Professional Values and Skills

Career Development Resources Professional Values and Skills Assessment

Copyright © 2004United Airlines 1

Introduction

Understanding your values, knowing your strengths, skills and interests is key to

helping plan your career within United. It will help you to determine whether your

current job is the right fit, or maybe you want to look for other positions within the

Company which might better fit your values, skills, and interests.

In this section you will have an opportunity to assess your values and skills by

completing the following activities:

• Professional Values Assessment

• Skills Assessment

• Motivation Assessment

• Personality Assessment

• "Who Am I" Assessment

• Resources to Further Assess Your Values and Skills



Professional Values Assessment

The tool below will help you identify the things that motivate you in the work environment. Use this tool in your job search to identify the types of things you are looking for from your potential employer.

• First, review the list of values below, and using a scale from 1-4 (1 for extremely important 4 for not important), to determine which values match with your own.

___ 1. Help Others: Be involved in helping other people in a direct way, whether

individually or in small groups. ___ 2. Public Contact: Have a lot of day-to-day contact with people.

___ 3. Work With Others: Have close working relationships with a group; work as a

team toward common goals. ___ 4. Friendships: Develop close personal relationships with people resulting from

work activities. ___ 5. Competition: Engage in activities that pit my abilities against others where

there are clear win and lose outcomes. ___ 6. Make Decisions: Have the power to decide courses of action, policies, etc.

___ 7. Work Under Pressure: Work in situations where time pressure is prevalent

and/or the quality of my work is judged critically by supervisors, customers, or

others. ___ 8. Influence People: Be in a position to change attitudes or opinions of other

people. ___ 9. Work Alone: Do projects by myself, without a significant amount of contact

with others. ___ 10. Knowledge: Engage in the pursuit of knowledge, truth, and understanding.

___ 11. Intellectual Status: Be regarded as a person of high intellectual prowess or as

one who is an acknowledged expert in a given field.



___ 12. Creativity: Engage in creative work; create new ideas, programs,

organizational structures, or anything else, without following a format

previously developed by others. ___ 13. Aesthetics: Be involved in studying or appreciating the beauty of things, ideas,

etc. ___ 14. Supervision: Have a job in which I am directly responsible for the work done

by others. ___ 15. Change and Variety: Have work responsibilities that change in content and

setting. ___ 16. Precision Work: Work in situations where there is very little tolerance for error.

___ 17. Stability: Have a work routine and job duties that are largely predictable and

not likely to change over a long period of time. ___ 18. Security: Be assured of keeping my job, insurance, benefits, and reasonable

financial reward. ___ 19. Fast Pace: Work in circumstances where there is a high pace of activity; work

must be done rapidly. ___ 20. Recognition: Be recognized for the quality of my work in some visible or public

way. ___ 21. Adventure: Have work duties that involve frequent risk-taking.

___ 22. Profit, Gain: Have a strong likelihood of accumulating large amounts of

money. ___ 23. Independence: Be able to determine the nature of my work without significant

direction from others; not have to do what others tell me to. ___ 24. Moral Fulfillment: Feel that my work is contributing significantly to a set of

moral standards, which I feel are very important. ___ 25. Flexible Schedule: Have work responsibilities, which I can work at according

to my own time schedule; no specific working hours required. ___ 26. Location: Be able to work in the geographic area of my choice.

___ 27. Status: Have a position that is considered highly ranked.



___ 28. Travel: Have a job that influences my ability or desire to travel.

___ 29. Free Time: Work the kind of schedule that allows me to pursue other personal

activities. ___ 30. Advancement/Promotability: Have access to opportunities for advancement

and promotion. ___ 31. Self-Development: Have opportunities to advance my skills and abilities.

___ 32. Work Enjoyment: Have a job that gives me pleasure.



Rank Your Values After you have rated each of the values, identify which values you have rated as a 1. List all of those values below.

