IDENTIFY YOUR INTERESTS, STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

Several tools are available to help you identify your interests, strengths, weaknesses, and accomplishments. The Record of Accomplishments and Historygram will help you document your past experience and pinpoint areas where you may want to focus in the future.

The Record of Accomplishments form is used in the Program/Project Management Development (PMDP) Program to document accomplishments over the years. The Historygram is a way to visually document your past experience and to pinpoint the areas where you may want to focus. Download the blank Historygram in Microsoft PowerPoint and create your personal Historygram.

To complete the Historygram:

1. Open the blank Historygram in PowerPoint.
2. Use the drawing toolbar to create arrows on the form.
3. Enter text in text boxes and draw horizontal arrows to indicate elapsed time. (Use small text so that everything will fit.)
4. Save and print your document.

Completing these two tools may be a long process, but it will pay off in the long run. It is much like updating your resume and will help you take advantage of project management opportunities and as well as be useful in all your career planning activities.

An assessment tool is also available to help you determine your strengths and weaknesses in both the core competencies and in the competencies that apply to your discipline area. Click here to go to the assessment tool. (note: will be available soon).

When you have completed the Record of Accomplishments, Historygram, and assessment tool, please complete the worksheet below.

1. What have been my accomplishments that qualify me to perform as a Project Manager or to contribute to the support of program/project activities? Use the information that you entered in the Record of Accomplishments and Historygram to answer this question.

2. Of the new and recent developments in my organization or field, what interests me the most?

3. What are my current strengths for pursuing these interests? What do I need to do to reposition my career so that I can get involved in these new developments?

4. Of the strengths and weaknesses that were identified in the assessment tool, how might they relate to my interests and future goals?

5. Is it time for me to consider working outside of my Installation or NASA? If I am considering a complete career change, what experiences and learning would help reposition my career in the direction of my new interests?

6. Of all the things I have done in the last 5 years (work- and non-work-related), what specific activities and functions have energized me the most? What developmental activities--experiences, learning, skill building--would help me grow in or increase these energizing functions?

7. Other things I would like to learn are.

8. What non-work related issues do I need to consider that will likely impact my career plans (e.g., health, family, financial, social)?

NEXT STEP: Integrate work environment with personal knowledge