LESSON II:

Researching About Yourself

I. First Stage In Job-Hunting: Self-Assessment
II. Identifying Strengths And Weaknesses
III. Identifying Soft, Hard And Transferrable Skills
IV. Setting Your Qualifications

LESSON INTRODUCTION
The job search is a phase by phase flight toward one’s desired professional goal. It is important
that as a future professional, you have a clear vision of what type of professional you are, and
what your goals are in terms of career and specialized growth.

This lesson is an introductory lecture about the initial stage of the job-hunting process which is
Self-assessment. The preparatory exercises in this lesson will allow you to understand further the
first bucket of preparations that you need to take into account before deciding which job to apply
for, which company or organization to consider and which alternative domains will work best
with your qualifications and expertise.

LESSON OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the lesson, you are expected to:
1. Understand the importance of doing self-assessment in the initial stage of the job search.
2. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses relevant in the job application process.
3. Analyze which part of your qualifications requires further coaching and focus.

FIRST STAGE IN JOB-HUNTING: SELF-ASSESSMENT

When you look for a new role, don't start by updating your CV. Instead, do a
selfassessment to help you identify all the key information about yourself.

Doing this will help you provide valuable content for your CV and interviews, as you will
uncover examples that illustrate your capabilities. It will also enable you to benchmark your
employability, flag up any gaps and ensure you keep on track with the type of opportunities that
are right for you. In effect, it prepares you to run an effective job search campaign.

So, how do you go about conducting a careers self-assessment?

ACTIVITY 2
This activity will allow you to identify the things that you are interested in when
making life and career-related decisions. The options you can select are
categorized
according to the following:
A. What I’m Good At
B. What Are My Personal Interests
C. What’s Important To Me In A Job

ACTIVITY 2.1 WHAT I’M GOOD AT

For this activity, feel free to provide as many ideas you can think of for each of the
boxes provided below. This category will let you think and decide on a few things that you think
you are quite good at. Anything from career-related activities, recreational interests or personal
hobbies will do. (You may fill out the activity sheets in the glossary of activities at the end of
this workbook to be submitted, on page 89).
CAREER- HOBBIES RECREATIONAL
RELATEDACTIVITIES INTERESTS

Provided below is an example of how to answer this activity (do not copy; always
compose your own answers).

CAREER- HOBBIES RECREATIONAL

RELATEDACTIVITIE INTERESTS
S
(e.g) (e.g) (e.g)
  Video Editing  Vlogging  Trekking
 Bookkeeping  Reading  Travelling
Novels

ACTIVITY 2.2 WHAT ARE MY PERSONAL INTERESTS

For this activity, align your choice of personal beliefs, values and principles to
what you consider is relevant. This category will allow you to make a selection of
the different values and interests that you value most out of the ones listed in the
table below. Select as many choices as you could. (You may fill out the activity sheets in
the glossary of activities at the end of this workbook to be submitted, on page 90).

oo TIME WITH FAMILY oo HELPING OTHERS

oo A LOT OF MONEY oo IMPROVING COMMUNITY
oo GOOD HEALTH oo AVOIDING CONFLICT
oo HOME OF MY OWN oo LONG TERM SECURITY
oo NEW VEHICLE oo MY CHILDREN’S FUTURE
PEACE IN THE FAMILY CHURCH WORK
RESPECT EDUCATION FOR MYSELF
FRIENDS GOOD MORALS
GOOD LOOKS AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP
SATISFYING JOBS HEALTHY SELF-ESTEEM

List down your choices below according to level of importance and then justify. This will teach
you how to set your priorities straight as a professional.
INTEREST IMPORTANCE AND
JUSTIFICATION

ACTIVITY 2.3 WHAT’S IMPORTANT TO ME IN A JOB

For this activity, select your top five priorities from the list provided below, and justify why
you think this is important for you in a job. This category will open opportunities on setting
your preferences for the job you wish to consider for application.
  FLEXIBLE HOURS  ADVANCEMENT OR
 GOOD PAY PROMOTION
GREAT  DISTANCE

