Get to know your students better, faster
The 5-minute Career Decision Profile
Reviewed by Juliet Jones-Vlasceanu, GCDF, J.D. — President & CEO, Career Key. The Career Decision Profile was developed by Lawrence K. Jones, Ph.D., NCC — Professor Emeritus of Counselor Education, North Carolina State University. Last reviewed August 2026
Based on 30 years of research, the Career Decision Profile (CDP) is now available online to help both students and adults make progress on their career and education decision-making journey. This virtual advising tool includes a short, self-directed online career readiness assessment that delivers holistic insights to advisors into individual career decision needs. Nationally recognized counselor educator, Dr. Lawrence K. Jones, NCC, is the CDP’s author.
Career readiness assessment in three dimensions
Finalists were judged on pedagogical workability, efficacy and results, support, clarity, value and potential
Higher Education Category
The CDP measures three dimensions of career decision status:
decidedness,
comfort, and
reasons (5 scales: self-clarity, knowledge of occupations/programs, decisiveness, career choice importance, barriers)
It identifies individual needs and barriers, estimates 1 of 3 service levels for each person in Career Key Central, and recommends practical action steps for students, clients and advisors.
The benefits? Advisors and counselors can optimize scarce resources and individuals receive the support they need to move forward as they make critical education and career decisions.
Career Decision Profile at a glance
Individual assessment and results
Delivered online and optimized for any device
5-minute completion time
Individualized, clear explanation of assessment results
Results report delivered in easy-access, shareable PDF format
Tailored results, actionable advice to continue making progress
Link users to your site for customized decision-making resources
W3C 2.1 web accessibility compliance
Insights for advisors in Career Key Central, Career Key’s group administration portal
Scientifically valid, reliable screening tool for career decision making readiness
Identification of individual needs, including self-clarity, career and educational program knowledge, decisiveness and career choice importance
Identification of critical barriers and influences on decision making
Recommended service levels including self-help, brief staff assist and individual case-managed intervention
Email templates for follow up
Pre/post administration option to evaluate advising and counseling program efficacy
Co-branding of web application
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References
1. Jones, L. K. (1989). Measuring a three-dimensional construct of career indecision among college students: A revision of the Vocational Decision Scale—The Career Decision Profile. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 36(4), 477–486. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.36.4.477
2. Jones, L. K., & Lohmann, R. C. (1998). The Career Decision Profile: Using a measure of career decision status in counseling. Journal of Career Assessment, 6(2), 209–230. https://doi.org/10.1177/106907279800600207
3. Brisbin, L. A., & Savickas, M. L. (1994). Career indecision scales do not measure foreclosure. Journal of Career Assessment, 2(4), 352–363. https://doi.org/10.1177/106907279400200403
