Workshop #2:Discover Your Aptitudes

New Braunfels Works gratefully acknowledges the contributions of Memorial Assistance Ministries and WorkFaith Connection in the creation of this curriculum.

Your DreamsAs a small child, what did you want to be when you grew up? What did you picture yourself doing when you thought about it? What feeling did you get when you thought about it?

What do you dream about doing now? What is the feeling you get when you think about it?

Your TalentsWhat are the things you’ve done all your life—whether part of a job or not? (For example: working with kids, jigsaw puzzles, giving advice to friends, mediating arguments in your family, playing sports). What do you like most about the activity or task?

What are you known for being good at among your friends? What would your friends pay you to do for them?

Your StrengthsWhat parts of your past jobs did you love doing? This can be from any job you have ever had--be very specific about which tasks you enjoyed.

What are your strengths? Strengths are tasks or activities that: a) You look forward to doing;b) You choose to do them even if you are not required;c) Time passes without notice while doing them

Interests and PassionsWhat are your passions?

your hobbies?

your interests?

Your Role ModelName someone who has a job you want or has done what you want to do.

What is it about their situation/job that appeals to you?

Your FutureWhat do you want your life to look like 10 years from now?

How do you want others to see you?

Your SituationWhich of the following is MOST important to you right now? a) Financial stability (being able to pay the bills/pay off debt)b) Emotional Security (just having a job)c) Work-life balance (flexibility in hours)d) Personal Growth and Creativity (a job you enjoy doing/you

are passionate about)

The Key Aptitude Questions

What am I really good at?

What do I really

love to do?

Wha

t can

I rea

lly

get p

aid

to d

o?

1 2

3

4

1. Happy, but broke. Difficult to do this for very long for financial reasons.

2. Well paid, but unhappy. Difficult to do this for very long for boredom reasons.

3. Hard to get these jobs, or to keep them if you are lucky enough to get them.

4. Dream job. This is the goal. It will lead to a long term, successful career.

Assessment

After the break, please spend 15 minutes completing and scoring your

PEOPLE

DATA

THINGS

IDEAS

assessment.

World of Work Map

“Clusters” of careers:

1. Administration and sales2. Business operations3. Technical4. Science and technology5. Arts6. Social services

http://www.act.org/wwm/counselor.html

Administration and Sales Careers

• Employment-Related ServicesEmployee Benefits Manager; Employment Interviewer; Human Resources Manager; Labor Relations Specialist; Recruiter; Training/Education Manager

• Marketing & SalesAdvertising Manager; Buyer; Insurance Agent; Real Estate Agent; Retail Sales Associate, Sales/Marketing Manager; Shopkeeper; Travel Agent

• ManagementFinancial Manager; Foreign Service Officer; General Manager/Executive; Hotel/Motel Manager; Property/Real Estate Manager

• Regulation & ProtectionCustoms Inspector; Detective (Police); FBI Agent; Food & Drug Inspector; Park Ranger; Police Officer; Security Guard; TSA Agent

Business Operations Careers

• Communications & RecordsAbstractor; Administrative Assistant; Court Reporter; Hotel Clerk; Medical Records and Billing; Paralegal; Receptionist; Title Examiner/Searcher

• Financial TransactionsAccountant/Auditor; Accounting Clerk; Bank Teller; Bookkeeper; Budget/Credit Analyst; Insurance Underwriter; Real Estate Appraiser; Stockbroker; Tax Accountant; Tax Preparer

• Distribution & DispatchingAir Traffic Controller; Flight Dispatcher; Mail Carrier; Shipping/Receiving Clerk; Warehouse Supervisor

Technical Careers• Transport Operation & Related

Aircraft Pilot; Bus Driver; Cab/Limo Driver; Locomotive Engineer; Ship Captain; Truck Driver• Agriculture, Forestry & Related

Aquaculturist; Farm Manager; Forester; Gardener; Lawn Maintenance; Nursery/Greenhouse Manager; Tree Surgeon/Arborist

