Self Development Assessments

Assessments are tools that can help draw out insights and evoke new awareness in ourselves.  Through reflection, this self-insight can lead to development action steps.  Below is a curated selection of assessments as a resource to enhance self-understanding. 

Strengths

The CliftonStrengths Assessment helps you discover your natural strengths and also identify those that you do not naturally lean toward in order to gain greater self-insight.  When we enjoy and are good at something, we tend to do it more often and hone that talent.  And conversely, we may avoid those things we are not naturally good at.  Understanding your natural tendencies can help you better understand yourself, develop strategies for quality interactions with others and align your work and sense of purpose with your natural talents.
CliftonStrengths Top 5 can be purchased for $19.99 and the full 34 for $59.99.  Check website for latest pricing.  

Leadership

Leadership is a set of behaviors used to set a vision, create strategies, gain alignment and continually inspire and motivate people towards a purpose.  Leadership is a mindset, but also a skill with observable behaviors that lead to measurable outcomes.  As a skill, it can therefore be developed.  Leadership intelligence through the use of data-driven assessments can help a leader generate awareness of their strengths and natural behavioral tendencies to identify areas for development.  The Leadership Circle Profile Assessment is one of the most comprehensive assessments that yields insights into leadership competencies as well as reactive tendencies.
Visit Leadership Circle's website and scroll down to the bottom of the page to take the free assessment.

Communication

Communication is key when it comes to creating quality interactions with others.  This assessment will give you deeper insight into your communication style.  HRDQ’s What’s My Communication Style Assessment provides insight into the preference you hold for each of 4 core communication styles:  Spirited, Direct, Considerate and Systematic.
You can self-enroll and purchase the assessment for $29.99.  Check website for latest prices.

Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence is the capacity to identify and regulate our own emotions, recognize emotions of others and feel empathy and then utilize these abilities to communicate effectively and build relationships. This Emotional Intelligence Assessment focuses on four areas: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness and relationship management.
Talent Transformation offers free assessments.

Resume Building

Resume Writing

Through career coaching sessions, I work with clients to define their professional summary, expressing what makes their combination of strengths, skills and experience unique.  Coaching can also help you express how you add value to the world through the work you choose to do.  For clients looking for help in pulling it all together:
  • Research the new AI resume building tools like Canva and LinkedIn
  • Seek out a resume writer
  • Update your resume template to new more stylized easy-to-digest formats
  • Run your resume through software like Jobscan with the job description of the role you are applying for to see how well your resume matches, what you might be missing and then tailor your resume further.
You can stand out by being the best answer to the job needs.  If recruiters can't quickly and easily digest your resume and see why you matche up to what they need, they will move on to the next.  Always research the tool capabilities and talk with any potential resume writers before committing to ensure it’s a match for you!  I've linked to some helpful resources to get you started.

Navigating Unemployment

As a coach, I engage with many people who are facing unemployment.  If you are in this situation, you are not alone.  Many are facing unemployment and for some, it is the first time. Understanding your benefits and what to do next can be overwhelming.   Resume Builder’s Unemployment Guide can be a helpful start with state by state information about claiming unemployment benefits.

Student Resources

Undecided on your career path?

Yale’s Office of Career Strategy collects information about Yale College graduates and has created a tool that shows the types of jobs that graduates pursue, based on their majors.  While the data is based on Yale graduates, it provides a great general starting point for brainstorming the types of  career paths students can pursue with their major.  It also lists top companies and industries that students joined, searchable by major.

Looking for an internship?

This quick start guide lays out a check list of things to think through when it comes to seeking internships.   Positioning yourself for an internship means thoughtfully communicating on your qualifications, resume, cover letter, social media profiles and developing interview talking points.