Collection of documents and handout related to career exploration and self inquiry.

1. Career Center
Duke Career Center • studentaffairs.duke.edu/career • 919-660-1050 •
Bay 5, Smith Warehouse, 2nd Floor • 114 S. Buchanan Blvd., Box 90950, Durham, NC 27708
Self Inquiry Collection
Index
Uncover What Drives You
Career Development Checklist for First-Year Students
Board of DIrectors
Holland’s Code

2. Career Center
Know Yourself
Uncover What Drives You
A process of self-inquiry is not a one-time event. It is the best way to start thinking
about careers and a place to return when contemplating transitions and significant
decisions.
Duke Career Center • studentaffairs.duke.edu/career • 919-660-1050 •
Bay 5, Smith Warehouse, 2nd Floor • 114 S. Buchanan Blvd., Box 90950, Durham, NC 27708
Through a process of self-inquiry,
we all gain insight into our values,
interests, skills, personality, and
what we have learned from unique
experiences. These are the critical
data that drive career planning and
development. A process of self-inquiry
is not a one-time event. It is the best
way to start thinking about careers and
a place to return when contemplating
transitions and significant decisions.
As you grow through new experiences
and change with exposure to new
ideas, you return to this process many
times. The more aligned your career
decisions are with who you know
yourself to be, the more likely it is that
you will find meaning in your work.
Benefits of Self-Inquiry
• You will make well-informed
decisions to set yourself up
for the outcomes that matter
throughout your career.
• You will better articulate your strengths and
interests to others who can offer valuable
guidance, connections and opportunities.
Assess Your Values, Interests,
Skills and Personality
Values, interests, skills and personality are four lenses
through which you can look at your life experience.
Each provides a different view into you. Use these
unique but overlapping viewpoints to identify
patterns that naturally emerge through the choices
you make.
Want more?
CareerBeam: Career Exploration section,
https://duke.careerbeam.com/
Duke Self-Inquiry Guide
http://studentaffairs.duke.edu/career/online-tools-
resources/career-center-skills-guides/self-inquiry
Counseling appointments
http://studentaffairs.duke.edu/career/career-services

3. Duke Career Center • studentaffairs.duke.edu/career • 919-660-1050 • Bay 5, Smith Warehouse, 2nd Floor •
114 S. Buchanan Blvd., Box 90950, Durham, NC 27708
Career Development Checklist for First-Year Students
_____ Work hard in your classes while getting to know Duke.
Your academic record will be an important piece of internship, job and graduate school application
screenings, so be sure to give proper energy and focus to your classroom responsibilities. Remember, a high
GPA is easier to maintain than a low one is to raise.
_____ Find an organization, team or club to get involved in on campus.
Begin discovering passions, meeting friends and exploring groups and causes you would like to contribute
to during your time at Duke.
_____ Explore the Duke Career Center’s website.
Counselors have developed useful content including Career Options Guides, Resume and Cover Letter
guides and the Event Calendar. You will be able to have more purposeful and productive conversations with
an advisor after exploring this interesting content.
_____ Get to know at least one faculty or staff member each semester.
Attend office hours and campus programs; ask questions and show interest. These individuals can serve as
important sources of information, events/workshops, encouragement and future recommendations.
_____ Practice good stress and time management.
The skills you develop through balancing commitments to various organizations, courses, relationships and
tasks will serve you throughout your professional life after Duke. The ability to successfully manage your
responsibilities, relationships and general health is desired by most employers.
_____ Develop your Board of Directors.
You are the chair of the board so foster good relationships with your Academic Advisor, FAC, RA, Residential
Coordinator, professor, etc. These people likely know a lot about getting the most out of your time at Duke
and have assumed their respective roles because they WANT to help first-year students. Take advantage!
_____ Acquire experience during your winter, spring and/or summer vacations.
This can include volunteering, shadowing, part-time work, internships or research. Consider all the
possibilities as you explore and define your interests and skills.
_____ Reach out to a Duke alum, personal contact or interesting professional.
This could be initiated via email, through the DukeConnect alumni database, over the phone or in person.
Conducting informational interviews is a low-pressure, high-curiosity activity to help you learn more
about career options as well as meet people to add to your network. Get started by scheduling a short
appointment or a meal with someone who has a job you think is cool. Ask them how they got where they
are today, what the rewards and challenges are of their day-to-day work are and what advice they have for
you moving forward.
_____ Get your resume up to speed.
Whether this is your first time creating a professional resume, or you simply want to update the one you
used during high school, the Career Center has resources to help with this process. See samples on our
website, come to drop-in hours to get your resume reviewed and remember to update it with each new
relevant experience.
_____ Engage with the Duke Career Center.
There are a number of ways for first-year students to take advantage of Career Center resources, whether
you are looking for individual advising or bigger programs and workshops. Turn this page over to learn
more!

