate
conforming
conscientious
conventional
dependable
efficient
methodical
numerically inclined
organized
persistent
practical
precise
reliable
systematic
well-controlled
TOTAL_____
Adapted from Guide to Choosing a College (Major Career Center, Christian Brothers University)
Student Name: Sam Smith
Career theorist John Holland contends that people who choose to work or study in an environment similar to their pattern of interests are more likely to be successful and satisfied. How you act and feel at work/college depends to a large extent on your workplace/learning environment. If you are working or studying with people who have a personality type like yours and interests similar to yours, you will be able to do many of the things they can do, and you will feel most comfortable with them. When you know your pattern of interests, you can avoid occupations/majors that you will not enjoy. What you have been doing throughout the three exercises is identifying characteristics that you see in yourself and matching them to the 6 interest types John Holland has identified: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising and Conventional. Holland argues that 2-3 interest types dominate in each person.
Using information from the three worksheets you have completed, we can identify your top 2-3 interest types with the goal of making more informed major and career choices based on a clear understanding of your tendencies and inclinations.
First Name’s Top 3 Holland Codes
Social - HELPERS - Those who tend to be dominant in the social area like to be around people and are sensitive to the needs of other people. They may enjoy working with children, the elderly, people with special needs or diverse populations. They enjoy helping others and contributing to the good of society. Social types have strong interpersonal and communication skills and tend to be empathetic, patient and understanding. They may prefer to avoid technical work or activities involving machines or objects. Social types typically prefer the team approach to problem solving. They perceive themselves as good at teaching, counseling, caring for others, volunteering, mediating disputes, public speaking, meeting new people, and working in groups. Typical traits: accepting, cooperative, friendly, generous, helpful, humanitarian, idealistic, insightful, kind, outgoing, responsible, sociable, sympathetic, understanding, warm.