Understanding yourself is an important part of making an informed career and study choice. This includes thinking about how you make decisions, what interests you, what skills you already have, what matters to you, and who or what has influenced your career ideas. You may already know some things about yourself, but you may not yet know how they connect with your study choices. Taking time to reflect can help you choose a qualification that fits your strengths, values, circumstances and future goals.

How you make decisions

You make decisions every day. Some are small, while others, such as choosing what to study, can have a longer-term impact. Other people may give advice, but the final decision is yours. It is useful to distinguish between facts, opinions, expectations and assumptions when making a career-related decision. There is no single right way to make a decision. Some people gather information and compare options carefully. Others prefer to talk things through, reflect quietly or follow what feels meaningful to them. What matters is that you understand your own decision-making style and use reliable information to support your choice.

Activity: How I make decisions

Think about an important decision you made recently.

• How did you approach the decision?
• What information did you use?
• Who influenced your decision?
• What helped you feel more confident?
• What could you have done differently?

Also think about a time when uncertainty affected your plans. This could include a sudden life event, financial pressure, family responsibility, retrenchment, a change in work circumstances or another unexpected situation.

• How did you cope with the uncertainty?
• What did you learn about yourself?
• Did any new opportunities become visible?

Your skills

Skills are abilities you develop through different life experiences. These may come from school, work, volunteering, community involvement, family responsibilities, previous studies, hobbies or personal challenges. You may already have more skills than you realise. Managing responsibilities at home, for example, may develop planning, communication and problem-solving skills. Work experience may build teamwork, customer service, leadership or technical skills. Distance learning will also help you develop independence, resilience, digital skills and self-management.

Skills that are useful in a changing world of work include

• communication.
• teamwork and collaboration.
• problem-solving.
• creative thinking.
• digital and information skills.
• self-management.
• adaptability.
• ethical decision-making.
• the ability to keep learning.

As you study, it can help to notice how each module builds knowledge, skills and confidence that you may later use in the workplace, in your community or in further study.

Activity: My skills

Think about your experiences at school, work, home, in your community or through volunteering.

• What skills have I already developed?
• Which skills do I enjoy using?
• Which skills do I still need to develop for the opportunities I am hoping for?
• How can I start developing these skills while I study?
• What evidence could I use one day in my CV, career portfolio or interview?

Further exploration: Use the O*Net website (http://www.onetonline.org/find/descriptor/browse/Skills/) to identify job titles related to the skills you have identified.

Your values

Your values are the things that matter most to you in life and work. They influence the kind of work you may find meaningful, the environments you may prefer and the decisions you make about your future. Values can be shaped by your family, culture, community, beliefs, work experiences and life circumstances.

Activity: My values

Choose five values that are most important to you. You can use the examples below or add your own:

Now, complete these sentences:

• My life feels meaningful when...
• I feel valued when...
• My career would feel meaningful when...
• My study time at Unisa will feel worthwhile when...

Your career influences

Career decisions are rarely made in isolation. Your choices may be influenced by people, opportunities, responsibilities, culture, location, finances, work experience, family expectations, community needs, media, role models or chance events. These influences are not necessarily good or bad. The important thing is to notice them so that you can make a more conscious decision.

Activity: My career influences

Think about the qualifications you are considering applying for.

• Who or what influenced this choice?
• Is this choice mainly my own or am I trying to meet someone else’s expectations?
• How have my family, community, school, workplace or life experiences shaped my thinking?
• What practical circumstances do I need to consider, such as time, finances, technology access, work or family responsibilities?
• What chance events have influenced my career direction so far?

Reflection before you continue

Before moving to the next section, make a few notes:

• What do I know about myself that should guide my study choice?
• What do I still need to learn about myself?
• What kind of qualification or career field may fit my interests, skills, values and circumstances?