Black Collegian Career Center

It was no surprise to Koleta Moore (right) when one of her former students landed a job in sales soon after graduating with a marketing degree. As associate director of Career Services at Grand Valley State University in Michigan, she had worked with him on his job search during his senior year. He knew what he wanted to do, he had completed an internship, and he had several job interviews. What did come as a surprise was his walking into her office two weeks after graduation and announcing that he had quit his new job because he could not stand it and did not want to be in sales. When Moore asked why he picked that field he said, "My mom said I would be good at it."

As much as you may appreciate the love and guidance your parents give you, you must figure out who you are and what you want to do. And your doing so is an absolute requirement if you want to have a fulfilling career.

"Students of color must remain true to themselves and their passions. I have always tried to instill in students that they should use self-assessment to determine where they are headed and not rely on advice from others, potential income, or the ease of curriculum," said Moore, who has worked in higher education for 12 years, four as a career advisor.

Allyson Larke, a 2000 graduate who was hired as a Territory Sales Manager with Philip Morris USA, agrees with Moore. "Upon entering the University of Georgia in 1996, I had decided to major in computer science because it was the up and coming field and it was known to pay big bucks,"she said. "But, the introductory courses were not challenging and I didn't enjoy the material."

So what next? Because Larke always wanted to be a dentist, she changed her major to pre-dentistry. Two weeks into her first science course she dropped it and realized that she really needed some help figuring out what in the world she was going to do. "My advisor signed me up for a University Learning and Values course. We had an extra credit assignment to visit the Career Placement and Planning Center and take a self-assessment test to reveal what kind of thinkers and learners we were and what career paths are best suited for us. My top careers came back as those in business; marketing and advertising were the top two. I had really chosen the wrong major," recalls Larke.

These types of situations are not uncommon. So, given the obvious repercussions of excluding self-assessment from the career planning process, why do so many Black collegians avoid engaging in it?

"It's not an easy process,"says Moore. "In fact, it's easier to choose what someone else is studying or what someone else says you should be than to figure out what you want to be. It can be time consuming, and in some cases, costly. But, if Black collegians want to have a multitude of choices upon graduation, they must each start with self-assessments that lead to correct choices of majors, earning good GPAs, and internships that confirm their career choices," she advises.

There are many self-assessment tools available to college students, and you don't have to go farther than the career services office to find them. Some are: the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, the Holland Self-Directed Search, the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, the Strong Interest Inventory, SIGIPLUS, DISCOVER, and FOCUS, for starters.

The key to effectively using them is to gain a thorough understanding of what each assessment is intended to measure, whether it be skills, interests, personality types, or work values. Equally important is being motivated enough to begin the process right away by visiting www.black-collegian.com, to get a jumpstart.

"There are some resources students can use to do a more private self-assessment, like those at Self-Directed-Search.com, Keirsey.com, Wet Feet.com, rileyguide.com and careerkey.org/English," says Moore. "A resource that has been around for years is Richard Nelson Bolles' What Color is Your Parachute?"

Although working through self-assessment on your own is a good way to get started, career experts recommend against going the distance alone. Career counselors will help you figure out what to do with the information you learn about yourself. Remember, self-assessment is the first step in career planning, not the last. And, it is a continuous process. Throughout your academic and professional lives, you will continue to change; periodically re-evaluate yourself to confirm that you are where you want to be, or are at least headed in the right direction.

So, if you are worried about whether you will get a job after graduation, don't! Your main concern should be figuring out who you are and what you want to do; then, and only then, will you be well-equipped to engage in career planning activities and subsequently conduct an effective job search.

"I highly recommend self-assessment. If I had not taken that test, I don't know where I would be. I probably would never have actually graduated in computer science or dentistry," reflects Larke, who ended up as a marketing major and was recently promoted to a sales development associate. "It is amazing how self-assessment can lead you to a life you never imagined for yourself. It can't hurt if you are already on the right track, and it can open the doors to numerous possibilities."