OGL 498 Pro-Seminar II Assignment #1

Prompt #1: Summarize your results and any particular “aha moments” that you may
have had when working through the “interests-based” assessments on the AzCIS website.
What particular career clusters stuck out to you? With respect to the interest profiler,
how did your interests score in the artistic / conventional / enterprising / investigative /
realistic / social categories? How could you use interests-based assessments to help
move your career and your life forward? If you have taken any other interests-based
assessments in the past, please comment on those, and any relevant connections to the
AzCIS assessments.

Here are my results from the career cluster inventory:

Here are my results from the interest profiler:

Artistic
Your Score : 7
People with artistic interests like work activities that deal with the artistic side of things, such as
forms, designs, and patterns. They like self-expression in their work. They prefer settings where
work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Realistic
Your Score : 5
People with realistic interests like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and
solutions. They enjoy dealing with plants, animals, and real-world materials, like wood, tools,
and machinery. They enjoy outside work. Often people with realistic interests do not like
occupations that mainly involve doing paperwork or working closely with others.

Social
Your Score : 4
People with social interests like work activities that assist others and promote learning and
personal development. They prefer to communicate more than to work with objects, machines, or
data. They like to teach, to give advice, to help, or otherwise be of service to people.

Investigative
Your Score : 3
People with investigative interests like work activities that have to do with ideas and thinking
more than with physical activity. They like to search for facts and figure out problems mentally
rather than to persuade or lead people.

Enterprising
Your Score : 1
People with enterprising interests like work activities that have to do with starting up and
carrying out projects, especially business ventures. They like persuading and leading people and
making decisions. They like taking risks for profit. These people prefer action rather than
thought.

Conventional
Your Score : 0
People with conventional interests like work activities that follow set procedures and routines.
They prefer working with data and detail more than with ideas. They prefer work in which there
are precise standards rather than work in which you have to judge things by yourself. These
people like working where the lines of authority are clear.

I never would have considered myself as mostly artistic! I’m not sure on how accurate this is, I
feel like I am more conventional than I am artistic. I think I should look into developing this
possible artistic side that I seem to have, doing so could help me open new ways of thinking and
of dealing with issues in my daily life.

Prompt #2: Summarize your results and any particular “aha moments” that you may
have had when working through the “skills / work values-based” assessments through the
AzCIS website. What are your top skills? Are these the skills that you highlighted in
your e-portfolio (from OGL 498 Pro-Seminar I)? Comment on any differences there, and
how you might improve, or add to, the skills section of your e-portfolio based on this new
perspective. Also, be sure to comment on your Holland Personality Types scores, and
how your skills and interests compared in that regard. How could you use skills-based
assessments to help move your career and your life forward? If you have taken any other
skills-based assessments in the past, please comment on those, and any relevant
connections to the AzCIS assessments.
 I’m not shocked that competitiveness is my top skill; I like to be the best in my field
whether professional or personal. I enjoy excelling at any and everything I am involved in . I
always strive to get the best grade in my courses and break through barriers in every other
aspect of my life.
Step 5: Include this week’s self-assessments and reflective writing assignments in your e-
portfolio!

Set-up for Three Questions Prompt (Prompt #1):

Review the three questions content under the Week 1 Lectures / Presentations content
area. This video is by Fr. Michael Himes, a theologian at Boston College.

Prompt #1: Take a moment to respond meaningfully to the “three questions” that are
discussed as key to vocational discernment, and provide any additional perspective that you
may feel is necessary. Don’t just settle for short, one sentence answers. Try to be very
specific, aiming for a couple of cohesive, well-written paragraphs in response to each of the
three questions. Also, write vividly and descriptively – paint a “picture” with your words
here. Your responses to these prompts shouldn’t read like a resume or take the form of
“bullet points” – use analogies / metaphors, engage and inspire us by “painting a picture”
with your words, and make some connections to the Father Himes videos.

The Three Questions:

What gives me joy? Being with my sons and my dog, I don’t care what we are doing, just
as long as we are together. I love to see my sons grow and learn, whether it is from my
teaching, school, or any form of medial they learn from. This helps me to feel as though I
am living life in the right way, this is what Father Himes described as joy. His defining joy
as something separate from happiness was a way of thinking that I’d never considered but
I can see his point.
I asked my nine year old what he thought brought me joy; he knew exactly what to say.
He had the same answer as I did, I’m glad I show the joy that I feel to them enough that
they feel it too.

What am I good at? I like to think that I am good a being a dad, my kids may or may not
agree, depending on what chores they were assigned that day! Outside of being a parent, I
think I’m good at my job; I put the time and thought into the job to be the best I can. I
really do try to make the effort to do the best and help everyone I can along the way, I
think I do a good job with it.

