Explorer Report

Values-based Indicator of Motivation

M
11th February 2015

Values are those

things that are most important to us they guide us in the way we most important to us
they guide us in the way we live and work. Living according to our values makes life more
satisfying. Not living according to our values feels wrong and makes us feel less energised
and less connected. When our values are clear to us, making decisions becomes easier
they are the road signs of our lives. When we get lost they help us to get back on track.
Nevertheless, many people find it hard to articulate their values or at least to identify
those that are really important and fundamental. When people are asked to express their
values they often quote ideas that are based on social norms or historical pressures (from
parents or peers).
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from this report
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fundamental. Making this a conscious effort helps people determine their priorities and
decide how much life is turning out the way they want it to be.

Remember that the values identified in this report

are based on how you answered the questions at
this point in time. By reflecting on the results you
may update your ideas about what is most
important to you now.

The four values themes

Your answers to the questionnaire have been assessed in terms of four major 'themes'
as described below:

Personal Satisfaction
(What I want for myself)

This group of values concerns the ways in which an individual gains

satisfaction on a day-to-day basis. This can be in terms of either
material reward or the more abstract satisfaction that people get
from their appreciation of art, culture and the world of ideas.

Personal Development
(What I want to become)

This group of values concerns longer term issues of how people

wish to change, grow and develop. This can be in terms of skills,
competencies and careers or in more personal terms such as
growth in knowledge, wisdom, beliefs and spirituality.

Relationship Satisfaction
(What I want from or with others)

This group of values concerns what we get from our interactions

with other people. Contact with others may be valued for different
reasons such as the stimulation and recognition that it brings or the
warmth and sense of belonging that it generates.

Community Orientation
(What I want from the
community)

Profiling for Success

This group of values extends the concept of relationships to include

a wider community. It involves a concern for the kind of society in
which people live such as balancing rights with responsibilities and
respect for tradition as well as concern for the wider good.

How does the

questionnaire work?

The questionnaire is based on 24 'values', each of which relates to something which may or
may not be important in an individual's life. These 24 values can be subdivided into four
different groups, referred to as 'themes'.
The way the questionnaire works is by seeing how strongly you endorse each of the items in
the questionnaire. Those items that you endorse most strongly and consistently will identify
the values that are most important to you. All 24 values are be placed in order from highest
to lowest in terms of their importance to you personally.
The first part of this report identifies your top six values and indicates which of the four themes each falls
under. This allows you to see whether your values span all four themes or whether, at this stage of your
life, you are more focussed upon one theme rather than the others.

The report then describes these top six values in more detail so that you can consider more
deeply the extent to which you identify with their importance and how much they guide you in
the way you live and work.
At this point, you are asked to consider how important each value really is and, if you agree that it is really
important, whether you are currently able to express that value in the way you live and work.

On the basis of your pattern of answers to the questionnaire, it is also possible to identify
particular values that may turn out to be more important than you might consciously believe and
also other values that may be less important. This can help to challenge your thinking about
what is really important to you.
You will first be presented with values that may be more important to you than you realise and then by
others that may be less important than you realise.
Secondly, your responses to the questionnaire will be compared to those of others who have taken the
questionnaire in the past in order to identify values which you tend to endorse more than other people do.
This will help you to consider whether such values also have a place in your value system.

Finally, you will be invited to consider how this report may have helped you to clarify your
values and what you should do next to explore your value system further.
You will be asked to identify the top 3 values that you consider are most important to you at this point in
time and to think of ways in which these can be satisfied more fully at work or at home.

It is firstly useful to consider what you already know or say about your values. Before you see
the results from the questionnaire try using your own language to write down what you consider
to be your top three values at this point in time in the three blue ovals.
To help you identify your most important values, think about the times when you have been most
happy, energised or excited. Try to remember what you were doing and why you enjoyed it.
Then consider what need or desire was being fulfilled and give it
a name.
For example, someone might identify a time at school (for example, receiving a prize) and
might say that the need which that event fulfilled at that time was 'achievement' (others might
say 'being well regarded by other people' and others might say 'being the best').

Having identified the value, then answer the questions in the boxes in that row. If you find
this exercise difficult, you can leave it for the moment and come back to it later if you prefer.

Describe what this value means

How does it show itself in what you do in:

your everyday behaviour?

Top Value
your long-term decisions?

Describe what this value means

How does it show itself in what you do in:

your everyday behaviour?

Value 2
your long-term decisions?

How does it show itself in what you do in:

Describe what this value means

your everyday behaviour?

Value 3
your long-term decisions?

Profiling for Success

The diagram below shows the six values which you ranked most highly when
completing the second part of the VbIM questionnaire. Each value is placed within its
appropriate.

