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Writing & Communication : Knowing Yourself
Knowing Yourself: sub-module 1 of 3 career prep
One of the core components of career planning is understanding who you are as a worker. This module will help you to look inside yourself and identify your skills, values, and non-negotiables.
Tips
- Go slow and steady. Don’t rush through any part of your career planning, including self-assessment exercises. This is a big decision, so take your time!
- Talk to someone neutral. Talk over your decisions with a trustworthy, but unbiased person. If someone recommends a career, ask them what they are basing this on.
- Take small steps toward giant leaps. Start with short term goals, like academic upgrading, to tackle long term goals, like the further education you need to land your dream job.
Worksheets
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Creating a Career-Focused Education Plan - PDF - opens in a new windowSee how your self-assessment results match up with different careers, and figure out your next steps.
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My Non-Negotiables - PDF - opens in a new windowIdentify the things you absolutely can’t tolerate in a workplace.
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My Skills - PDF - opens in a new windowIdentify the skills you want to use in the workplace.
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Values Scale - PDF - opens in a new windowFigure out what you want in a workplace.
Knowing Yourself
Introduction
Career planning starts with understanding yourself. Before choosing a path or setting goals, it’s important to know what you value, what you’re good at, and what you need from a future job. This section will help you reflect on your values, identify your top skills, define your non-negotiables, and use that self-knowledge to guide your education and career decisions.
This module will take you through four self-assessment activities. If you want to dive straight into these activities, you can access them on the left. However, to get the most out of these worksheets, we recommend you take a look at our videos for guidance filling them in.
What are Your Values?
Understanding your personal values is a key part of career planning. Your values (such as creativity, stability, independence, or helping others) can guide the kind of work environment and roles that will feel meaningful to you. Using a values scale can help you identify and rank what matters most, giving you clarity on which careers align best with your priorities.
Watch this video for help filling in the Values Scale PDF sheet to identify what you want in a workplace.
What are Your Skills
Identifying your top skills helps you understand what you bring to the table. These may include technical abilities, communication strengths, or transferable skills like problem-solving or teamwork. Recognizing your strongest skills not only builds confidence but also helps you target roles that allow you to use and grow these abilities.
Watch this video for help filling in the My Skills PDF sheet - opens in a new window to identify your top skills.
What is Non-Negotiable for You?
Everyone has certain boundaries or "must-haves" when it comes to work. These non-negotiables might include work-life balance, salary expectations, location, or opportunities for advancement. Being clear about what you’re not willing to compromise on helps narrow your career options and prevents future dissatisfaction.
Watch this video for help filling in the My Non-Negotiables PDF sheet - opens in a new window to identify the things you can’t tolerate in a workplace.
Putting It All Together
Once you’ve explored your values, skills, and non-negotiables, you can begin shaping a career-focused education plan. This means choosing programs, courses, or experiences that support your goals and align with what matters most to you. With a clearer sense of direction, you’ll be more motivated and better prepared to pursue opportunities that fit.
Watch this video for help filling in the Creating a Career-Focused Education Plan PDF sheet - opens in a new window.