Values

Next, rank these professional values according their priority to you. This list will indicate which values have to be met by an employer in order for you to feel satisfied and motivated in your job or career. Value #1: ________________________________________________________

Value #2: ________________________________________________________

Value #3: ________________________________________________________

Value #4: ________________________________________________________

Value #5: ________________________________________________________

Value #6: ________________________________________________________

Value #7: ________________________________________________________

Value #8: ________________________________________________________

Value #9: ________________________________________________________

Value #10: _______________________________________________________



Skills Assessment

Identifying what skills you possess will help you identify what types of jobs best

suit you. Use the following tool to assess your preferred skills and to what level

you feel confident in performing them.

• First, read through the list of skills, and using a scale from 1-4 (1 for most

preferred and 4 for least preferred), rate each skill according to how they

relate to your work environment.

• After you have rated each of the skills, now identify which of the skills you

are proficient at and have demonstrated in your previous employment

experience. Highlight the skills by using a highlighter or by circling the

skills you feel you can demonstrate proficiently.

• Finally, review the list and identify which of preferred skills you rated a 1 or

2 and are also highlighted as skills you demonstrate proficiently.

After you have completed the assessment you will be able to identify those skills

you want to use more often in your work environment. They are the things you

enjoy doing and are skilled in. Finding a job that requires these skills will make

your job a more pleasant experience.



Skill Most

Preferred 1

2 3 Least

Preferred4

Activate Administer Analyze Appraise Communicate Conceptualize Conduct Contract Convince Coordinate Counsel Critique Delegate Design Designate Develop Direct Distribute Devise Draw Educate Employ Encourage Estimate Evaluate Execute Explore



Skill Most

Preferred 1

2 3 Least

Preferred4

Facilitate Familiarize Finance Focus Formulate Gather Generate Guide Handle Highlight Hire Identify Illustrate Imagine Implement Improve Inform Innovate Launch Lecture Lead Maintain Manage Mentor Monitor Motivate Negotiate Network



Skill Most

Preferred 1

2 3 Least

Preferred4

Observe Operate Organize Perform Persuade Plan Prescribe Prevent Process Produce Program Promote Purchase Recommend Record Recruit Refer Report Research Restore Review Reward Sell Select Service Solve Strategize Study



Skill Most

Preferred 1

2 3 Least

Preferred4

Supervise Teach Train Translate Upgrade Work on Teams Work Alone Write



Motivations Assessment

Motivation plays a part in making career decisions because of built in rewards --

either material or psychological. Knowing what matters to you may help you

decide which interests to pursue in formulating a career.

Use the following tool to assess what is important to you, what you value and

what you need.

• The statements are divided into 13 distinct groups, each of which is a

category of work motivations.

• Read through each of the statements under the category and rate yourself

as thoughtfully as you can. For example, if the statement is "I would like to

have my work seen and admired by others," make it very close to "yes" if

respect and recognition from others are very meaningful to you. Mark it

close to "no" if your own approval of what you do provides you sufficient

satisfaction.

• Add up the scores from each of the statements under each category and

total them.



I. Achievement (Attaining mastery of a field, self-advancement, growth)

Yes No 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I enjoy seeing the results of my efforts. 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I like to work toward broad and important goals.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 It is important to me that my work lead to better opportunities.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I am most satisfied if I have a chance to learn from what I do.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 When I do something, I like to do it well. 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I would not want to waste my time.

Total: _____

II. Challenge (Handling difficult or complex work)

Yes No 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 If there is a difficult problem, I have an urge to tackle it.7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Easy work bores me and hard work stimulates me.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 The work world seems to offer me the satisfaction of solving tough problems.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Without challenging work, I would feel useless and unfulfilled.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I want some real intellectual challenge. 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 When I am challenged, I do my best work.

Total: _____



III. Creativity (Contributing new ideas, being original and innovative)

Yes No

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I am proud of my ability to offer ideas in many solutions.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I like to come up with a new way to handle an old problem, or to implement a more efficient approach or technique.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I like to try out original solutions rather than rely on conventional tactics and established procedures.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I like to tackle problems that others prefer to avoid. 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I have creative talents that I want to develop and use.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 People tell me that I'm always coming up with ideas and solutions that are new.