Average rank 13.50

Average rank 10.50

Personal
Satisfaction

Personal
Development

Conceptual

Career Progression

Well-being

Personal Growth

Collaboration

Relationship
Satisfaction
Average rank 11.50

Accountability

Community
Orientation
Average rank 14.50

This diagram will help you to see which of the four values themes are currently most important
to you.
A full ranking of all twenty-four values which are assessed by the questionnaire is shown on
the following page.

The chart below shows your ranking of the 24 values, separated into four columns. The
columns correspond to the four value themes described at the beginning of this report.
Personal

Personal

Relationship

Community

Satisfaction

Development

Satisfaction

Orientation

1
2

Accountability
Well-being

Personal Growth

Career Progression

Conceptual

Collaboration

Integrity

Openness

9
10

Wisdom
Change

11

Tradition

12

Altruism

13

Influence

14

Inclusion

15

Legacy

16
17

Connection
Excitement

18

Social Contact

19

Transcendence

20

Harmony

21

Libertarian

22

Culture

23

Fame

24

Reward

On the next few pages the values which you ranked most highly and also those which you
ranked least highly will be described in more detail. You will also be given some food for
thought which comes from a more detailed analysis of the results from the questionnaire.

Profiling for Success

Before continuing, it should be explained that the VbIM questionnaire ranks your values in
three different ways. You may remember that in the second part of the questionnaire you
were asked to rank the 24 values by dragging each to its
appropriate position. This method produces your 'conscious' appraisal of your values and
reflects what you would probably say to others if they were to ask you what things you
value in life.
It is this conscious ranking of your values which was used in the previous page to
select out your six top values. The other ranking methods will be discussed later on in the
report, but for the moment, the following descriptions focus on your top six and bottom three
values from your conscious ranking. Your top six values were 'Accountability', 'Well-being',
'Personal Growth', 'Career Progression', 'Conceptual'
and 'Collaboration' and your bottom three values were 'Culture', 'Fame' and 'Reward'.

Your top six conscious values

Accountability
Those who value Accountability believe that people should take responsibility for their own
actions and choices. This view can be seen as challenging the 'blame culture' in which
people, in contrast, are often seen as victims of circumstance. Psychologically, the notion
of Accountability is linked to a feeling of control over one's own destiny and not being at
the mercy of chance, luck or other people. It implies the idea that a responsible society is
one in which both the citizens and those in power have the moral integrity to be held
accountable for their actions. This does not necessarily mean that all people should be
blamed for whatever happens to them since valuing accountability and the taking of
responsibility can still co-exist with the view that some people are unable to be
responsible for their own behaviour and that society still needs to defend them.
Your results suggest that Accountability is the most important value for you amongst all the
24 values. This means that this area appears to be particularly important to you as a
source of motivation.

Profiling for Success

This indicates a belief that people should take more responsibility for their actions. Perhaps
you think that people are too ready to try to find a cause for their misfortune in order to point
the finger of blame, and that this is just an abdication of their own responsibility. Perhaps you
believe that society has erred too far on the side of rights and too little on the side of
responsibility.
In a work context you are likely to take responsibility for your actions and expect others to
do the same. This can lead to a sense of empowerment but, overdone, it can also lead to
excessive individualism, which can be somewhat chaotic. However,
being able to take responsibility can also itself encompass the concept of group
responsibility; in other words, the recognition that not all people can be accountable to the
same degree - for example, people who have suffered great misfortune and hence are
practically (and emotionally) unable to accept responsibility to the same degree as most
people.

Well-being
People who value Well-being take an active interest in their physical and emotional
health. They strive to create a balanced and happy life that is free from stress and
worry allowing them to 'feel well and stay well'. They are concerned with keeping
themselves in good shape and are sensitive to what their body tells them. This can be
seen through a concern for work-life balance, periods of regular exercise and relaxation,
and an interest in healthy eating.
Your results suggest that Well-being is the second most important value for you amongst
all the 24 values. This means that this area appears to be particularly important to you as
a source of motivation.
This suggests that you take an active interest in ways to remain healthy and active. This can
involve an interest or belief in regular exercise, a good diet or relaxation designed to reduce
stress. How much this is translated into your everyday behaviour is another matter, but your
high ranking of this area suggests that you would probably invest a fair amount of energy in
trying to have a healthy lifestyle.
From an employment viewpoint, if the role is stressful you are likely to be motivated
to achieve a better work-life balance and might feel you have to put your state of health
first. However, if you enjoy your job it may be that keeping healthy enables you to perform
to your maximum ability.