BENEFITS/HEALTH  JOB TRAVELS
INSURANCE  RESPONSIBILITIES

SAFETY/WORK COLLEAGUES

ENVIRONMENT OPPORTUNITY TO
 JOB SECURITY  WORK ALONE
 FILING OF VACATION
OR LEAVE
List down your choices below according to level of importance and then justify. (You may fill
out the activity sheets in the glossary of activities at the end of this workbook to be
submitted, on page 92).
PRIORITIES JUSTIFICATION
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

NOTE for SELF-ASSESSMENT:

As a job seeker, you should have a well-thought-out plan in order to reach your job
search goal. Self-assessment before job hunting is key. This will allow you to identify
what you want to do, where you want to work and what you have to offer.

When you sit down for an interview, they’re going to want you to be able to tell them who you
are, what you know and what you can contribute. If you’re unable to immediately describe your
skills and abilities, interests and passions, motivations and aspirations, you’re not going to get
the job that you want.
 I. IDENTIFYING STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

This lesson is an extended lecture on Self-assessment, the first stage in job-hunting.

With a clear picture of your personal interests and professional preferences, it is of
great significance that you also look into your personal characteristics, highlighting on your
strengths and weaknesses. This exercise will open opportunities for you to identify your greatest
assets and the off-color qualities which you think could prejudice the job search.

If I asked you what your best personality traits were, what would you say?
Understanding your personality will help you focus your job hunt and sell yourself during
interviews. A part of highlight on your skills is identifying your strengths and weaknesses.

Identifying your strengths and weakness will help you direct and redirect your job search
according to plan. This part of self-assessment enables you to discover what you can and can’t
do; what you can offer the company and which among your qualities would possibly prejudice
the entire job application process.

Why is it necessary to identify my strengths?

Identifying your strengths is easy. What most people do in the job application process when it
comes to identifying their strengths is minimal. Applicants are fully aware of the qualities and
values that they consider strong and that they think would work as an advantage in the job
search.

It is relevant to identify your strengths for you to be able to align your best qualities and
qualifications to the ones set and necessary in the job. This way, it is easier for you to highlight
on these qualities more when preparing your CV or when attending the interview.

By doing this, you are picking on your ability to translate how your qualities will benefit your
potential employers. Think about some of the jobs for which you might want to interview. Put
yourself in the shoes of an interviewer. If you were the interviewer, what kind of strengths and
competencies would you want your ideal candidate to possess? Why? Then, think about how
these skills and aptitudes would benefit the company.

Companies always filter out candidates during the job application process if they think their
qualifications do not align with what they are looking for.

How about my weaknesses? Why do I need to identify them in the job

application process?
Interestingly, your weaknesses carry the same weight of importance as your
strengths. The shady part of your character, your inadequacies in your skills or even the
loopholes in your qualifications are considered relevant in the job search and all this information
must not be tossed out of the back burner.

The job application process is a critical battle of outstanding skills and qualifications and
exceptional personal traits and qualities among different candidates who battle for the same
position as you. When you think of your job you want to apply for, you must also open yourself
to competition.

How do you stand out? What are your assets? What could be your biggest contributions in the
company? These are some of the many questions you get to be asked during the interview to
weigh in your competency level for the job.

What other applicants fail to see is the possibility of using their weaknesses against them during
the interview in the hopes to check their ability to counter their negative qualities to get the job.

Therefore, what makes the identification of your weaknesses relevant in the job search is the
spark of opportunity you will be given to prepare how to combat these loopholes in your
application and to counter them with something the company might consider for the job.
Anticipating questions that might rigger your weakness will help partially predetermine the
outcome of your job-search. Not doing such will compromise your one big shot to get to your
dream job.

ACTIVITY 2.4
For this activity, you are provided with a mind map where you can categorize your
qualities as your strengths and weaknesses. You may provide at least four (4) for
each. This activity will allow you to identify your strengths and weakness in different areas in
your personal life and in the job you are applying for. (You may fill out the activity sheets in
the glossary of activities at the end of this workbook to be submitted, on page 93).
STRENGTHS
WEAKNESSES