Total: _____

IV. Dominance (Exercising leadership, directing, influencing others)

Yes No 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I like to use my leadership abilities. 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I enjoy planning and organizing a program or activity.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I will feel good about myself if I am responsible for large enterprises.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I would get a feeling of satisfaction from directing and supervising other people's work.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I know I have good leadership qualities which I could put to use.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I like to see things happen, change, develop as a result of my efforts.

Total: _____



V. Independence (Being free from supervision and restriction)

Yes No

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I want the feeling that I can depend on myself for a decent living wage.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I will want to have some part of my life that is independent of others.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I just like the feeling of being independent. 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I do not like feeling that someone is dependent on me.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I like to do things on my own, without having a lot of orders or directions.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I welcome the chance to use my capacity for independent thinking and action.

Total: _____

VI. Interest (Finding a stimulating activity)

Yes No 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I want activity outside of my job to keep life interesting.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Having only job responsibilities would leave me unfulfilled.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I enjoy being busy at interesting work. 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I want an absorbing career commitment.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I want time for my home and for leisure as well as work.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I would not organize my life just around my job.

Total: _____



VII. Interpersonal Relations (Being with other employees, colleagues)

Yes No

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I want the opportunity to be with people who share my interest.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I enjoy the opportunity to meet people.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 The isolation of working at home would be depressing to me.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I feel best when I'm with other people.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I think that a career would enrich my life through interaction with interesting people.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I like to be part of a team, to participate with others.

Total: _____

VIII. Money (Gaining in socioeconomic status, meeting material needs)

Yes No

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I base my job decisions on the amount of salary and fringe benefits.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I tend to measure my worth as an employee according to my salary.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I have to meet financial needs, sharing this responsibility with my spouse or providing for myself.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 It is important to me to have as high an income as possible.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Getting money and material things is important to me. 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I need the money a job would provide.

Total: _____



IX. Moral Values (Behaving in a way consistent with some moral code)

Yes No

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I would feel ashamed if I failed to use what I have learned.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I believe that work builds character. 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 If a person doesn't work hard, s/he is probably lazy.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 It is important to do work that helps make a better world.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Everyone should work, to give back to society all s/he takes.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Service gives me pleasure.

Total: _____

X. Recognition (Getting respect, prestige, social approval)

Yes No

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I want to have my work recognized and valued by others.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 It is important to be acknowledged by others in my field.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I want to work for a well-known institution.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I want a job that is somewhat glamorous in the eyes of others.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 My title is important to me. 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Promotions are important to me.

Total: _____



XI. Self-expression (Working in an area suited to the development of one's abilities)

Yes No

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I want to test myself on the job to confirm my sense of who I am.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I would really grow if I got into the right work.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 A lot of my natural talent is wasted if I don't have a meaningful job.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Being able to express myself is important to me. 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I want the opportunity to try out some of my own ideas.7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I want to grow as a person and develop my abilities.

Total: _____

XII. Social Welfare (Doing something that has meaning for others, working for society or another person's benefit)

Yes No 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I need the feeling of helping someone directly. 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I would be happiest working in a service organization.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I would like to do a good and useful job anywhere I am needed.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I want to use my energies and abilities to help make the world a better place to live in.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I like to help others, to be and feel useful. 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Looking out for other's welfare is important to me.

Total: _____



XIII. Variety (Preferring diverse activities, "changes of scenery”)

Yes No

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I want a career that would permit me to be involved in different activities of the business or professional world.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I welcome changing activities and changing roles.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I enjoy a variety of challenges rather than just a single area of concentration.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I will need more stimulation and variety than I would get sitting at a desk all day.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I dislike routine activities and thrive on variety.

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I don't like to spend too much time on the same type of activity.

Total: _____



Rank Your Motivations

After you have totaled each of the 13 groups, fill in the 6 with the highest scores.