Personal Growth
People who value Personal Growth seek new opportunities and challenges that they
believe will enable them to develop their potential. They tend to take personal
responsibility for their own development and they usually see this as a life-long process.
Their search for new experiences may involve elements of fun and immediate
satisfaction but there will usually be a strong focus on the potential for new skill
acquisition. They have an agenda to both supplement and develop to a higher level the
skills, competencies and experiences which they already possess.
Your results suggest that Personal Growth is the 3rd most important value for you
amongst all the 24 values. This means that this area appears to be particularly important
to you as a source of motivation.
This suggests that developing your skills and potential is something that motivates you. This
may express itself in the way you seek out opportunities that stretch your
current skills or that enable you to develop new ones. You may therefore wish to spend a
significant amount of time in 'learning mode'. A possible consequence could be that you
move on to new things quite quickly. This could mean that you sometimes neglect to take
the time to consolidate and integrate your newly acquired knowledge or skills or that you take
things on that are a stretch too far.
From a work perspective this thirst for learning can be extremely valuable. Some roles
require someone who is hungry to learn new things and willing to stretch beyond their
current level of experience or knowledge. However, it is also important to recognise that
other roles can emphasise the opposite - a need to consolidate and work within existing
parameters. People high on this value may find such roles less attractive - at least in the longer
term. It is also true that some organisations do not believe that they should provide the time
and space for individual development and expect learning and growth to be achieved
elsewhere. Such organisations may not therefore satisfy your needs for personal
development.

Profiling for Success

Career Progression
People who are concerned with Career Progression are often extremely driven and
ambitious. Their energy is focussed on making a success of their work life - although some
may achieve this through activities that may not follow a traditional career. Either way,
they seek significant challenges that require considerable effort and determination in
order to succeed. Their drive can involve working hard to become an expert or working
long hours to achieve perfection. It is therefore not surprising that such people are often
described as driven, determined and highly competitive with a strong need to succeed at
their chosen activity.
Your results suggest that Career Progression is the 4th most important value for you
amongst all the 24 values. This means that this area appears to be particularly important
to you as a source of motivation.
This suggests that you put a good deal of energy and effort into your work. People are likely
to see you taking on increasingly challenging projects and may describe you as driven or
ambitious. At times this might lead you to neglect activities that you consider routine or
unimportant since your drive is to 'get on' rather than 'stand still'. Some people with this kind of
focus may end up focussing too much on their future career at the expense of their health
and work-life balance.
From an employment perspective, those who get a high score usually like to see the next job
move ahead of them, whether it is a promotion or an increased challenge. This would make
an organisation with a flat structure with little opportunity for upward progression or one where
there is a limit on the variety of projects that can be undertaken less attractive to you.

Conceptual
Those who value the Conceptual want to make, and be seen to make, a difference
with their analytic or creative thinking. They welcome the opportunity to use their
intellect to grapple with challenging situations and to be recognised for their ability to be
insightful, creative, rational, and/or mentally flexible. Those with a more creative focus
are likely to welcome novelty and to have a hunger for continuous improvement,
whereas those with a more 'rational' turn of mind often favour a more scientific or
evidence-based approach to life.
Your results suggest that Conceptual is the 5th most important value for you amongst all the
24 values. This means that this area appears to be particularly important to you as a source
of motivation.

Profiling for Success

10

This suggests that it is important for you to be seen as having a strong rational mind-set
or as someone who has new and clever ideas. People with this value often seek opportunities
to engage with others who demonstrate good thinking skills. This does not necessarily imply
that you feel the need and have the confidence to contribute significantly yourself.
However, it is likely that you would like to do so in some form or other.
At work the ability to think creatively and to produce a coherent and rational argument
have both become more highly prized by employers in our ever-changing world. However, it
may be important to recognise that people who place a great deal of emphasis on thinking
can sometimes neglect important factors such as the
personal and emotional issues that affect a situation. Such neglect can have a negative
consequence on the relational climate in which they operate. This consideration would be
particularly important in an organisation that has a dominant caring or helping agenda and
where thinking takes a back seat to a more person-centred ethos.

Collaboration
People who are Collaborative are concerned with co-operation, participation and consensus.
They believe that working together is a valuable goal and are willing to sacrifice other
things in order to achieve this. They value the input of others and often work hard to
involve people who they see as part of the team or group. They believe that the whole
is greater than the sum of the parts and so
will subjugate their own needs for the good of group cohesion. Their approach to decision
making is generally to seek opinions and to arrive at a consensus. As a result,
collaborative people are often less interested in making their own mark than arriving at
the best possible solution: they value the process, rather than championing their own
particular idea.

Your results suggest that Collaboration is the 6th most important value for you amongst all
the 24 values. This means that this area appears to be particularly important to you as a
source of motivation.
You therefore probably value the ability of people to subjugate their own needs for the good
of the group. Your motivation is to try to engage and solicit the views, ideas and co-operation
of others and to create harmony and co-operation. You recognise how working together
could be so much more effective (or at least bring other benefits such as fun and
enjoyment). Hence you are likely to see the time and effort it requires as worthwhile. It is not
possible to say from your questionnaire responses whether this value system translates into
you being highly participative yourself as this depends on other factors such as your own
knowledge, confidence and style. However, you clearly value people who act in a
participative and inclusive way and you would feel unhappy if decisions were being made
without adequate involvement of the relevant stakeholders. You see clear benefits of being
part of a team that is

Profiling for Success

11

bound together by a common purpose.

