In this module, we’re going to look at what your personal values and interests are – and what these might tell you about your future career. It can be hard to start thinking about your career – and it’s okay if you have no idea where to start! In this module, we’re introduce the idea of you “vocational identity” which is a tool to help you plan your career.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this module you should…
- understand that their interests can also be seen as “career clues” pointing to career pathways to explore
- define what a value is and how it can impact and influence vocational identity
- know your own values
- understand how interests and values to link to career and identity
In this module, you need to…
- Complete the ‘Interests’ section on Career Central
- Watch the video on Identity and Values
- Complete the activity on your Top Career Values
- Complete the activity on what you want your life to be
- Answer the quiz question
You could also…
- Complete the worksheet on your interests
- Watch the Rangatahi Futures video on identity
- Read the Career Profiles posters
Vocational Identity
Everyone has their own vocational identity that paints a picture of you might be in the world of work. Mapping out what your vocational identity looks like can help give you an idea of what your career might look like.
There are four main parts of your vocational identity that we’re going to investigate further. They are your values, your interests, your skills, and your strengths. In this module, we’re going to look at values and interests.
Why?
In the last module we looked at what a career is and how it’s more than just ‘getting a job’ – and how you’re more likely to stay on track if you feel happy and fufilled in your mahi. Vocational identity is one tool we can use to help find out what you like, what you’re good at, and what you value. When you’re in a career where all these things match up, your hauora is stronger. You could jump back to the last module and watch the video on Te Whare Tapa Whā if you want to have another look at this.
Interests
What are interests?
Interests are things that we are passionate about, enjoy doing or learning about. Generally, we can understand our interests by the hobbies and pastimes you choose to do when you have free time.
How do you know what interests you?
Your interests can be “career clues” that help you know what you might like to do…
If you like building things that’s a clue
If you like animals that’s a clue
If you like creating things that’s a clue
If you like being outdoors amongst nature that’s a clue
If you like helping people out that’s a clue
If you like learning languages that’s a clue
If you like debating ideas that’s a clue
If you like playing sport that’s a clue
If you like cars and motorbikes that’s a clue
If you like trying out new technology that’s a clue
If you like writing stories that’s a clue
Use your clues and start thinking about the kinds of people who might have those same clues.
What kinds of people build things? What kind of people work with animals? What kind of people create things? What kind of people work outdoors?
Then start researching and talking to those people…
What do they do in their role?
What other jobs are there in building things
How did they get into their role?
What skills and training do they need?
What could I do now to get experience in this?
Activity
1. Click the image of the poster on the right. This will open a PDF in a new tab. Look for the download button.
2. Download this PDF and save it into your Career Hauora Drive.
3. Fill out the list on page 2 to identify your interests.
Activity
1. Log in to Career Central by clicking this link and selecting “Blue Light NZ” from the list. Then enter your username and your password (hint: your username is just your first name)
2. Click on the tab that says “About Me” at the top of the page.
3. Then click on the “Interests” button on the left of the page and complete the questions. Remember to click ‘save’ at the bottom of the page!
4. Then come back here to complete the rest of the module.
Values
What are values?
Values are the things that we think are important in life. They help us make decisions and understand who we are and what we stand for.
Watch the video below to find out more:
Activity
1. Click the image of the worksheet on the right. This will open a PDF in a new tab. Look for the download button.
2. Download this PDF and save it into your Career Hauora Drive.
3. On the first page, tick what values sound like things that are important to you.
4. On the second page, write down what your top ten values are – then try to narrow this down to the five values that are most important in your life.
Activity
1. Click the image of the worksheet on the right. This will open a PDF in a new tab. Look for the download button.
2. Download this PDF and save it into your Career Hauora Drive.
3. Imagine you woke up and had the kind of life you’ve always wanted. Fill in the worksheet with your ideas of what that might look like.
Bonus Extra
This video is another way of looking at how your identity can give you clues about your future career. You can watch the video and have a look at these posters for more information.
Nearly there! Have you…
- Completed the ‘Interests’ section on Career Central
- Watched the video on Identity and Values
- Completed the activity on your Top Career Values
- Completed the activity on what you want your life to be
All done?
Just answer the quiz question below and you’re good to go!
This quiz is for logged in users only.