• Computer & Information SpecialtiesActuary; Archivist/Curator; Computer Programmer; Computer Systems Analyst; Network Specialist; Website Developer

• Construction & MaintenanceCarpenter; Electrician; Firefighter; HVAC Technician; Plumber; Security System Installer

• Crafts & RelatedCabinetmaker; Chef/Cook; Jeweler; Tailor/Dressmaker; Winemaker

• Manufacturing & ProcessingPrinting Press Operator; Sheet Metal Worker; Tool & Die Maker; Water Plant Operator; Welder

• Mechanical & Electrical SpecialtiesLocksmith; Millwright; Technicians in various fields (for example, Automotive, Avionics, Broadcast, Sound)

Science and Technology Careers

• Engineering & TechnologiesArchitect; Engineer (Aerospace, Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Nuclear, Petroleum); Production Planner; Quality Control Technician; Surveyor

• Natural Science & TechnologiesBiologist; Chemist; Food Technologist; Geologist; Meteorologist; Physicist

• Medical TechnologiesDietician/Nutritionist; Optician; Pharmacist; Radiographer Technologists in various fields (for example, Medical, Surgical)

• Medical Diagnosis & TreatmentDentist; Medical Doctor (General Practice, Specialist, Surgeon, etc.); Nurse Practitioner; Paramedic; Physical Therapist; Veterinarian

• Social ScienceAnthropologist; Archaeologist; Criminologist; Economist; Political Scientist; Psychologist; Sociologist

Arts Careers• Applied Arts (Visual)

Animator; Fashion Designer; Graphic Artist; Interior Designer; Photographer; Set Designer

• Creative & Performing ArtsActor; Composer (Music); Dancer/Choreographer; Fashion Model; Musician; Professional Athlete; Writer/Author

• Applied Arts (Written & Spoken)Advertising Copywriter; Columnist; Editor; Interpreter; Librarian; Reporter/Journalist

Social Services Careers• Health Care

Athletic Trainer; Dental Hygienist; Health Services; Administrator; Psychiatric Technician; Recreational Therapist

• EducationAthletic Coach; College/University Faculty; Educational Administrator; Teachers in various specialties (for example, Art, Foreign Language, Music)

• Community ServicesCareer Counselor; Mental Health Counselor; Lawyer; Social Service Director; Social Worker; Substance Abuse Counselor

• Personal ServicesChild Care; Elder Care; Flight Attendant; Gaming Occupations Worker; Hairstylist/Barber; Housekeeper; Personal Trainer

Imagine Not Only a Job,But a Career Path

1. Start with the end in mind.“I want to be a sales professional.”

2. Visualize what that looks like.“A corner office, a company car, doing business on the phone, enough earnings to raise a family.”

3. Identify a starting point and jobs along the path.

Customer service experience at a grocery store.

Consumer sales experience in the car business.

Corporate sales experience in the computer business.

Imagine Not Only a Job,But a Career Path

1. Start with the end in mind.“I want to be a nurse.”

2. Visualize what that looks like.“A job in a hospital, working with doctors and patients, enough money to raise a family.”

3. Identify a starting point and jobs along the path.

In-home elder care experience.

Two or three years in nursing school.

Nursing experience in a prestigious hospital.

Imagine Not Only a Job,But a Career Path

1. Start with the end in mind.“I want to be a chef.”

2. Visualize what that looks like.“A job in a nice restaurant, making delicious things to eat, and earning enough to raise a family.”

3. Identify a starting point and jobs along the path.

Experience at a fast food restaurant.

Experience as a short order cook.

Pastry chef at a prestigious hotel.

Your Homework

1. Review your PTDI assessment with staff or program volunteer, and talk about the kinds of jobs that you would like to pursue as a long term career.

2. Also identify jobs “along the path” to your ideal career.

3. Get him/her to initial your program tracking card.

Due Date: _______________________ Due Time: ________________

If at first you don’t succeed …

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VasGrFLqW8