In an employment context, you would probably value an environment in which collaboration is
actively encouraged. Sometimes, the only way to achieve something is with a high level of
collaboration. However, when if this principle is applied too rigidly, then decision making can
become cumbersome - some situations may require
speed at the expense of consensus. You may find it useful therefore to check whether
collaboration is vital for the good of the particular project you are working on or whether your
desire for collaboration arises rather from your own value system.

Your lowest conscious values

Libertarian
Those who value the Libertarian approach to life believe that people should be allowed to
follow their own conscience. They often view society as placing unnecessary
constraints on individuals and place great emphasis on the concept of individual
freedom. A consequence is that they tend to believe in allowing people to choose what
they do and how they want to live. They believe that any societal boundaries should be
as broad as possible, thus enabling people to exercise free will.
Your results suggest that Libertarian is the 21st most important value for you amongst all
the 24 values. This suggests that this area is probably not an important source of motivation
for you.
It seems from this that you believe that society needs to constrain individual freedom for the
greater good. You appear to believe that society needs rules and regulations and accept that
this will necessarily curtail individual freedom to some degree. Whilst
you may agree with the principle of free will and individual choice, you seem to believe
that if this is allowed free reign, society could not operate effectively. You strongly believe
that people cannot always do just what they want.
In a work context you accept the need for regulations, control structures and authorities
which makes you more prepared than most to accept and enforce adherence to the
rules and systems.

Culture
Some people have a great love of cultural expression in its various forms such as
painting, music, drama, dancing etc. Such things may not have great practical or
functional value, but people who value culture feel that there are more important things
that reside in human imagination and sensitivity. They appreciate aesthetic expression
but they also usually value self-expression and people who dare to be different. People
with such values are likely to promote the importance and richness of human
imagination which they see as an important pillar of society. They may see culture as
an 'educational' and aesthetic force for good, as a source of intellectual and emotional
meaning or as a high form of freedom of expression.
Profiling for Success

13

Your results suggest that Culture is the 22nd most important value for you amongst all the
24 values. This suggests that this area is probably not an important source of motivation for
you.

This suggests that you are less interested in various forms of 'the arts' (whether this be
painting, music, drama, architecture, dance and so on) than most people. Indeed, you may
even be puzzled as to what others see in many cultural expressions. Whilst you may still
appreciate certain forms of artistic expression you are unlikely to see it as central to
people's lives. Your view could be that it is either peripheral or even downright fanciful and
that people should place greater emphasis on things that are more practical or functional.
From a work perspective you may find it hard to identify with an organisation that is centred
on artistic or cultural activities but where you cannot see the practical benefits.

Fame
Those who value Fame usually enjoy being in the limelight and at the centre of attention.
They have a particularly strong need for recognition and the admiration of their peers,
quite apart from that of the wider community. People with a concern for fame are
motivated to create a noticeable public image, to the extent they may even seek infamy as
opposed to fame, since to be completely ignored is, for them, the worst thing of all.
Seeking fame can involve a wide range of activities but at its core is the desire to be
visible and recognised.
Your results suggest that Fame is the 23rd most important value for you amongst all the 24
values. This suggests that this area is probably not an important source of motivation for you.
This implies that you have little interest in investing energy to boost your 'public' image.
Perhaps you are someone who shuns the spotlight - or perhaps you have
little regard for people who seek it. Either way, you probably do not derive your selfesteem from the amount of attention you can obtain from other people.
From an employment perspective, the fact that you rank fame and recognition fairly low may
mean that you prefer less public roles or more discreet ways of making a contribution. This
does not necessarily mean that you will avoid taking a public role
when required to; there can be good reasons for needing to be in the public eye without it
being a deep seated desire.

Reward
Rewards, such as money and possessions, are important to us all. At one level we need
these to survive. They are also the tangible signs of success. Those for whom rewards are
a key value are likely to base decisions about what they do on the possibilities for
increasing their material well-being. Reward-orientated people can be very hard working
and competitive. They can give an enormous amount of energy to their work and they
make a very obvious link between the remuneration they receive and how good they are at
their job - and hence how successful they are (and are perceived by others to be).
Your results suggest that Reward is the least important value for you amongst all the 24
values. This suggests that this area is probably not an important source of motivation for
you.
Like most people, you probably need to achieve a minimum level of reward and it may be
useful to explore what you would consider to be sufficient for your purposes. However, at work, it
is very likely that you are more motivated by what you do in the job than what you get for
doing it. If your job is routine or tedious you probably need to change it or to make sure that
you satisfy your other values outside of work. Your employer would do well to understand that
using material rewards (e.g. money) may not be a particularly effective way of incentivising
you.