4. Duke Career Center • studentaffairs.duke.edu/career • 919-660-1050 • Bay 5, Smith Warehouse, 2nd Floor •
114 S. Buchanan Blvd., Box 90950, Durham, NC 27708
LAUNCH Career Development Series
(Fall for Sophomores and Spring for First-Years)
Offered exclusively to first-years and sophomores, this
six-week series focuses on exploration of personal
and professional strengths, values, and opportunities.
Students come out of this experience with a better
understanding of who they are, what skills they offer,
how to make the most of their time in college, and how
to take advantage of resources available at Duke. Each
session involves activities, discussions, and real-world
applications. Student who complete all six sessions will
receive a Career Development Certificate.
Drop-in Advising
No appointment necessary! Bring quick questions or
printed application documents (resumes, cover letters)
to be reviewed by a career counselor or CAT (Career
Ambassador Team member). Though there are some
special drop-ins at satellite locations during different
times of the year (ex: First-Year Fridays on East in the
spring), drop-in advising is available EVERY weekday
that classes are in session at the Career Center from
1:30-4:30 p.m. in our Resource Room.
Career Counseling Appointments
Our goal is to support you as you explore career options
and locate experiential and employment opportunities.
We look forward to meeting you! Appointments
are available between 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Monday-
Friday. Call to schedule an appointment several days in
advance, (919) 660-1050.
Mock Interviews
Think your interview skills could use some brushing up
as you head towards applying for internships, jobs, and/
or campus leadership roles? Just want some practice
and honest feedback when it come to presenting
yourself professionally and answering questions out
loud? Never had to participate in a formal interview,
and find the idea totally overwhelming or awkward?
The Career Center is here to help! Schedule early. We
also offer a CAT-Hosted Mock Interview Day for First-
Years & Sophomores each spring.
Fannie Mitchell Expert-in-Residence Program
Gain information and inspiration from Duke alumni and
other experts. The Fannie Mitchell Expert-in-Residence
series features accomplished professionals who come
to Duke to share specialized knowledge and provide
individual career advice to students. The program’s
purpose is to stimulate new ideas and provide advising
for students who are searching for career directions.
Internship Search Resources
Duke CareerConnections
View and apply for thousands of opportunities available
around the world. You can filter to see those offered
especially for Duke students. Duke University On-
Campus Recruiting interviews are managed through
CareerConnections as well.
You should always keep an eye on CareerConnections
for opportunities and use the additional tools listed
below to connect to more internships throughout the
U.S. and beyond.
Internship Series Online
Use this national internship database compiled by
Career Education Institutes with opportunities listed
in 14 work sectors and links to internships on many
employer sites..
iNet Internship Database
This database gives you access to a full range of
internship opportunities in all industries. The iNet
Internship Network is an internship posting database
shared by Georgetown, MIT, Northwestern, Rice,
Stanford, NYU, University of Pennsylvania, Yale and
Duke.
UCAN Internship Database
The UCAN Internship Exchange is an internship
posting database shared by 21 selective colleges
and universities across the United States. This
dynamic database provides thousands of summer
jobs, internships, fellowships and other short-term
opportunities. It is searchable by area of interest,
geographic location, semester, educational level, salary
or company name.
Opportunities to Connect with the Duke Career Center

