The SkillScan system provides useful resources for all phases of the career search from initial assessment to career exploration to skill development to self-promotion phase of the job search.

Assess

Use the Assessment Exercises below in conjunction with the SkillScan transferable skills assessment system and complete the Career Profile to create a holistic view of career preferences.

Note: The following Assessment Exercises are copyrighted by the author and are reproducible for use by an individual or by a counselor for use with his/her clients when used in conjunction with a SkillScan Assessment. No part of these exercises may be translated, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of Lesah Beckhusen, Owner of SkillScan.

Assessment Exercises and Handouts

• Fast & Interactive Ways to Use the SkillScan Card Deck — a useful guide for helping diverse and younger clients to increase awareness of skills.
• Chart of Skill Sets — a guide for identifying skill sets.
• Three Types of Skills Classification

Interactive Coaching Forms

Send any or all of these exercises (PDF's) to your clients. They complete the document, save it and send back to you. Required: Adobe Reader 9.0 or higher (free download).

• Holland Themes Interests — a quick exercise based on Holland’s general occupational themes to identify interest themes.
• Discovering your Interests — an exercise for identifying specific interests which helps to point out potential fields and industries for career exploration.
• Values Assessment for Advance Pack or Career Driver — a tool for clarifying activity-based values and integrating values with preferred SkillScan skills.
• Values Assessment for Professional Pack — a tool for clarifying activity-based values and integrating values with preferred SkillScan skills.
• Ideal Work Environment — an exercise to generate and prioritize ideal work elements.
• Personal Traits — an exercise to clarify personal qualities.
• All-in-one Workbook of Exercises — a complete set of Interests, Values, Ideal Work Environment, Personal Traits exercises for use in one-on-one counseling or groups.

Integrate

When your clients have completed their skill results along with the values, Holland Themes and personality themes (from Myers-Briggs Type Indicator or Keirsey) you can use these integration exercises to summarize their core preferences (Career Profile), view overlapping themes across the various assessments (Integrate Assessment Themes) and Brainstorm Career Options (Brainstorming exercise).

Summarizing, Brainstorming and Integrating Exercises

Interactive Coaching Forms

Send the appropriate (PDF) to your client. They complete the document, save it and send back to you. Required: Adobe Reader 9.0 or higher (free download).

• Career Profile Interactive Template — a template for summarizing skills and preferences to formulate a comprehensive career profile.
• Brainstorming Career Options Template - an exercise for generating career ideas based on clients skills, interests and values. Use this exercise in groups or have clients email their template to peers/colleagues/co-workers to collect even more career ideas
• Integrate Assessment Themes - Advance Pack and/or Career Driver Online - an interactive template for recording Holland Interests, Values, Skills and Personality Type to identify core career preferences.
• Integrate Assessment Themes - Professional Pack - an interactive template for recording Holland Interests, Values, Skills and Personality Type to identify core career preferences.
• Integrate Assessment Themes - Advance Pack and Career Leader Business Interests - an interactive template for recording Holland Interests, Skills, Business Interests, Values and Personality Type to identify core career preferences.

Explore

Useful educational and career information websites for college and career planning

College Planning

• Petersons.com — A comprehensive education resource with information about colleges, test preparation and career exploration.
• College Net.com — College search, applications and scholarships.
• Fastweb.com — A site devoted to identifying scholarships, colleges, internships and jobs.

Careers

• UC Berkeley Career Center: Career Exploration Resources — An extensive database of occupational information.
• Job Star — A California-based source of career and job search information.
• Occupational Outlook Handbook — Bureau of Labor Statistics site for exploring occupations.
• O*Net OnLine — The nation’s primary source of occupational information.
• Skill Sets and Suggested Career Options — lists of career options that align with each of the 18 Skill Sets.

Develop

A variety of helpful services and resources for job seekers.

• Local College Career Center — College career centers often provide the following resources: career and academic counseling, career and life planning courses, a career library, internship and employment resources, and alumni programs.
• Local One-Stop Career Centers — Assist individuals with career information, employment and career management.
• Expanded List of Skill Sets and Development Activities — lists of practical development ideas for planning development steps that align with each of the 18 Skill Sets.

Promote

Sites to help individuals communicate their skills and preferences in resumes, cover letters and interviews.

• Monster.com — resources for getting a job including resume and interview help.
• Job Star: California's Job Search Guide — Gives quick overviews on resumes, cover letters, and interviewing.
• Susan Ireland Resumes — numerous resume samples and tips on writing your resume.
• Quintessential Careers — a leading provider of career advice – helpful information on interviewing.
• Trip Resources Connecting Skill Categories with Skill Titles for Resumes
• Position Analysis Exercise
• Sample: Client Position Analysis Exercise
• Sample Chronological Resume: Graduating College Student