Profiling for Success

15

As explained in the previous section, the VbIM report ranks your values in three different
ways. The report so far has dealt only with your conscious ranking of your values.
The second way of ranking your values is by taking all the statements and, for each particular
value, calculating which ones received the highest ratings. This produces a more reliable
measure since your top values come from the consistency with which you rate all the
statements.
Differences in these two methods of ranking can be very useful to explore. It is possible
that the first part of the questionnaire has identified values that are slightly
less conscious but that, in reality, they mean more to you than some of those described
earlier. What follows are the values that change position using the two methods and which
may therefore be worth considering in more depth:

Values which may be more important to you

than you consciously think
Evaluating your responses to the statements in the first part of the questionnaire suggests
that the following values which were not in your original top six conscious values may be
more important to you than you are currently aware:

Tradition
Tradition is a powerful value that reinforces the norms and acceptable principles of
society. It involves the idea that there are rules of conduct that regulate behaviour and
that sets of values are at the heart of a good society. It can also involve the idea that we
should show more respect for the past and our heritage. Those who value tradition are
likely to be supporters of the established order of things and of the notion of authority
and are likely to place particular emphasis on groupings such as the family or various
traditional authority figures and institutions.

Profiling for Success

16

Social Contact
People who value Social Contact get enjoyment from interacting with others. Indeed
they tend to be highly sociable with a great need to have other people around. They
enjoy the prospect of seeking out old friends and acquaintances as well as creating
opportunities to meet potentially new friends. They appreciate pleasant, informal
conversation and companionship and often have a friendly and affable nature.

Altruism
Those who consider Altruism to be important aspire to a better, more tolerant and
understanding world. They believe in showing concern for the needs of others and
they admire people who direct their activities to increasing the sum of human happiness especially those who are willing to put considerable effort into helping other people,
the environment, and the world generally. As individuals they are likely to be
understanding, selfless and compassionate, and to hope that these values will be
reflected in the society in which they live.

Values which may be less important to you

than you consciously think
Looking at your responses to the statements in the first part of the questionnaire also suggests
that some values which you consciously rank highly may be less important than you currently
think. These are 'Career Progression', 'Conceptual' and 'Collaboration'.
It is worthwhile spending some time thinking about these values. Is it that you say you
value them because you have always said you value them? Or is it that you feel some sort of
pressure (e.g. from your peer group, or from your family background) to
continue to endorse these values? Or perhaps there is some ideology which you have
always adhered to which makes you continue to endorse these values?

Profiling for Success

17

Comparing your values with those of other people

Your responses to the statements in the first part of the questionnaire were
compared to the responses made by a large group of people who have taken the
questionnaire in the past. This makes it possible to see if you place a greater importance
on certain particular values than other people do.
For each of the following values, you rated them significantly more highly than other people
tend to do: 'Well-being' and 'Accountability'.
Some of these have already been described above. Those which have not so far been
described are described in the paragraphs which follow. You might want to spend some
time thinking about these values and ask yourself whether these should also be incorporated
into your conscious list of things which you think are important in life.

Well-being
The definition of this value has already been given previously.

Accountability
The definition of this value has already been given previously.

Summarising
your thinking
You have now considered your values from a number of different angles. This can make for
a potentially complex picture and so this section is designed for you to summarise your
thinking and pull it all together.
Using the blue ovals below, write down what you now consider to be your top three
values. Then consider what needs or desires each of these three values fulfils for you and go
on to answer the questions in the boxes in that row.

How is it currently satisfied?

How do you intend to satisfy it further:

in your current circumstances?

Top Value
by changing your circumstances?

How is it currently satisfied?

How do you intend to satisfy it further:

in your current circumstances?

Value 2
by changing your circumstances?

How is it currently satisfied?

How do you intend to satisfy it further:

in your current circumstances?

Value 3
by changing your circumstances?

Profiling for Success

19

We hope that you have found this report useful. It is intended to act as a mirror
by reflecting your more conscious ideas but also to highlight areas that may
be just under the surface.
The importance of our values cannot be under-estimated. Together with our
personality, they are core to our sense of identity. They are sometimes buried
deep in our history where the pressures of our upbringing and experience
have resulted in them becoming shrouded in our stories that are part truth and
part myth.
As mentioned earlier, clarifying our true values makes decisions easier and
better and gives us a compass with which to navigate through life.
Sometimes it's the smallest decisions that can change our lives forever.
Whether this report has helped you to gain radical insight or simply helped
you to clarify what you already understand, it is worth contemplating the
thoughts below:

Explorer Report

Career Interests Inventory

M
11th February 2015

Making a decision about which career to follow is one of the most difficult
yet most important tasks we have to do. It is something that needs
careful thought, not only when we are starting out, but also when we are
thinking about changing our career or returning to education.
Making such an important decision can be a complex process involving
an understanding of our abilities, motivations, interests and personality
all of which will have been coloured by our experience and education.
This report provides ideas and suggestions based on the pattern of
interests suggested by your answers to the Career Interests Inventory.
This can be a good starting point for choosing a career direction since
the better the match between interests and career, the more satisfied
and productive people tend to be.
It is likely that you have already considered some of the careers and jobs
suggested in this report. It is also possible that some will be a bit of a
surprise to you and that others you may discount immediately. However,
it is better not to dismiss any out of hand since we often have only a
superficial or stereotypic view of many jobs. On further examination
there may be a closer match than you expect. You should therefore take
the suggestions only as a starting point. Find out more about the
different job areas and spend some time thinking about how these fit with
all the other factors that are important when making any decision.