5. Duke Career Center • studentaffairs.duke.edu/career • 919-660-1050 • Bay 5, Smith Warehouse, 2nd Floor •
114 S. Buchanan Blvd., Box 90950, Durham, NC 27708
Board of Directors
You are the Chairman. Build your Board of Directors.
Here are some
suggestions for
insight you
could gain:
Family—know you
deeply and over time
Friends—see where
you thrive and struggle
Professors—have
insight into your
academic mind
Coaches—challenge
you to overcome
obstacles
Advisors—contribute
to your decision-
making process
Community
Leaders—see your
passions engaged
Peers—have worked
alongside you
Supervisors—have
had to give you
constructive feedback
Duke Alums—have a
common experience
As you learn and build your career path, meeting new people and “enlisting”
them to your personal Board of Directors is a key strategy for success. Think
about the many people who have had (or could have!) a positive influence in
your life.
Look into the future and consider whom you might strategically seek out to add
to your board, in addition to staying in touch with those you already know. Every
person you encounter over time gets to see a different piece of you at your best
(and possibly worst) and can be called upon for insights into significant aspects
of who you have been and who you are becoming.
Build and use your Board of Directors to learn about yourself and to imagine and
discover YOUR possibilities. The benefits could include:
• Feedback on habits, patterns, and strengths that you haven’t noticed about yourself
• Advice on steps to take, people to meet, and resources or strategies to consider
• Insight into how your advisors have made decisions in the past and what other options
they considered
• Inside information about what a typical day is like
• Suggestions for opportunities that might excite you
Enlist a supervisor
Your supervisors are great advisors, even when you no longer work at the organization. Many
will suggest you stay in touch, or you could ask if they are open to the possibility.
Staying in touch doesn’t mean having to request something every time you talk. If you come
across information or do something that might be interesting to the person, share it! The
sentiment, “thinking of you”, goes a long way and can be a great reason to send an email or
pick up the phone.
Here are some great updates to share.
I thought of you when:
• I learned something in class.
• I saw something in the news.
• I used something I learned when working with you.
• I followed your advice.
• I mentioned you (or your organization) to someone.
Enlist a professor
Find something you’re genuinely curious about as a reason to talk. People, even professors
(!), tend to be flattered when others express interest in something that is important to them.
You can use the words, “I’m trying to understand…” as a way to start these conversations.
Some other examples might include:
• You mentioned… in your lecture. I’m trying to better understand how this connects to…
• We worked on… in the problem set. I’m trying to understand why this technique is
preferred over…
• Being a professor seems interesting to me. I’m trying to better understand what it is
like.
• Can you tell me about what you do? How you decided to do this? What else you have
considered? Who you work with?
• This topic is very interesting to me. I’m trying to better understand the ways that
it connects to opportunities outside of academic work. Do you know about this or
anyone who might?
• I learned a bit about your research and am intrigued by… Can you tell me more
about…

6. Career Center
Holland’s Code
The Holland Code is the name applied to a vocational theory developed by Dr. John Holland. He
conducted research, developed theory, and applied practical career interventions to develop
career instruments grounded in psychology.
Realistic people
value:
• Making things work
• Common sense
• Bodily strength
• Craftsmanship
• Physical challenge
• Tradition
• Dependability
• Practicality
Realistic’s
best skills are:
• Making/repairing
things
• Problem solving w/
tools/machines
• Mechanical
ingenuity and
dexterity
• Physical
coordination
• Handling
emergencies
Realistic people would like
to learn about:
• Auto mechanics
• Architecture
• Computer science
• Repairing electronic
equipment
• Law enforcement
• Criminal justice
• Physical education
• Coaching
Realistic people like
to work in:
• Engineering firms
• Computer
support services
departments
• Military jobs
• Police and fire
departments
• Greenhouses
• Professional sports
Realistic—The “Doers”
Described as: Reliable | Practical | Thrifty | Persistent | Reserved | Adventurous |
Physically strong | Down-to-earth | Handy | Self-reliant | Well coordinated | Cautious |
Natural | Sensible | Athletic
Basic Interest Scales:
Mechanics and Construction, Computer Hardware and Electronics, Military, Protective Services,
Nature and Agriculture, Athletics
Duke Career Center • studentaffairs.duke.edu/career • 919-660-1050 •
Bay 5, Smith Warehouse, 2nd Floor • 114 S. Buchanan Blvd., Box 90950, Durham, NC 27708
The focus of the six categories of the Holland Code helps the user see how personality and environment
influence career choice. The highest occupational interests of an individual are most commonly
represented in a two- to three-letter code.
One of the benefits of measuring interests is achieving greater satisfaction in the work environment. The
Holland Code can be applied to understanding your interests in multiple settings, including academic,
leisure, and career. If you’d like to take the Strong Interest Inventory, which uses the Holland Code, please
schedule an appointment with a career counselor.

