Card Sorts Developed by

RICHARD L. KNOWDELL, MS, NCC, NCCC, CMF, CDFI, NCDA Fellow

These instruments, originally developed in 1977 and were recently revised, are used throughout the world by thousands of career counselors, career coaches, career development facilitators, outplacement consultants,and job search trainers.

Watch Dick Knowdell demonstrate all four card sorts, including interpretation and questions to ask your coaching clients

The Knowdell Card Sorts are a major element in the Knowdell Career Transition Model and the Job & Career Transition Coach certification workshops that have been completed by over 7,500 career development professionals in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia.

Card Sorts are Nonthreatening

The Knowdell™ Career Assessments are universally perceived as non-threatening by individuals at all levels and in a wide range of occupations. This is especially so in working with "test-shy" individuals who have not been very successful in school settings. Instead of seeing the sorting process as "a test that I will probably fail," they view Card Sorts as a "game" that is fun rather than threatening.

Card Sorts Can be Administered Almost Effortlessly

When asked to prioritize values by making lists or ranking existing lists, clients often become bored or disengaged. This sorting process has the opposite effect - actually engaging the client-even a sleepy client on a warm day right after lunch.

Card Sorts Have High Face Validity

The sorting technique is unlike traditional psychometric instruments in that the client is very aware of the results as he or she engages in the process of sorting the cards. Consequently, the results are never a surprise and clients agree that they accurately describe them.