CAST

Career Attitudes and Strategies Inventory

Joha L. Holland, PhD and Gary 1). Gottfredson, PhiD

This booklet contains some statements people sometmes make about ther work about the good and bad
feelings, altitudes, and experiences people have from time to time
The stateents are not really "true" or "Talse They are opinion statements that you may teel are more tru
than falseOr more false than true. Although it is sometimes awkward. please indicate whether each statement is
tnue. mostly tue, mostly false, or false. You need not answer any question you prefer to omit, but this inventory
will be inost helpful it you answer every qucstion

Completing this inventony is one step m sorting out your own attitudes about your work and your career plans
You may find that these questions stimulate you to consider aspects of your carecr that you tend to ignore

Describe your current work. If you are unemployed. descube your most recent job, volunteer experience, or
unpand work.

When you have illed in the answer sheet, follow the dircctions on the secomd page of your answer shect to
sCore yOur mventory.
Instructions
Please mark answers by crcling one letter on the answer sheet to show how you think or teel about each

statement.

False

Mostly false

T Mostly true

True
For example, if you feel that a statement is mostly rue about you, you would circle the T on your answer

sheet.
Example: F T)
Press firmly. Your responses are being transterred to a second page that you will use to summarize your
answers. If you nnake a mistake or change your mind, mark an X through the answer you wish to change and circle

another letter.

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 27. I often talk about cutting back at work, but it
turns out to be just talk.
Part 1 usually
my beforelife. social
1. My job does not lead to anything I want.
28. My job comes
when I am at work.
29. I am happiest
2. I love my job. work home.
30. I do not like to bring my
3. I do not really like the job I have now.
31. I don't like to be away from my job for more
4. I am bored with my job. time.
than a few days at a

5. I intend to quit my job. work.

32. I am very involved in my
6. I hate my job. 33. My family or partner always comes before my
7. I daydream a lot about having a different work.
career.

8. I would like a job with more challenge. Part 3

9. My supervisor has my best interests in mind.
34. I try to do a better job by reading or watching
10. I like working with the people I work with.
others.
11. I cannot imagine having a better job than I 35. I use my imagination and explore unusual
have now.
ways of doing things at work.
12. I don't have the education or training to get
36. I try to sharpen my interpersonal skills to get
the kind of work I really want. ahead at work.
13. I have to keep my present job because I have
37. I am always looking for ways to imnprove the
no altemative.
ways things are accomplished at work.
14. My job provides a feeling of accomplishment.
38. I occasionally seek training to improve my
15. My job lets me work with the kind of people I work performance.
like.
39. It is not my place to figure out how to improve
16. Rigid work hours often cause problems in things at work.
meeting my health or family needs.
40. I am not interested in finding new ways to do
17. I feel that I am a valued part of my work orga-
my job.
nization.
41. I take pride in improving the skills of others at
18. Managers don't seek my advice about deci- work.
sions that affect me.
42. I am acquiring new skills at work.
19. My job is a way to make a living not a way
of life. 43. I have obtained training to improve my work

20. I don't feel comfortable at work.

performance.
44. I listen to advice about how I should do my
21. I am able to use all my skills on my job.
job.
45. T have
Part 2 occasionally tried new ways to do my
job.
22. Work is the major part of my life.
23. Quality of life is more important than my Part 4
career.
46. I can get ahead by persuading others to do
24. My work is more important to me than my what is necessary to make a profit.
nonwork life.
47. I am a good employee,
25. When I go home, I rarely think about my job.
not a good leader
48. My happiness on the job does not depend on
26. Off the job I often worry about problems at
having influence over others.
work.
 Ce
to
persons
ditticulty fnding
I w o u l d have
75 job.
or boOks about how to for a
new
articlecs ommend me
ike to r u d
U
to find
another job.
a h e a d .
knov how
7%. 1 don't job
because
decisions about others. present
to make my
don't like 1 am
hesitant to leave

in charge ot things. 77. health or

other
benetlits.

Icnjoy beng of the because

s take over when employers
sort ot persNON to changing
not the consider
I I can't
the is problenn. 78. is sO necessary
income
ny
and lead the way when
I step in
Sometimes
diltereKes of opinion.
the ar Part 6
otfensive
interper
any
nt experience
tonnetul person. 79 T do
Ohers see n e as a
at work.
55. sonal abuse
1 aun
uncomtortable wOTking on
a job when above my
level at
work

pcrsons
0.
decide what should
be done. S0. One or more

have to me in a degrading way

have treated or
influence
with
more persons
or
Part 5 One
have
intimidated or
harassed me on

uthority

in nmy lite. my present job.