What does the world need me to do? To be a socially and environmentally responsible
person, one that will raise the next generation to have the same mentality. I strongly
believe in the need to take of and/or help others around us. I have taken in families that
had nowhere to go, bought meals and other necessities for those less fortunate, and I try
to instill this in my sons. I also think I am able to do some good with those I work with, I
try to teach them emotional intelligence as way for them to grow with both their work and
personal lives. So I guess the world needs me to be a teacher.

Prompt #2: Consider this week’s reading, Managing Oneself, by Peter Drucker. While we
do not have the time in this course to conduct a thorough feedback analysis, we can
consider some of our key decisions thus far in our lives reflectively. Although, admittedly,
this isn’t quite as objective of a process, it is helpful in light of the qualitative self-
assessment we’ll be doing later in this class.

First, consider several decisions /goals you have made over the last few years – ideally one
or two that worked out well, and one or two that didn’t work out as well as expected.

Briefly list those decisions / goals here: My decision to go back to school has
been a huge one, it has been so difficult to do but worth every bit of stress and
the lack of sleep! I think that working to get into the role I’m in now was
another that ended up being great, I wasn’t sure how well I’d like the change or
how I would do, but it has been a great decision for me.

One that did not work out too well has been selling my house on my own, I’m
still working through that one and not having very much luck at all. I am sure it
will sell but I need it to happen sooner than later, but I’m not interested in
paying 6% commission to a realtor. So I wait and hope, patiently, as I doubt my
decision.
 Now, reflect on the ramifications / results / successes / failures of these
decisions / goals, and respond to the following questions:

What results are you skilled at generating? I think I am able to excel at working
with others to achieve a common goal. I can motivate others to get the job
done, and I think that is partially because I look for a common ground and
explain why we are doing what we are doing, not just barking orders. I’ve been
able to achieve so much in my leadership role in a short time all because of this,
I help others understand why we are doing what we do so they can see the
road we are going down.

What abilities do you need to enhance in order to get the results you want? I
think I could be more patient and see things more from another perspective. I
know these are opportunity areas for me and working on them will only help me
to grow as a leader and as a person.

What unproductive habits are preventing you from creating the results you
desire? I tend to take on too much at work, I feel like I should do as much as I
can to help and end up putting myself in a corner. This leads to me working
weekends and even from home on weekdays. I need to learn my limits and to
delegate more, I think this will help me to get the teams to a more autonomous
state.

Prompt #3: Now consider the following questions also posed in the Drucker article. Give
each one some thought, and provide a brief response to each.

Am I a reader or a listener? I am undeniably a reader, I not only want the

preparation time, but I need it. One great example of this was at time I was
selected to present a case study to the president of North American sales for my
organization. I was given a piece of paper while I was operating and told that
I’d need to discuss these points in half an hour as a warm up. As I was
operating equipment, I had no time to look at the paper, much less decide on
how to speak on the points.

I went in and tried to wing it, I must state that I am an expert on the system I
was to discuss, but I bombed it completely. My reader mind wasn’t having that
listener stuff at all. I assured my leadership that I would be prepared the next
day when the president came the next day, needless to say they were a bit
concerned. I went home and reviewed the speaking points for about half an
hour and that was all I needed. The next day I did the presentation and blew
them away, I was on the company website for the presentation and my
leadership team were extremely impressed, after just 30 minutes of preparation
time.
 How do I learn? Make some connections to OGL 498 Pro-Seminar I
(Assignment #1 - Plus / Delta – Significant Learning Experiences – Structure and
Transfer) I learn by doing, if I can do a job with someone I am far more apt to
retain the information than if they just explain it to me in my office. I am a
hands on learner almost all of the time, I can however retain a lesson if it is on
something that I am experienced with and it is explained well.

Do I work well with people (and in what relationship), or am I a loner?

Teamwork makes the dream work! That is a motto at my plant, so that probably
tells you how much we work in teams and rely on one another. While I can work
either way, I prefer to work with others. We learn from one another and reduce
the amount of time the job takes; it’s a win-win situation.

Do I produce results as a decision maker or as an advisor? In my role I have to

do both, I make decisions and advise. I set the plan for maintenance and am
often meeting with the technicians on shift as to the best way to do the job. I
truly feel I do well at both the decision maker and advisor roles.

Do I perform well under stress, or do I need a highly structured and predictable

environment? Crunch time is my time! I really feel in my environment or at my
best when the heat is on. I can make the critical decisions as to what needs to
be done and who needs to do what to get the operation back up. I can
appreciate the highly structured and predictable environment though, there is
something to be said for stability.

Do I work best in a big organization or a small one? I have done both the large
and small organization and done well in each, my personal preference is the
small organization though. I enjoy the closeness that comes with a smaller
organization, but I’ve recently discovered how much perspective plays a role in
the size of an organization. I have been working for a Fortune 500 company for
the past 12 years and was initially intimidated by the size and structure of the
organization, but more recently I have been able to see it as a
compartmentalized monster. I look at my compartment as my primary unit and
all others as auxiliary units that I can tap into when necessary. This helps me to
not become so overwhelmed with the size of this complex organization.