7. Contact the Career Center: career-student@studentaffairs.duke.edu • 919-660-1050 • Bay 5, Smith Warehouse, 2nd Floor •
114 S. Buchanan Blvd., Box 90950, Durham, NC 27708
Investigative- The “Thinkers”
Described as: Thoughtful | Intellectual | Independent | Curious |Nonconforming
| Reserved |Insightful |Rational | Analytical | Complex | Self-motivated | Original |
Introspective | Problem focused | Critical
Investigative people
value:
• Knowledge
• New ideas
• Originality
• Independence
• Innovative thinking
• Abstract mental
challenges
• Intelligence
• Academic
achievement
• Intellectual problem
solving
Investigative’s
best skills are:
• Scientific
investigating
• Researching
• Analyzing
• Writing technical
documents
• Performing
mathematics
Investigative people like
to learn about:
• Chemistry
• Astronomy
• Designing
experiments
• Research methods
• Biology
• Physical therapy
• Medical terms
• Math
• Computer science
Investigative people like
to work in:
• Laboratories
• Museums
• Universities
• Hospitals
• Veterinary clinic
• High-tech
environments
Basic Interest Scales:
Science, Research, Medical Science, Mathematics
Holland’s Code, cont.

8. Artistic people
value:
• Beauty
• Aesthetics
• Language
• Creative expression
• Emotions
• Independence
• Intuition
• Change
• Artistic creativity
Artisitic’s
best skills are:
• Creativity
• Imagination
• Verbal-linguistic
• Musical
• Dramatics
Artistic people like
to learn about:
• Architecture
• Photography
• Drawing and
painting
• Theatrical
performance
• Literature
• Foreign languages
• Nutrition
• Cooking
Artistic people like
to work in:
• Photography studios
• Architectural firms
• Theatres
• Music/dance school
• Universities
• Television studios
• Newspapers
• Restaurants
• Catering businesses
Artistic - The “Creators”
Described as: Creative | Independent | Unconventional | Impulsive | Expressive |
Passionate | Free-spirited | Intuitive | Complicated | Intense | Sensitive | Open |
Imaginative | Original | Idealistic
Basic Interest Scales:
Visual Arts and Design, Performing Arts, Writing and Mass Communication, Culinary Arts
Duke Career Center • studentaffairs.duke.edu/career • 919-660-1050 • Bay 5, Smith Warehouse, 2nd Floor •
114 S. Buchanan Blvd., Box 90950, Durham, NC 27708
Holland’s Code, cont.

