Aligning Personality with Your Career Choice

Picture this: you've just graduated from high school and you're standing in the middle of your graduation party surrounded by family and friends. You're enjoying the social time with some of your fellow classmates when all of a sudden your Aunt Patty appears, seemingly out of nowhere, puts you on the spot, and begins asking you what feels like a series of never-ending questions: "So, what are you going to do now? Do you have a job lined up? Are you going to college? What do you want to do with your life?" Caught off-guard, all you can do is smile and return Aunt Patty's strong embrace while asking her if she would like some cake! Whew! Dodged that bullet! Secretly, you think to yourself, "I have no clue Aunt Patty…I have no clue!"

Now, we've all been there before, living in the moment, finally enjoying a stress-free moment without the pressure of exams, projects, and performance. But Aunt Patty knows something perhaps many students don't…life after high school is about to get REAL, and it IS time for graduates to get focused on what direction they're headed. Maybe not in the middle of the graduation party, but sooner rather than later.

There are many questions to consider, and recent graduates are not likely to have all the answers to Aunt Patty's "what now" questions.

Here are some considerations parents and coaches can offer recent graduates or young adults unsure about their college or career futures:

Identify Your Behavioral Style

The DISC Behavioral Assessment is a great starting point for any young adult to begin by learning more about who they are by gaining a foundational understanding of themselves and others, improve communication skills, and identify strengths and areas for improvement.

Identify Your Personal Values

The Values Style Assessment introduces people to how they perceive the world, which often drives how they make decisions on how they choose to live life. By learning what internally motivates them, young adults become empowered to make positive decisions that promote healthy and productive engagement in their relationships and careers.

Identify Your Thinking Style

The TEAMS Role Assessment will let you know your natural role in a team and how you're wired to think when approaching a task. When you pair your thinking style with certain career clusters, you will be able to create a roadmap for your career growth.

Identify Your Behavioral Attitudes

We all are passionate about certain things, and these are our core behavioral attitudes that bring us satisfaction from the things we do. You may have been given the advice you should pick a job you love so you never feel like you're going to work, and the same is valid here. If, for example, you're passionate about knowledge, certainly pick a career where you'll be learning every day, and you'll always be satisfied and passionate about your job. Discover what motivates you with the BAI assessment.

What's your Career Choice?

For students looking to pursue a career after graduation, the DISC Student Strengths report is a great tool to align their personal values and behavioral style with their preferred work environment. It provides insight into suggested careers that align with their behavioral style, again, empowering the individual to make decisions that are in their best interest and setting them up for success.

Completing one or all of these assessments will help any recent graduate find answers to Aunt Patty's tough life questions. Remember, it's okay if a recent graduate isn't sure about what the next steps are in life; there are many available resources to assist them along their new journey in the "real world!"

If you are interested in becoming a catalyst for success, then consider becoming a DISC Consultant or a Life Coach. This is a great way to gain access to exceptional assessments and tools to ignite positive growth in others' lives.