57. 1 don't like change because
to of me at work
oceupauons
is toO complicated
Someone has made fun
Changing
58.
or life-style preferences.
think about. ofnmy appearance

a person
ot
to daydream about changing my environment
frustrates
e work
59. It sanes S3. My or special
race, sexual orientation,
Job. my gender,
about being :able to tind another job physical challenge.
o0). I worTy me.
it l quit my current
Fellow workers have
trequently annoyed
1 couldn't find
another job 84
61 touched me in an inap-
job Someone at work has
85.
learn a neW work ou- uninvited way.
(. 1 don't want to have to propriate and
insensitive
have made crude or
ine. People
So.
The work is too hard. m a r k s about me.
o.
unknowns to seriously one or more other per-
(4. There are too many 87. I have been insulted by
consider changing my job. sons at work.
that is less
0. would like to find a job 8S. I have bcen coerced
or bullied at work.

demanding. Others at work have hassled

or threatened me.

future.
89.
00. am worricd about my job's unkind remarks
because 90. Sometimes I hear nmean or

Sonmetimes 1 have ditticulty sleceping about people like me.

at work.
of things that have happened indecent
because ot wor- 91. 1 have been on the receiving end of
oS. have becn absent trom work or suggestive remarks.
rics or oNcernsS.
to do inproper favors
sil 92. 1 have been pressured
T h a v e sometimes felt ill when anticipating
for someone at work.
uations at work.
93 Offensive ethnic, racial, or sexual jokes are

Totten get angry at wOTk.

common in my work place.
71 sOnmetimes cnvy the arc t r e a l c d l
way others
has tried to use power or
94 Someone on the job
WOrk.
authority over m e in an inmproper vway.
. am insecure about my jOD.
intimidated by the
touchy. 95. 1 have occasionally felt
People I work with have said I am
actions or requests of others at
work.
of the tune.
M y job makes me tense most
 13. T enjoy working on a job where the problems
Part 7 are difficult and have no clcar solutions.

Sometimes, you may find a statement in the fol- T14. Tam viewed as a somewhat impulsive and

lowing list that does not apply to you or to your situ- unpredictable worker.
ation. It is fitting to mark F for "False'" to such a 15. T have never done anything at work that was
statement. regarded as reckless.

96. A partner or children would have difficulty if I 6. can cope with uncertainty if the potential
were to take a new job in a different location. rewards are attractive.
97. Family responsibilities limit my carcer oppor 7 . T t is sometimes necessary to Confront work
tunities. problems even when personal risk is involved.
98. Balancing work and family responsibilities T18. I sometimes raise issues at work that others
limits my work performance. find difficult to discuss.
99. Problems and frustrations at work occasionally 19. I try not to rock the boat at work.
reduce mny ability to be a g0od partner or
parent.
Part 9
100. I short-change my family or partner by
working too much. 20. I have never seriously considered moving
Too much thinking about work isolates away from where I live now.
101 me

from my family. 121. I would not really want to live anywhere but

102. I would like to have more time for my family where I live now.
or partner. 122. I like moving from one part of the country to
another.
103. I have changed my work schedule to better
meet my family responsibilities. 123. I would like to move to a more desirable loca-

is tion.
104. Juggling home and work responsibilities a

burden for me. 124. Moving from one city to another is rarely
worth it.
105. My family has complained that I spend too
much time at work. 125. Moving across the country does something for
one's personal development, job skills, and
outlook.
Part 8
126. I would prefer to work in my home town.
106. I am not a risk taker.
127. I see nationwide opportunities in my line of
107. Standing up for my beliefs is more important work.
than keeping my job. 128. I have never lived outside my state.
108. Job security is more important than having a
129. My life is pretty much centered on my local
good job. area.
109. I am seen as a cautious and careful person.
130. Thave a spouse or partner who wants to move.
10. I must have a job where I have clear duties.

111 I prefer working for an organization with a

Part 10
long and stable history.
Mark your answer sheet to describe yourself and
I would not make a risky business investment.
112. indicate obstacles using the checklist provided.