5 Step Process for Improving Career Decision-
Making
by Erin Suess
Learning how to make good decisions requires information about what kind of decision maker you
are, knowledge about yourself and being familiar with all of your options. Making decisions
impacts the effectiveness of our lives and influences our long-term results.
It is often best to use a systematic planned approach when making important decisions. Although
it is essential to understand there is no one best model that should be applied across the board
for everyone; choosing a system that allows you to gather information, think over and apply an
efficient method will help create more confidence in making the “right” choices.
Some people will make decisions based on an empathetic approach such as using values,
feelings and taking into consideration the impact their decisions will have on others. Other
individuals will use more of an analytical or logical style such as using data, identifying the pros
and cons, and viewing their situation more objectively. Keep in mind that whatever style you use in
making decisions that you pick what works best for you and understand how you use it to make the
right decisions.
Communication
According to the CIP model (Reardon, Lenz, Sampson & Peterson, 2005) and using the CASVE
approach, the first step in making career decisions is to identify the gap. Identifying where you are
and where you want to be is crucial and helps clarify the gap. When your discomfort becomes
greater than the fear of change than you know you have to make a decision. It is important to
identify this need and take into consideration both external demands and internal clues. For
example, you may identify your gap by clarifying your event, “I need to choose whether I will take
this new position or stay in my current job by next week.” Your internal clues may be emotional, “I
am scared about making the wrong choice.” What is important is that you recognize these clues
and become familiar with how you make decisions.
Analysis
Understanding yourself and your options will help clarify what it is you want. Evaluating your values,
interests and skills will help shed some light in your self-analysis. Reflecting on your personal
experiences, using structured exercises, assessment instruments, and other career guidance
resources you may have access to, may be helpful in clarifying your values and interests.
Enhancing your occupational knowledge will help evaluate your options in your analysis. For
example, gathering information on various occupations or programs of study through informational
interviews, job shadowing, networking, work experience, and academic courses will give you more
knowledge about the world-of-work.
Keep in mind thoughts influence your feelings and behavior and self-talk can have a positive or
negative effect on your career decision making process. Remember to keep self-talk positive and
ask thought provoking question throughout your journey such as “What information do I need to
know about myself and my situation so that I am prepared to make a decision?”
Synthesis
Identifying the maximum number of potential options or alternatives in your career decision making
will help you elaborate on this process. However, keep in mind that too many options can become
overwhelming forcing you to not to take any action at all. Therefore, it is necessary to narrow down
potential occupations, jobs or programs of study to a manageable number of options in order to
help clarify your choices. Be realistic and see how your options fit in with your analysis of your
values, interests and skills.
Valuing
Weighing the costs and benefits of each alternative will help narrow the gap that you identified in
the first step of this decision making process. For example, take into consideration yourself, family
members or significant others, cultural group, your style of decision making (logical, empathic,
intuitive), and resources such as financial obligations (for educational or training options).
To help prioritize your options it may be helpful to make primary and secondary choices. For
example, you can list your primary choice as tentative in case it becomes unattainable due to lack
of resources, failure to get in to an appropriate training or education program, or as result of
changes in your values, interests or skills (overtime). Be sure to make secondary choices as well.
Execution
Formulate and execute a plan for implementing your first choice. Whether your plan involves formal
education/training experience, reality-testing (full-time, part-time, and volunteer work experience) or
finding or changing a job, it is important to develop a plan outlining specific measurable steps with
realistic time frames. Be sure to review personal and environment factors that may affect your
plan: time constraints, family obligations, stress level, financial and human resources, and of
course your style of decision-making.
Making effective decisions to improve your career or education path requires your time, energy and
implementation. Understanding the career decision process and finding an approach that works
for you is vital. Improving your skills through various exercises and obtaining knowledge about your
choices will have a long-lasting effect on your career decision making.
Making
by Erin Suess
Learning how to make good decisions requires information about what kind of decision maker you
are, knowledge about yourself and being familiar with all of your options. Making decisions
impacts the effectiveness of our lives and influences our long-term results.
It is often best to use a systematic planned approach when making important decisions. Although
it is essential to understand there is no one best model that should be applied across the board
for everyone; choosing a system that allows you to gather information, think over and apply an
efficient method will help create more confidence in making the “right” choices.
Some people will make decisions based on an empathetic approach such as using values,
feelings and taking into consideration the impact their decisions will have on others. Other
individuals will use more of an analytical or logical style such as using data, identifying the pros
and cons, and viewing their situation more objectively. Keep in mind that whatever style you use in
making decisions that you pick what works best for you and understand how you use it to make the
right decisions.
Communication
According to the CIP model (Reardon, Lenz, Sampson & Peterson, 2005) and using the CASVE
approach, the first step in making career decisions is to identify the gap. Identifying where you are
and where you want to be is crucial and helps clarify the gap. When your discomfort becomes
greater than the fear of change than you know you have to make a decision. It is important to
identify this need and take into consideration both external demands and internal clues. For
example, you may identify your gap by clarifying your event, “I need to choose whether I will take
this new position or stay in my current job by next week.” Your internal clues may be emotional, “I
am scared about making the wrong choice.” What is important is that you recognize these clues
and become familiar with how you make decisions.
Analysis
Understanding yourself and your options will help clarify what it is you want. Evaluating your values,
interests and skills will help shed some light in your self-analysis. Reflecting on your personal
experiences, using structured exercises, assessment instruments, and other career guidance
resources you may have access to, may be helpful in clarifying your values and interests.
Enhancing your occupational knowledge will help evaluate your options in your analysis. For
example, gathering information on various occupations or programs of study through informational
interviews, job shadowing, networking, work experience, and academic courses will give you more
knowledge about the world-of-work.
Keep in mind thoughts influence your feelings and behavior and self-talk can have a positive or
negative effect on your career decision making process. Remember to keep self-talk positive and
ask thought provoking question throughout your journey such as “What information do I need to
know about myself and my situation so that I am prepared to make a decision?”
Synthesis
Identifying the maximum number of potential options or alternatives in your career decision making
will help you elaborate on this process. However, keep in mind that too many options can become
overwhelming forcing you to not to take any action at all. Therefore, it is necessary to narrow down
potential occupations, jobs or programs of study to a manageable number of options in order to
help clarify your choices. Be realistic and see how your options fit in with your analysis of your
values, interests and skills.
Valuing
Weighing the costs and benefits of each alternative will help narrow the gap that you identified in
the first step of this decision making process. For example, take into consideration yourself, family
members or significant others, cultural group, your style of decision making (logical, empathic,
intuitive), and resources such as financial obligations (for educational or training options).
To help prioritize your options it may be helpful to make primary and secondary choices. For
example, you can list your primary choice as tentative in case it becomes unattainable due to lack
of resources, failure to get in to an appropriate training or education program, or as result of
changes in your values, interests or skills (overtime). Be sure to make secondary choices as well.
Execution
Formulate and execute a plan for implementing your first choice. Whether your plan involves formal
education/training experience, reality-testing (full-time, part-time, and volunteer work experience) or
finding or changing a job, it is important to develop a plan outlining specific measurable steps with
realistic time frames. Be sure to review personal and environment factors that may affect your
plan: time constraints, family obligations, stress level, financial and human resources, and of
course your style of decision-making.
Making effective decisions to improve your career or education path requires your time, energy and
implementation. Understanding the career decision process and finding an approach that works
for you is vital. Improving your skills through various exercises and obtaining knowledge about your
choices will have a long-lasting effect on your career decision making.
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