Remember that most value from this

report will come from the thoughts that it
generates rather than directly from the job
suggestions it contains.

Remember that choosing a career

direction involves many factors and that
this report is simply a starting point for
making any educational or career choices.

Your answers to the questionnaire have been assessed in terms of six general career 'themes'
as shown below:
Doing and implementing

Being active, practical and hands-on

Working with things rather than with ideas or with people

Thinking and investigating

Understanding things by analysing them

Using logical reasoning and working with theories
Working independently to solve complex problems

Creating and expressing

Being original, intuitive, imaginative and aesthetic

Seeking ways to express oneself with creative or artistic ideas
Looking for new ways of expressing ideas, concepts

Communicating and helping

Seeking contact with others and enjoying communicating

Working in teams with other people
Helping other people

Persuading and influencing

Influencing others by persuasion

Working to achieve personal or organisational goals and targets
Seeking opportunities for personal advancement

Planning and organising

Organising and administrating things and people

Using clearly defined systems and methods
Keeping to schedules and monitoring progress

The way the questionnaire works is by seeing how similar your interests are to the interests of
people working in each type of job.
For example, suppose that people who work in jobs involving 'Thinking and Investigating' say that they enjoy "explaining
how things work".
If you also said you enjoy explaining how things work when answering the questionnaire, this will increase your score on
the 'Thinking and Investigating' theme.

Once all of your answers to the questionnaire have been considered in this way, the six
themes are ordered in terms of which are most likely to appeal to you. It is this ordering of
themes which can help you make a choice as to which careers are likely to be of most
interest to you.
When choosing a career, you need to remember that some jobs may span two or possibly
more of the six themes.
For example, the job of 'teacher' may span both the 'Communicating and Helping' theme and also the
'Thinking and Investigating' theme.

So when looking for a career that will suit you, you need to consider your top two themes
and, in some cases, your top three themes, in order to find a job which matches your profile
of interests as well as possible.
Themes that are next to each other in the hexagon diagram above have more in common
than those that are opposite each other.
For example, if someone scores highly on the Persuading and Influencing theme, then this makes it more
likely that they will also score highly on the Planning and Organising theme, though less likely that they will
score highly in the Thinkning and Investigating theme.

If your top two themes are close to each other in the diagram, then your career interests tend to
be focussed in a relatively narrow area. If your top two themes are opposite to each other in
the diagram, then you are likely to be interested in a fairly wide selection of career
possibilities.

Write down below three jobs or careers that you have already thought
about. Then, for each job:

write down why the job appeals to you

say which of the six career themes you think it would fall into.

Why this job appeals to me

Which themes does it fall into?

Doing and implementing

JOB 1

Thinking and investigating

Creating and expressing
Communicating and helping
Persuading and influencing
Planning and organising

Which themes does it fall into?

Why this job appeals to me
JOB 2

Doing and implementing

Thinking and investigating
Creating and expressing
Communicating and helping
Persuading and influencing
Planning and organising

Which themes does it fall into?

Doing and implementing
JOB 3

Thinking and investigating

Creating and expressing
Communicating and helping

Profiling for Success

Persuading and influencing

Planning and organising

The diagram below shows your results from the questionnaire. These results
indicate the relative importance of the six career themes to you. What this means is that
those themes which are shown in the diagram as having low scores, may still have some
interest for you, but not as much as those themes for which your scores were higher.

Your results show that the most important career theme for you is 'Thinking and
investigating'. Following this, two further themes, 'Planning and organising' and
'Doing and implementing ' were equal second in your ranking of the themes. Each of these
three themes is explained in greater detail below.

