Books and Resources

Seven Dimentions of Career Awareness ™

The next page shows an Analysis Form for ISTJ. This form alphabetically lists the TOP 50 occupations (first column) for ISTJ, MBTI® Career Report Manual (CRM, Hammer 1992). The titles have been translated into O*NETTM titles, wherever possible. This mythical ISTJ has indicated (second column) that she is interested in the first 25 occupations. (I ask my real clients to check between 10 and 15 occupations.) The third column shows the O*NET Job Zone for each of these occupations, if reported in O*NET Database 12. As she marked these occupations, her responses were automatically recorded in “Eight” Dimensions of Career Awareness (right hand tables).

Starting at the top right, her responses are grouped by 1) Type Occupational Themes [occupations attractive to two MBTI types], 2) “working” Temperaments, 3) Specific Populations [MBTI Atlas occupational classifications], 4) Enneagram Numbers [Enneagram of personality], 5) O*NET Interests [six digit Holland codes], 6) O*NET Job Families [first two SOC Code digits], 7) Classification of Instructional Programs [CIP Codes, two-digit series] and 8) “working” Jungian Types [recently added as a test].

Each of these results is shown in the same manner. The client’s actual results (counting the x’s) are shown in the boxes on the bottom row. The above average range results are indicated by a bold outline. The row above shows the code (letter or number) of the Dimension being grouped. The second row shows these results for all ISTJ types. Finally, the top row shows these results for all 208 occupations from the CRM.

This form, which I use for my clients, was designed to determine which of these career counseling approaches was most helpful in grouping the student or client’s interesting occupations. Since I always start with the client’s MBTI type, I pay close attention to the personality-based groupings: Theme, Temperament, Enneagram Number, O*NET Interest (Holland code) or Jungian Type. I focus on the strongest grouping (fewest bold outlines). In this case, it is the Theme grouping (top right).

I ask my clients to identify 10 occupations from this grouping to start their list of interesting occupations. This client has already identified 10 occupations from Theme I (Individual). I would encourage this client to add a couple of occupations from other groupings (perhaps two from Theme D). Finally, clients add their own personal favorites. This initial list should be held to no more than 15 occupations.

My clients research these occupations using O*NET Job Families. They are given a set of guidelines to collect information from the O*NET Summary Report to reduce this list to the top 5 occupations. In almost all cases, the CIP Code results will allow a choice of college majors. Job seekers continue their research (O*NET Detailed Report) to reduce their list to the top 3 occupations and collect information for resumes and cover letters. Yes, I recommend that my clients keep at least three resumes current.

I am starting to collect data on my own clients but I would like your help. If you use the MBTI in your career assessments, could you have your students (anonymously) check this form (all sixteen are on CD, Microsoft Excel)? I would be interested in extending my database or in associated research projects. Please contact me if you are interested.