Since June, Foundations Asheville has been using the Greenwood System (GS-120) career assessments to help students determine which paths they’d like to pursue. “What is great about the Greenwood System is that it is uniquely adaptable to the individual,” says Natalie Bryenton, Foundations Asheville’s Director of Education and Career Readiness. The comprehensive tool is specially designed to evaluate students’ personality traits, interests, values, abilities, and challenges as a whole to suggest career options where they are most likely to find success. 

“Our students also get to set preferences, such as the highest level of education desired for a job, and details about their strengths and challenges,” says Natalie Bryenton. “Selections can also be adjusted during a student’s time at Foundations, which means that our young adults can shift gears in an informed way if they decide to pursue a new pathway.”

After completing the testing, students receive one hundred top career suggestions, scored and ranked to include a top ten, in their online portal. Students can then click on career links to learn more about the recommended positions. The portal includes videos on daily life in each of these jobs, as well as useful information about career advancement and the likelihood of obtaining a job opportunity in that field. 

The Greenwood System is research-tested, peer-reviewed, and has proven to be 85% effective with a 95% approval rating. The students fill out their evaluations at Foundations, with the help of Natalie Bryenton, who is a certified Greenwood counselor. “By filling out the assessments at the program, we can ensure that our students get the most accurate results,” says Natalie. “We have the advantage of knowing them so well, which means that we can include very specific information about each student’s personalities and values.” So far, the Greenwood System has been a great asset to Foundations Asheville’s career development program. It has helped their students get to know themselves better and learn more about the many opportunities available to them.