Careers in this area are concerned with science, technology and analysis. People
interested in these activities enjoy investigating and researching issues of a business, scientific
or cultural nature. Their drive is generally one of intellectual curiosity, and
the work is often performed in a laboratory, medical or academic establishment, or in a
technical or IT environment.
They seek to solve problems through applying a systematic and logical approach: one that
relies on careful analysis, independence and objectivity. They often aim to be an expert and
to understand a large body of scientific or technical data. The core activity is analysis, which
means that this theme encompasses both theoretical and applied sciences and technologies.
In summary this area includes the social, health, biological and physical sciences, technical
laboratory and health work, mathematics, computer and systems management, and
specialist engineering.
Typical jobs
You can click on any of the jobs or job families below to find out more information from the MyWorkThemes.com website.
Physical & Mathematical Sciences

IT Support Technician
Web Developer

Geoscientist
Meteorologist

Software Developer
Software Tester

Laboratory Technician
Material Engineer

E Learning Developer
Computer Games Designer

Mechanical Engineer
Oceanographer

Computer Games Tester

Ecologist
Biomedical Scientist
Food Scientist
Technical Laboratory
Forensic Scientist
Anatomical Pathology Technician
Fingerprint Officer

Computer Service & Repair Technician

Health Professionals

Clinical Scientist
Specialist Engineering

Doctor - GP

Social
Nuclear Engineer

Veterinary Surgeon
Dentist

Psychologist
Energy Engineer
Life Coach

Pharmacy Technician
Optometrist
Physiotherapist
Audiologist
IT & Computer Systems
Systems Analyst

Motorsport Engineer
Psychotherapist
Biosciences
Biotechnologist
Aerospace Engineer
Civil Engineer Technician
Ergonomist

Archaeologist

Careers in this area are concerned with the organisation of data, designing and initiating
systems and procedures and the management and supervision of projects.
People interested in these activities like to operate in a systematic way, are
concerned with details and prefer to work to an obvious plan. They are often drawn to activities
which are governed by clear principles or rules, where quality can be judged against established
benchmarks of performance.
They have a conscientious and logical approach to work and value precision and accuracy
in other people. They enjoy practical tasks, dealing with quantitative information and a
structured work environment.
In summary, this area includes all forms of office, business and public administration, financial
control and inspection, applied mathematics and archival and cataloguing work.
Typical jobs
Inspection & Quality Control
Quality Control Technician
Environmental Health Officer
Immigration Officer
Health and Safety Adviser
Tax Inspector
Customs Officer
Health Promotion Specialist
Civil Enforcement Officer
Insurance Loss Adjuster
Production Manager
Organising & Archiving

Information Scientist

Research Scientist

Arts Administrator

Investment Analyst

Secretary

Actuary

Public Administration

Maths Teacher

Diplomatic Service Officer

Forensic Computer Analyst

Economist

Local Government Administrator

Administrative Assistant
Assistant Immigration officer
Civil Service Administrative Officer
Prison Governor
Health Service Manager

Archivist

European Union Offical

Project Manager

Housing Policy Officer

Court Administrative Officer

Personal Assistant

Mathematical & Quantitative

Data Analyst - Statistician

Web Database Administrator

Librarian

Risk Manager Insurance

Court Usher

Insurance Underwriter
Accounts Clerk

Management Accountant
Quantity Surveyor

Careers in this area are concerned with using machines, tools or specialist skills and equipment,
often in an outdoor setting. People interested in these activities are frequently attracted by
work that involves some degree of risk and physical endurance and elements both of cooperation and competition.
They also enjoy activities where there is an obvious, tangible result and which may have an
adventurous component. In essence they like to work in situations where
they can rely on their own resources and which depend on the application of practical knowledge
- be it working with technology, the environment, nature or other people.
In summary this area includes the military, emergency services, craft and technical
specialisms, transport; building and construction, sport, agriculture and the natural world.
Typical jobs
Natural World

Electrician

Road Transport Manager

Countryside

Carpenter

Skilled Crafts

Officer

Agricultural Inspector
Countryside Ranger
Landscape Architect
Veterinary Nurse
Tree Surgeon
Military & Protective Services
Armed Forces Pilot
Private Investigator
Fire Fighter

Sports & Coaching

Chef

Sports Coach

Set Designer
Cabinet Maker

Fitness Instructor

Personal Trainer

Marine Engineer

Sports Development Officer

Offshore Drilling Worker

Technical Services
CAD Technician

Police Community Support Officer

Mining Engineer

Security Officer

Broadcast Engineer
Minerals Surveyor

Ambulance Paramedic
Building & Surveying

Expert Construction Trades

Outdoor Activities Instructor

Video Editor
Telecoms Technician

Architect

Transport Specialists

Building Technician

Air Traffic Controller

Structural Engineer

Air Cabin Crew

Town Planner

Driving Instructor

Steeplejack

When choosing a career, it is important not to think about the career themes in isolation.
The previous pages have considered each theme just by itself, indicating
the jobs which are typically considered under that theme. However, it is also possible to
identify jobs which fit in with more than one theme.
In the sections below, example jobs are suggested for pairings between some of your highest
ranked career themes. In each case, the jobs include some which require a fairly high
standard of educational achievement and some for which academic qualifications are not
essential as an entry requirement. You should focus on those jobs which fit the level of
educational achievement which you either have already reached or hope to reach in the
future.
If we consider together two of your highest ranked themes, 'Thinking and
investigating' and 'Planning and organising', the following are examples of jobs which fit this
combination particularly well:
MORE ACADEMIC: Auditor, Barrister, Solicitor, Palaeontologist.
LESS ACADEMIC: IT Support Manager, Legal Executive.

