Most of us automatically respond with what we do in terms of our jobs or line of work we may be in. While it is obvious to those who attend and work at Grinnell College that people are much more complex than simply what they do for a living, it is very much the case that the majority of individuals define themselves and their identity partly on their career.

Your career development is so much more than simply finding a job to earn a living-it should reflect who you are as a person, including your interests, skills, and values. While in today's society it is less likely that you will stay in the same "job" for the rest of your life, you will still likely be able to move into positions that, while different on the surface, still align with your personal interests, skills, and values. Use the resources below to get started on your journey and remember the following quote:

"This above all: to thine own self be true."
-William Shakespeare

Grinnell College Career Development Plan (PDF)

Self-assessment is the process of exploring WHO you really are in terms of your interests, values, skills, and abilities. Self-assessment and goal-setting are very important to the job search. They keep you focused, but most importantly, help you to be ready to grab an opportunity when it arises. Once you recognize your personal qualities, you can then begin to develop your short-term and long-term goals. By using the self-assessment exercises at the end of this section, you can better identify your skills, strengths, and interests.

Be sure to contact the CDO to set up an appointment to discuss your assessment results with a career counselor!

FOCUS Career Assessment


FOCUS is a self-paced, online career and education planning tool for use by college students. It will enable you to self-assess your career relevant personal qualities and explore career fields and major areas of study that are most compatible with your assessment results. Students who use FOCUS make better decisions about their goals and plans and learn how to self-manage their careers. Use FOCUS to help you - Choose or change your major and also to verify your preferences or early choice of a career field.

Returning users, click HERE to log in. New users, click HERE to create an account. Use "pioneers" for your access code.

Myers-BriggsType Indicator (MBTI)

The purpose of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI) personality inventory is to make the theory of psychological types described by C. G. Jung understandable and useful in people’s lives. The essence of the theory is that much seemingly random variation in the behavior is actually quite orderly and consistent, being due to basic differences in the ways individuals prefer to use their perception and judgment. We offer the MBTI here in the Career Development Office. Contact us for more info!

(Please be advised that these are not considered to be formal assessments!)

University of Waterloo Career Development Center E-Manual

University of Missouri Career Interests Game

Career Decision Pyramid at University of Maine Farmington

Visualization Exercise (PDF)

Kingdomality