Career assessment involves systematic appraisal for the purpose of assisting an individual in the career exploration, career development, or decision-making process. It may include, but is not limited to, assessing an individual's academic and work history, interests, skills, learning styles, personality, needs, and self-efficacy beliefs. Career assessment may be conducted in a formal manner using norm-referenced paper-and-[encil inventories; or it may be conducted less formally using counseling interview techniques, card-sort procedures, or behavioral observation. Optimally, career assessment is just one component of a larger and more comprehensive career guidance process that includes individual or group career guidance and the exploration of career and/or educational information.