Set-up for Identity Exercise Prompt (Prompt #4):

First, carefully read the instructions for the Identities Exercise (page 22 of your textbook), and
follow those instructions. Remember to be specific and detailed in your responses – at least as
detailed as the example given. Included at the bottom of this document is a template / table
to help you organize your thoughts. Feel free to use it or to create your own. Note: While
this template suggests some specific roles / categories, you may have more than one role in
many of these areas (such as two different jobs, with two very different influences on your
identity). Be sure to define (and separate out) each role as applicable to you.

Prompt #4: For this prompt, complete (and include) the identities exercise / table, and then
answer the following questions.

Areas of identity How does it define How does it

your self-concept or influence your
For example, if you views? priorities and
listed one of your sub- your actions?
identities as parent,
you might fill out that
section of the table as
follows:
1. Parent: It drives me to be the I work to act in way
best role-model for that I want them to
them, leading me to be act.
the best me I can be.

My priorities have
Being a parent pushes changed so much
me to excel in all that I since becoming a
do, I define myself father. I focus on
more as a parent than I providing for them and
do anything else. helping them grow
into good men.

My views on
sustainability have I recycle more than I
changed so much, I ever have, look for
care about leaving a more environmentally
better world for them friendly options when
and their offspring, and purchasing or doing
their offspring, and so any task.
on, so much more than
I ever did.
 Areas of identity / Life How does this role define How does this role
role your self-concept or views? influence your priorities
and your actions?
I am a…
Professional or vocational It is something that I am My priorities and actions
role(s) - (job, career, proud of, I’ve obtained a role have changed because of my
etc.). that many wanted and has desire to push forward and
great benefit for my career. climb higher up the company
ladder. I feel more confident
about my ability to grow
with in the organization.

Student This is an identity that I take I push myself quite a bit, I

as seriously as any other. I spend a lot of time on school
relate my GPA to my self- work and worry a lot about
worth far more than I should. how well my professor will
grade my work.

Family role(s) I want to be the best family I try harder, I do not do

member I can be, whether things that will disappoint
that be father, son, grandson, them and work to do things
brother, and so on. If I that will make them proud.
weren’t, I would feel pretty
bad about myself and as if
though I were a let down to
the family.

Areas of identity How does it define How does it

your self-concept or influence your
For example, if you views? priorities and
listed one of your sub- your actions?
identities as parent,
you might fill out that
section of the table as
follows:
1. Parent: It drives me to be the I work to act in way
best role-model for that I want them to
them, leading me to be act.
the best me I can be.

My priorities have
Being a parent pushes changed so much
me to excel in all that I since becoming a
do, I define myself father. I focus on
more as a parent than I providing for them and
do anything else. helping them grow
into good men.

My views on
sustainability have I recycle more than I
changed so much, I ever have, look for
care about leaving a more environmentally
better world for them friendly options when
and their offspring, and purchasing or doing
their offspring, and so any task.
on, so much more than
I ever did.

Areas of identity / Life How does this role define How does this role
role your self-concept or views? influence your priorities
and your actions?
I am a…
Professional or vocational It is something that I am My priorities and actions
role(s) - (job, career, proud of, I’ve obtained a role have changed because of my
etc.). that many wanted and has desire to push forward and
great benefit for my career. climb higher up the company
ladder. I feel more confident
about my ability to grow
with in the organization.

Student This is an identity that I take I push myself quite a bit, I

as seriously as any other. I spend a lot of time on school
relate my GPA to my self- work and worry a lot about
worth far more than I should. how well my professor will
grade my work.
Family role(s) I want to be the best family I try harder, I do not do
member I can be, whether things that will disappoint
that be father, son, grandson, them and work to do things
brother, and so on. If I that will make them proud.
weren’t, I would feel pretty
bad about myself and as if
though I were a let down to
the family.

 How do your various roles influence how you see yourself? I think my roles help me
to create a vision of the person I want to be and be remembered as. Each role is
one that I have worked to achieve in one way or another and have worked hard at
excelling at.

 How do your various roles influence how you see the world? I see the world most
differently after becoming a father. I see how much help the world needs more so
than I ever did before. I see it different since being in a leadership role, I see the
pushback that is given from constituents and how much they need to help them
achieve their goals. It makes me think much more in-depth about how I will do my
job.

 How do you currently prioritize your roles? Which roles are most (and least)
attended to? Are you happy with this prioritization? What changes would you like to
make? Being a parent, my job, student, than family. I’m fine with this order of
prioritization as it fits my life plan well.

 How do you see your roles changing in the future – and how will that affect your
identity? I don’t see much change in my future, with the exception of graduation
and not being a student any longer. With a 20-year-old son there is always the
chance of becoming a grandfather and adding that to the mix up there with
being a parent too though!