Non-standardized
Career Assessments
Purpose
To “get at” underlying beliefs, unspoken
goals and fears, modes of operating
Individualized, no psychometric properties
Card sorts, Decision Space
Worksheet,Others
What are Card Sorts?
“Cards”
occupations, values, interests....
Projective technique
Alternative to standardized and/or computerized assessments
Samples
Virtual Card Sort
http:// careerresource.coedu.usf.edu/linkcareerlab/card%20sort.dcr)
Instructions
Sort into 1 of 3 piles
Alternative Instructions
“Sort the cards in a way that makes sense to you.”
Traditional
General reactions
Rank order would choose
Look for themes
RIASEC, gender, family, tasks, educational level,
avoidance
Determine next steps (including moving might choose
cards)
Cognitive Map
Values Card Sort
Vistas
Sample Skill Wheel
Decision Space Worksheet
How task approached
Look at size
Other Non-Standardized
Approaches
 Five Lives
 Autobiography
 Genogram
 Diverse Decision Makers
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Five Lives Activity
 If you had five lives to live, what career would
you have in each of those lives?
Analyze-think pair and share
 What is it about each one?
 Look at themes
 Compare to family 5 lives
 Can you do any of these things now?
Ideal Day
 Describe the perfect day of work.
 Start in the morning and go through the evening.
 Give as much detail as possible.
 Notice changes in non-verbals, vocal tone.
 Ask for reflection on the experience.
 What stood out to them?
 Surprises?
 Next steps?
CREATE YOUR CAREER
GENOGRAM
Divorce
Male
Female
Marriage/Common Law
Male
Female
Female
Male
Children/Twins-Oldest at Left
Female
Male
Separation
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Career Genogram, continued
Adoption
Index Person
Death (give date)



Circle members of current household
Zig-zags in the lines can resemble conflicted relationships
4 straight lines = strongly attached; 3 = moderately; 2 = slightly; 1 =
very slightly
Career Genograms
 Special attention should be given to
identification of
 occupations represented in a 3-4 generation family
tree
 status and value rankings typically assigned
occupations by various family members
 career choice patterns or ways in which family
members make career decisions
 economic expectations or pressures
 family work values
Suggested Questions
 What are dominant values in the family of origins?
 Vocationally, are certain “missions” valued?
 Are there any “ghosts” or “legends” which serve
either as anchor points or “rightful roles” for the
family?
 What myths or misconceptions seem to transcend
generations?
 Are there any psychological pressures or
expectations emanating from “unfinished
business” of the family?
Questions, continued
 How does the individual’s description of
economic values and preferences fit in with the
family’s history?
 How has the family addressed the 3 boxes of life
(learning, working, playing)? Any imbalances?
 What family interaction rules and relationship
boundaries have been passed through
generations?
 Are there any voids in client’s memory of
family? Any significance to these voids?
Questions, continued
 Does client have a sense of “owing” family
traditions? What are the accrued debts and
credits?
 How have the primary life tasks of love, work
and friendship been addressed by the family?
 What vocational patterns emerge, in terms of
choices, as well as the choice and
development process?
Diverse Decision Makers
Rank
Name
Description
Pros of making Cons of making
decisions
decisions
this way
this way
Hasty Harry
Makes a decision immediately, no matter what.
He wants to eliminate the discomfort of
ambiguity as soon as possible.
Last Minute
Louie
Always waits until the very last possible second
before deciding on anything.
Stubborn Susan Makes a firm decision and refuses to consider
any other alternative.
Mia Fraid
Delays any decision for fear of being wrong or
appearing foolish.
Wilbur the
Worrier
Avoids deciding because he lacks selfconfidence in his ability to live with the
consequences of the decision.
Adapted from Donald & Carlisle, 1983
Narrative Questions
1. If you were to see a career counselor today, what career concern would you want to
discuss?
2. Identify 3 people you consider role models, whom you admire, and tell what it is you
admire about each. “Follow up question, How are you similar/different from each of these
people?
3. What is your favorite story? Tell me about it. Describe the main characters.” Which
character is most like you and why? What’s the moral of the story?
4. What are your favorite magazines? What are each of them about? What do you like about
each
5. What are your favorite t.v. shows? What are they about? What do you like about each of
them? Who are the main characters and tell me about their personalities. Which character
are you most like?
6. Describe your favorite hobbies, or what you like to do in your free time. What do you like
about each of them?
7. What is your favorite saying? What is it that you like about that statement?
8. What were your favorite subjects in school (any grade level is fine) – and what was it about
each that you liked?
9. What are three early memories that you have? After they have described each, create a
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headline or title for each.
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To learn more
 Counselor’s Guide to Career Assessment
 Whitfield, Feller & Wood (www.ncda.org)
 Using Assessment Results for Career
Development
 Osborn & Zunker (www.cengage.com)
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