9. Social - The “Helpers”
Described as: Humanistic | Caring | Helpful | Responsible | Tactful | Cooperative | Kind |
Generous | Understanding | Talkative | Insightful | Friendly | Cheerful | Patient |
Idealistic | Warm
Social people
value:
• Communication
• Cooperation
• Consensus
• Relationships
• Community
• Personal growth
• Spirituality
• Trust
• Other’s welfare
• Feelings
Social’s
best skills are:
• Developing
relationships
• Verbal
communication
• Teaching
• Listening
• Understanding
others
Social people like
to learn about:
• Counseling
• Psychology
• Child care
• Education
• Training
• Leadership
• Sociology
• Theology
• Health education
• Nursing
Social people like
to work in:
• Counseling clinics
• Child care centers
• Schools
• Employee training
departments
• Churches, mosques,
or synagogues
• Doctor’s offices and
hospitals
Basic Interest Scales:
Counseling and Helping, Teaching and Education, Human Resources and Training, Social
Sciences, Religion and Spirituality, Health Care Services
Duke Career Center • studentaffairs.duke.edu/career • 919-660-1050 • Bay 5, Smith Warehouse, 2nd Floor •
114 S. Buchanan Blvd., Box 90950, Durham, NC 27708
Holland’s Code, cont.

10. Enterprising - The “Persuaders”
Described as: Ambitious | Competitive | Status conscious | Persuasive | Assertive |
Adventuresome | Risk taking | Materialistic | Energetic | Popular | Witty | Sociable |
Talkative | Self-confident | Optimistic | Resilient | Extroverted
Enterprising people
value:
• Influencing others
• Status
• Leadership positions
• Power/authority
• Material possessions
• Financial
remuneration
• Making a profit
• Excitement
• Risk taking
Enterpriser’s
best skills are:
• Public speaking
• Persuading/selling
• Social/interpersonal
interaction
• Leading
• Focusing on
organizational goals
Enterprising people like
to learn about:
• Marketing/sales
• Communications
• Business
management
• International
business
• Finance and
investing
• Political science
• Negotiation
• Public speaking
Enterprising people like
to work in:
• Advertising agencies
• Retail stores
• Auto dealerships
• Real estate firms
• Industrial/
manufacturing
settings
• Their own business
• Political campaigns
• Law firms
Basic Interest Scales:
Marketing and Advertising, Sales, Management, Entrepreneurship, Politics and Public
Speaking, Law
Duke Career Center • studentaffairs.duke.edu/career • 919-660-1050 • Bay 5, Smith Warehouse, 2nd Floor •
114 S. Buchanan Blvd., Box 90950, Durham, NC 27708
Holland’s Code, cont.

11. Conventional - The “Organizers”
Described as: Practical | Organized | Conscientious | Persevering | Undemonstrative | Orderly
| Systematic | Careful | Accurate | Precise | Controlled | Efficient | Thrifty | Respectful
Conventional people
value:
• Order
• Accuracy
• Precision
• Predictability
• Stability
• Practicality
• Dependability
• Security
• Organization
Conventional’s
best skills are:
• Organization
• Efficiency
• Patience
• Persistence
• Managing systems/
data
• Mathematics
• Operating computers
Conventional people like
to learn about:
• Time management
• Accounting
• Statistics
• Economics
• Computer science
• Software
development
• Stocks
• Real estate
Investigative people like
to work in:
• Banks
• Accounting offices
• Business schools
• High tech
environments
• Engineering firms
• Investment firms
• Insurance
companies
Basic Interest Scales:
Office Management, Taxes and Accounting, Programming and Information Systems, Finance
and Investing
Duke Career Center • studentaffairs.duke.edu/career • 919-660-1050 • Bay 5, Smith Warehouse, 2nd Floor •
114 S. Buchanan Blvd., Box 90950, Durham, NC 27708
All material in this handout comes from Where Do I Go Next? Using Your Strong Results to
Manage Your Career, by Fred Borgen and Judith Grutter, 2005. Published by CPP, Inc.
Holland’s Code, cont.

12. Additional Documents
Cover Letter
Curriculum Vitae
Internships
Interviewing
Job Search
Networking
Resume
Additional Resources
Career Center Skills Guides
Cover Letter Skills Guide
Curriculum Vitae Skills Guide
Internships Skills Guide
Interviewing Skills Guide
Networking Skills Guide
Resume Skills Guide
Strategic Search Skills Guide
Duke Career Center • studentaffairs.duke.edu/career • 919-660-1050 • Bay 5, Smith Warehouse, 2nd Floor •
114 S. Buchanan Blvd., Box 90950, Durham, NC 27708