We can also consider together the themes 'Thinking and investigating' and 'Doing and
implementing '. Examples of jobs which fit this combination are:
MORE ACADEMIC: Archaeologist, Chiropractor, Cartographer, Materials Scientist, Biochemist, Food
Technologist, Mechanical Engineer.
LESS ACADEMIC: Sound Technician, Desk Top Publisher, Systems Engineer.

Taking 'Planning and organising' and 'Doing and implementing ' together, jobs which fit well
are:
MORE ACADEMIC: Administrator, Air Traffic Controller.
LESS ACADEMIC: Library Assistant, Pharmacy Assistant.

The career themes described in detail above are those which you appear to be most interested
in. You might also want to know a little more about those career themes which you seemed
less interested in. These are:

Creating and expressing

Jobs in this area have a strong 'expressive' element and are concerned with
producing or appreciating art, drama, music or writing. Work activities include
composing, writing, creating, designing, cooking, performing and entertaining.
This area is not necessarily about having a direct interest in painting or
drawing, but it does include all occupations where people appreciate some
form of creative expression.

Typical activities are writing,

interpreting, creating, producing,
designing, performing and
entertaining.

Persuading and influencing

Jobs in this area are concerned with commerce, business and leadership. They
generally have a requirement for negotiation and influencing skills. Work
activities include selling, marketing, managing, directing and professionally
guiding others. Being self-employed (running your own business) falls into this
category, as does work in politics.

Communicating and helping

Jobs in this area involve working with people in a helpful, caring or advisory
capacity. They are often concerned with social welfare, community service, and
all aspects of education and development. Work activities include caring,
teaching and educating, treating, helping, listening, counselling and discussing.

Typical activities are trading,

negotiating and selling, promoting,
managing, directing and providing
specialist advice to others.

Typical activities are teaching and

instructing, (hands-on) caring and
treating, helping and providing
guidance and advice.

In the Career Interests Inventory questionnaire, you were also asked to

indicate how good you think you are at various skills and abilities related to
each of the six occupational themes. Your results are shown by the blue bars
in the graph below. Your interest level in each theme is also shown by the
orange bars.

When you are choosing a career, you need to think not just about the areas
you are interested in but also the things you are good at.
If there is a particular theme that you are very interested in (as shown in the
orange bars), ask yourself whether this is an area in which you also have skills
and abilities. If it is not, then consider whether you could develop the skills
needed for this area or whether it would be better to focus on a different career
theme which fits better with your skills.

The questionnaire also asked you about particular things which are important
to you when looking for a job. Your results are shown by the pink bars in the
graph below. Your interest level in each theme is also shown by the orange
bars.

Whatever career you eventually choose, it will be important that it fits in at

least reasonably closely with your personal set of values. Compare your
values as shown by the pink bars with your interests as shown by the orange
bars. Also, compare the graph above with the graph shown on the previous
page (your skills and abilities). Can you see any particular career theme which
matches your interests, your values and also your skills and abilities?

If you completed the exercise on page 4 of the report, you will have identified
one or two jobs which you had been considering prior to seeing your results
from the Career Interests Inventory. Consider these jobs once again.
Which of the six career themes do you now think are relevant to each job you
mentioned? Remember, a job can fit into more than one career theme.
Having read this report and seen your results, are there any jobs which you would
now find more appealing than those you wrote down earlier?

Take a look at the typical jobs indicated for your most preferred career
theme (or themes) on Page 6 of the report and also the jobs suggested
under the 'Combining Career Themes' heading.
Do any of these surprise you?
Are they jobs you already know about or would you like to find out more about them?
Of all the jobs listed there, which ones appeal to you most?
And do the jobs you are now thinking about also fit in with your skills and abilities
and your values ?

Take a look at the typical jobs indicated for those career themes which
you were less interested in.
Are there jobs listed there which you would not enjoy doing? If so,
can you say why you would not enjoy doing them?

 Profiling for Success

13

We hope that you have found this report useful. It

is intended to act as a mirror reflecting back to
you some of the choices you made when
answering the questions in the Career Interests
Inventory questionnaire.
When thinking more about your career, do not
simply follow what this report seems to be
telling you. Find out more about different jobs,
ask
yourself if your answers to the questionnaire really
reflected how you feel and consider whether you
might feel differently in the future, perhaps when
you are a little older or more advanced in your
career.
Most importantly, find out as much as you can
about particular jobs, what they involve, what
qualifications you might need for them and what
studies or training you might need to undertake
as a preparation for those jobs. You can find lots
of information online and a very useful starting
point is the National Career Service web site at: