RUNNING head: CAREER PLANNING ASSESSMRNT REPORT

Career Planning Assessment Report

Sharonda Reed
Wilmington University

CAREER PLANNING ASSESSMENT REPORT

Step 1. Describe your personal, educational and/or professional experiences that have
motivated your decision to pursue a human service career. [Include specific examples of
any research and/or professional activities in which you have participated.]
My decision to pursue a human service career has been motivated by my passion for
helping people, however, it has been more so developed over 10 years ago when I was given the
opportunity to operate as a community outreach coordinator for my local church. I first started as
a church Secretary, then was promoted to church administrator. About a year after, I took on the
role as a youth coordinator and two years after my position changed into a community outreach
coordinator. This eventually led me to assist the church in expanding their vision, to which I
contributed my skills and experiences by creating local to global community intervention and
prevention programs. The objective of these programs was to inform, educate and empower
people how to overcome economic hardship and how to take ownership within their community.
My skills as an administrator and coordinator naturally grew, developing into program
research, design, and development. I also had the opportunity to work closely with the Pastor and
Board to manage community events and fundraisers that met organizational goals and grant
requirements. It was these essentials highlights of strategic planning and development that also
motivated me to advance my education and obtain my Master's degree in administration of
human services. Since then, I been growing effectively as an administrator, coordinator, program
developer, educator and trainer; and now a program director church volunteer.

CAREER PLANNING ASSESSMENT REPORT

Step 2. Complete the Strengths Finder Assessment

In a brief summary of the Strengths Finders Report, it assessed that my top 5 strengths
were belief, Ideation, Individualization, relator, and positivity (Clifton, 2000). To break
down a short shared description the report explains the following:
People who are especially talented in the Belief theme have certain core values that are
unchanging. Out of these values emerges a defined purpose for their life. People who are
especially talented in the Ideation theme are fascinated by ideas. They are able to find
connections between seemingly disparate phenomena. People who are especially talented
in the Individualization theme are intrigued with the unique qualities of each person.
They have a gift for figuring out how people who are different can work together
productively. People who are especially talented in the Relator theme enjoy close
relationships with others. They find deep satisfaction in working hard with friends to
achieve a goal. People who are especially talented in the Positivity theme have an
enthusiasm that is contagious. They are upbeat and can get others excited about what they
are going to do. (Clifton, 2000, p. 2-6)
The shared description revealed to me that I strongly agree with is being dedicated to
those things I value the most. Which are my religious beliefs, family, education and community
volunteer. It also revealed that I am driven by my talents as well as others. Being imaginative and
creative is one of my greatest stimulators that motivates my ideation of thinking and overall
performance. My Individualization strength, reveals that I do well working alone, but prefer
working in groups. It also explained how some people may take me too seriously, however, once
they get to know me they learn that I have am very helpful, trustworthy and a forgiven
individual. In claims of my assessment results, I agree that I have a natural gift to attract,
encourage and inspire people from diverse backgrounds. (Clifton, 2000)

CAREER PLANNING ASSESSMENT REPORT

The assessment also makes mention that as a relator I can often be straightforward and
transparent, which sometimes reveals my strengths and limitations. Some may find this to be a
weakness, however, it is through my straightforwardness and transparency that many people are
influenced to follow me. The last strength was positivity, which described me as being very
enthusiastic about life and how people might consider me the life of the party. It is true because I
am known be a people's person and do draw to fun and make things exciting, enjoyable and
interesting for other people. The assessment mentioned that people look forward to meeting with
me or attending my social gatherings. (Clifton, 2000)
I also believe this to be true because I have a natural instinctive connection of being
aware of other people feelings, thoughts, and needs. Therefore, I encourage people in ways that
leave a lasting impression and positive impacts. The heartbeat of my strengths motivates to the
point where I have to sometimes remind myself not to get so caught up with other people needs
to the point I forget about my own favorable life terms. When I get to this point of realization, I
have to force myself to keep working until I reach my own personal goals in life.
Step 3. Complete the free MAPP Assessment:
http://www.assessment.com/.
The difference I found between the Strengths Finder and MAPP assessment was that the
Strength Finders had more questions about my behaviors, feelings, emotions, social patterns and
measures. Whereas, the MAPP assessment focused more on my talents, performance and
management measures and preferences. Of course, they both were timely assessments but did
make much sense after reviewing my results. While taking the MAPP assessment I learned that I
am very much concerned with people, effective communicator; creative and abstract learner, goal
oriented, social and business negotiator. (MAPP, 1995-2016)

CAREER PLANNING ASSESSMENT REPORT

I definitely agree with these results, however, it confirms that I should avoid routine,
nonsocial procedures and physical work that requires me to deal with materials, tools, equipment
and heavy labor (MAPP, 1995-2016). In confirming these suggestion's, I am confident that if I do
not avoid this type of labor I can become easily bored and less motivated, which affects me
mentally, emotionally and physically. By this, I choose to operate in a career that will
complement my personality style and interest level, so I may enjoy the work assigned to me
receiving rewards that come from excellent job performance.
The MAPP assessment did match some careers that would be a good fit for me. Some of
them were a child, family, and school social worker, clergy, director, educational, vocational, and
school counselors; medical and public health social workers (MAPP, 1995-2016) and so forth. I
think I work well with a child, family, and school social worker, but most of all director or
educator. I furthered my research, by visiting the United States Bureau of Labor statistics to
select a similar category that falls under the MAPP assessment career matches as well.
Step 4. Visit the United States Bureau of Labor statistics: www.bls.gov, and select a specific
career within the Human Services field. [Suggestion: Use the results of your Strengths
Finder and MAPP Assessments to select a career.]
After reviewing and comparing my assessments I would choose to work as Social and
Community Service Manager. The national estimates for this occupation are one of the top ten
and currently growing in demand. The hourly pay can start from $18-$52.39 an hour. (U.S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016) Of course, the difference in the hourly wages varies upon each
State income median. In addition, I have considered the fact that under this occupation I can
expand my career with the opportunity to provide multiple services, such as; individual and
family services, local to state government (OES Designation); residential intellectual and

CAREER PLANNING ASSESSMENT REPORT

developmental disability, mental health, and substance abuse services; or community food and
housing, and emergency and other relief services. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016)
In accordance, with both the strength finder and MAPP assessment it is important that I
work in a position that would keep me motivated and energized while investing my time, effort
and skill towards a good cause. Being able to expand within my industry of interest is a definite
plus for me! It allows me to use my skills, experience, and education in a way that could keep me
from getting burnout or bored with the same task or routine work. Not to mention, community
service is a gift of passionate I possess in helping others who are in need overall. Besides, from
the passion I have for human service delivery, it is also important that I choose a career that
compensates me financially as well. The wages estimated by the United States Bureau of Labor
Statistics assisted with to see an entire picture of what I can reap all together as a social and
community service manager.
As a leader in my career of choice, I bring leadership skills and unique characteristics that
impact and improves organizational, human services delivery and performances. My style of
approach influences others with ways to achieve service delivery goals, by being creative,
innovative, and risk-taking when forming ideas, goals and research. My key role and strength as
a human services administrator is being able to utilize unique program designs, practices and
education that produces common goals, yet form and produce successful outcomes. I believe, I
possess a charismatic and innovative leadership style that creates a collaborative environment,
that can produce unique strategies, program structure, organization culture, and human resources
measurement systems. I believe, one of my most valuable strengths is being able to analysis and
develop effective strategies that allows an organization to move towards a more favorable
position making a significant impact in their community and targeted areas of focus.

CAREER PLANNING ASSESSMENT REPORT

Other strengths that make me a qualified candidate for my chosen career is working over
10 years as a Human Service professional for several organizations. I have developed and proven
my ability to create, design, develop and implement community outreach and missionary
programs that target youth and adult employment and training programs; working with
interdisciplinary teams, while building strong professional relationships with clients, individuals,
families and community groups. I also have acquired a thorough understanding of behavioral
science in relation to mental health and human services, which continuously strengthens my
verbal and written communication skills that are demonstrated and recognized within wellknown organizations, such as AmeriCorps, Habitat for Humanity, Delaware Breast Cancer
Association, Dover Jaycees and Wilmington University.
In closing, Although I have many strengths that could not all be mentioned, however,
there are some personal challenges or weaknesses I need to address, in order to be more
successful in my chosen career. Which is learning how to implement technology as a better
source of service delivery. Along with adopting a financial system that tracks cash flow when
dealing with grant or operational funding. Although I have the ability to learn how to use newer
model information systems and computer software's I tend to shy away from its heavy content of
technical data, devices. Needless to say, I am a modern professional, but am slowly embracing
new information that assists administrators with simpler ways to improve program delivery and
service outcomes. Overall, it is my ultimate career goal to continue to grow in skill and
experience, while learning how to maximize resources, in order to achieve maximum results,
within an organization.

CAREER PLANNING ASSESSMENT REPORT

Reference
Clifton, D. O. (2000). Strengths Insight Guide. Retrieved April 1, 2016, from
https://gx.gallup.com/services/pdf?v=pdfGeneration.prince.7.0.binPath

MAPP Free Sample Career Assessment: The following is a career assessment prepared for
Sharonda Reed. (1995-2016). Retrieved April 1, 2016, from
http://www.assessment.com/memberCenter/OnlineOutput/RetrieveFCA.asp?ML=EN

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational employment and wages, May 2015 11-9151 Social
and Community Service Managers. (2016, March 30). Retrieved April 4, 2016, from
http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes119151.htm