Personal Interests Worksheet

Instructions

Take a few moments to reflect and respond to the questions below. Write clearly and thoughtfully.

1. List Your Top 5 Hobbies/Passions

For each hobby or passion, write the name and briefly explain why it interests you.

1. Hobby/Passion: _________________________
   Reason:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Hobby/Passion: _________________________
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3. Hobby/Passion: _________________________
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4. Hobby/Passion: _________________________
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5. Hobby/Passion: _________________________
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2. Identify Your Core Values

List five personal values that are most important to you (e.g., creativity, helping others, independence, stability, adventure). Then explain why each value matters.

Values:

Why these values matter:

3. Connect Interests & Values to Careers

Think about how your hobbies and values align with potential career paths. List at least two careers or job fields that could be a good fit and explain your reasoning.

Career/Field 1: _________________________
Reason:

Career/Field 2: _________________________
Reason:

4. Reflect & Prioritize

Which one hobby/passion or value motivates you the most when considering a future career? Why?

5. Plan Your Next Step

Choose one action you can take in the next week to explore one of your top interests or values (e.g., research online resources, reach out for an informational interview, attend a workshop). Describe the action and set a date to complete it.

Action:

Date to complete: ________

Skills Assessment Survey

Instructions

Rate yourself in each skill category on a scale of 1 (Low) to 5 (High). After completing the table, reflect on your strengths and areas for growth.

1. Self-Rating Table

2. Strengths Reflection

Identify the two skills you rated highest and explain why they are strengths.

Skill 1: _________________________
Reason:

Skill 2: _________________________
Reason:

3. Growth Areas Reflection

Identify the two skills you rated lowest. For each, describe why improvement is needed and how you plan to develop it.

Skill 1: _________________________
Why improvement is needed:

How I will improve this skill:

Skill 2: _________________________
Why improvement is needed:

How I will improve this skill:

4. Action Plan

Choose one skill to focus on developing. Describe the specific action steps, resources/support needed, and a timeline for completion.

Skill to develop: _________________________

Action Steps:

Resources/Support Needed:

Timeline (e.g., by date): __________________________

Career Research Guide

Embarking on career research helps you understand what a job really involves and whether it aligns with your interests, skills, and goals. Use this guide to collect key details and compare options.

Why Research Matters

• Clarifies day-to-day duties and responsibilities
• Reveals required education, training, and certifications
• Highlights salary ranges and long-term growth outlooks
• Helps you weigh pros and cons before investing time and money

Where to Find Information

1. Online Databases
   – O*NET OnLine (onetonline.org)
   – U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov)
2. Professional Associations
   – Industry websites and journals
   – Local or national associations’ career pages
3. Company & Job Postings
   – Employer websites
   – Job boards (e.g., Indeed, LinkedIn)
4. Informational Interviews
   – Talk with professionals in your network
   – Ask about real work experiences

Key Information to Gather

When you research each career, look for:

• Job Duties: Typical tasks and responsibilities
• Education & Training: Degrees, certifications, apprenticeships
• Required Skills: Technical, interpersonal, problem-solving
• Work Environment: Office, fieldwork, remote, travel
• Salary Range: Entry-level to experienced earnings
• Job Outlook: Projected growth and demand

Research Steps

1. Select Careers to Compare
   Choose 2–3 fields from your interests and skills.
2. Gather Data
   Use the sources above to fill out the chart below.
3. Reflect & Rank
   Note which career feels like the best fit and why.

Career Comparison Chart

Use this table to record your findings for each career. Feel free to add rows if you research more than three.

Tip: After completing the chart, highlight the career that best matches your priorities and prepare to discuss why you chose it.

Action Plan Template

Instructions

Use this template to set a SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) action plan for your post-graduation career goals. Be as detailed as possible.

1. Career Goal

Describe your main career objective in one clear sentence.

Goal: _________________________

2. SMART Criteria

Break down your goal using the SMART framework.

• Specific: _________________________
• Measurable: _________________________
• Achievable: _________________________
• Relevant: _________________________
• Time-bound: _________________________

3. Action Steps

List the sequential steps you will take to reach your goal. Include who’s responsible if collaborating.

Step 1: _________________________
By: ________

Step 2: _________________________
By: ________

Step 3 (optional): _________________________
By: ________

4. Resources & Support Needed

Identify tools, people, or information you’ll need to complete each step (e.g., mentor, online course, financial aid).

5. Timeline & Milestones

Use this chart to track progress. Add more rows if needed.

6. Reflection & Next Steps

After each milestone, reflect on what you learned and any adjustments needed.