Motivation #1 ____________________________________________________

Motivation #2 ____________________________________________________

Motivation #3 ____________________________________________________

Motivation #4 ____________________________________________________

Motivation #5 ____________________________________________________

Motivation #6 ____________________________________________________



Personality Strength Assessment

To help you sharpen your focus on who you are, work through this checklist of

personal characteristics. Your strengths are important to know about yourself, but

your weaknesses matter too. Knowing your weak spots will help steer you away

from certain career activities or fields, or may suggest areas which you wish to

change by education, experiences or some kind of "restyling" of yourself.

• As you respond to the list, try to recognize all the qualities you possess --

irrespective of whether they have been expressed until now.

• First, read each word and underline the ones that describe you as you are

now.

• Next, look back over the list and place a check to the left of the words that

are most highly descriptive of you. Check any that you missed at your first

evaluation. Often, people fail to identify their strengths adequately.

• As a final check, ask someone whose opinions you value to read through

the list and check off the strengths that they see in you.



Personality Strengths

Academic

Active

Accurate

Adaptable

Adventurous

Affectionate

Aggressive

Alert

Ambitious

Artistic

Attractive

Bold

Broad-minded

Businesslike

Calm

Capable

Careful

Caring

Cautious

Charming

Cheerful

Clear-thinking

Clever

Competent

Competitive

Confident

Conscientious

Conservative

Cool

Cooperative

Courageous

Curious

Deliberate

Determined

Dignified

Discreet

Dominant

Eager

Easygoing

Efficient

Emotional

Energetic

Fair-minded

Farsighted

Firm

Flexible

Forceful

Formal

Frank

Friendly

Generous

Gentle

Good-natured

Healthy

Helpful

Honest

Humorous

Idealistic

Imaginative

Independent

Individualistic

Informal

Intellectual

Intelligent

Inventive

Kind

Leisurely

Likeable

Logical

Loyal

Mature

Methodical

Meticulous

Mild

Moderate

Modest

Natural

Obliging

Open-minded

Opportunistic

Original

Outgoing

Painstaking

Patient

Peaceable

Persevering

Pleasant

Poised

Polite

Practical

Precise

Progressive

Prudent

Purposeful

Quick

Quiet

Rational

Realistic

Reflective

Relaxed

Reliable

Reserved

Resourceful

Responsible

Retiring

Robust

Self-confident

Self-controlled

Sensible

Serious

Sincere

Sociable



Spontaneous

Spunky

Steady

Strong

Sympathetic

Tactful

Teachable

Tenacious

Thorough

Tolerant

Tough

Trustworthy

Unaffected

Unassuming

Understanding

Unexcitable

Uninhibited

Verbal

Versatile

Warm

Wholesome

Wise

Witty



"WHO AM I?" Self-Assessment Summary

Using the assessments in this section, summarize the information about yourself as a

way of identifying your career fit.

1. What interests me most is:

2. The skills that I am most confident in are:

3. Skills that I would like to develop are:

4. My most important work motivations are:

5. Personality strengths that best describe me:

6. From this information, I can conclude that I am most interested in working with People _______, Data _______, Things _______, or Ideas _______. (Check all that apply)



Resources

Websites Here are examples of Internet sites that offer additional resources for this topic.

Career Decisions: Self Assessment:

www.careerplanning.about.com/library/weekly/aa110297.htm

Career Assessment:

www.nycareerzone.org/graphic/assessment/index.jsp

Books

What Color is Your Parachute? A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers (2001 Edition) by Richard Nelson Bolles

Do What You Are: Discover the perfect Career for You Through the Secrets of Personality Type by Paul D. Tieger, Barbara Barron-Tieger

Dare to Change Your Job and Your Life by Carole Kancier, PhD.

Career Change: Everything You Need to Know to Meet New Challenges and Take Control of Your Career

The Pathfinder: How to Choose or Change Your Career for Lifetime of Satisfaction and Success by Nicholas Lore

Documents

Professional Values and Skills