Learn About Myself

Making a career choice can be one of the most difficult decisions that you will have to make. The starting point for choosing a career is self-assessment. It is much better to start with yourself and then search for a career that fits you, rather than picking a career and trying to fit into the career. It is practically impossible to change yourself to fit into a career. It is much easier to change your career to fit you.

The three most important areas of self-assessment involved in making good career decisions are skills, interests, and work values. If you know what you are good at doing, what you enjoy doing, and what you feel is most important to you in life, then you are on much firmer ground in finding a career that fits you.

If you would like additional information, or feel the assessments offered may assist in your career decision-making, please contact our office at 843.953.5692 or CareerCenter@cofc.edu.

Self-Assessment Tools Available through the Career Center

FOCUS *
FOCUS is one of the top career and educational planning systems, as recognized by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). FOCUS helps provide you with the personalized career planning and educational planning information needed to make well-informed decisions in these important areas, including confirmation that your choice of academic major is appropriate and that you are preparing for an appropriate career path.

FOCUS is based on proven career advising principles. It provides you with a complete picture of your interests, values, skills, and personality, using self-assessment questionnaires, interest inventories, and personality testing. After this assessment, the program uses an extensive career and occupational information database to help you identify and explore occupations and career paths that best match your personal characteristics. This information is also useful as you identify appropriate career mentors.

Access to FOCUS is restricted to currently enrolled College of Charleston students and alumni. Please click here for login information.

*PLEASE NOTE: We have upgraded to a new version of FOCUS! If you have previously created an ID & password prior to 7/31/08, you will need to register again. You will be given an opportunity to transfer your data from your old FOCUS account.

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Strong Interest Inventory
This inventory is particularly good in helping you identify fields that match your interests. The Career Center offers an online version of the Strong Interest Inventory, which requires about 30 minutes to complete. Results from the computer version are available within 24 hours. An appointment with a Career Center counselor is required to interpret the results of this assessment.

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
This instrument can be helpful in the career decision-making process by matching your personality to work and learning environment. A full description of personality type is provided, along with a list of career suggestions that fit that personality. The MBTI is administered online and the results are available within 24 hours. It takes about 45 minutes to complete, and requires an appointment with a Career Center Counselor to interpret the results.

Individual Career Counseling
Individual assistance with any phase of the career planning/job search process is available to you. Contact our office to schedule an appointment with a staff member to discuss your individual concerns.

Self-Assessment Checklist
The checklists on the tip sheets are designed to help you identify some of your best skills, interests, and work values. Remember, the more you know about yourself, the better you will be able to fit a career to you.

Relating Majors to Careers – Choosing a Major
Students at the College of Charleston must declare their major before earning 60 hours. Students may have to do some careful thinking about themselves to determine what will suit them.

Real World 101
Learn important life skills such as budgeting, decision-making, and succeeding in the world of college and beyond.