The Birkman Method: Essential for Teens and College Planning
Guest Blog written by Wendy Andreen
The Birkman Method (TBM) is needed more than ever for students to make critical decisions about post-high school plans. College application rates are soaring, with more qualified applicants than available seats. Highly selective universities place more emphasis on “fit to major” for admissions decisions. Colleges expect to see strong academics, plus in-depth participation, leadership, and impact in high school and community activities that align with the student’s choice of major. Most families are not aware that 64% of first-time college freshmen graduate in six years, not four years! Only about 47% of first-time freshmen graduate in four years (NCES-National Center for Education Statistics). That is two years of additional undergraduate tuition, room & board, and fees that could pay for graduate school or where the student could already be employed in the workplace. College Board reports that on average, students change majors 2-3 times. College admissions stress intensifies when students apply to selective universities that ‘admit to major,’ which means they are expected to know and support their choice of major before they are 17 years old. TBM enables families to make critical college major decisions well before the senior year of high school.
TBM helps us discover what Dr. Birkman called our ‘true self’ through the Career Interests, Behavior/Components (Usual, Needs, Stress), and Job Families reports. TBM elegantly dovetails these pieces from one empirical questionnaire. While most students don’t use the term true self, I do hear, “Wow, this really gets me!” or “How did Dr. Birkman get these results from those True-False questions?” The Gestalt Aha moments are always a delight.
Birkman colors: Red, Green, Blue, and Yellow aren’t magical, but they are a significant shorthand for teens. Their visual impact enhances clarity, conversation, and retention. After explaining the colors and before seeing their Birkman Map, I ask students (and parents) which colors and keywords resonate with them. They immediately respond.
The ten Birkman Career Interests are the perfect introduction for teens to ease into the data. Color-coded and numerically scored Interests or motivators identify where and how a person wants to devote their energy. Teenagers easily share activities in their lives that align with their highest Interests. They also confirm activities that drain their energy when reviewing the lowest Interests. When I ask the question, “What do you want to spend most of your work day doing?” it now has personal meaning for them to relate high Interests to a future major and career. It also makes selecting required courses, electives, and extra-curricular activities more intentional for college planning.
Birkman’s tree imagery gives teens a visual symbol of Usual, Needs, and Stress behaviors for the nine Birkman Components. Instantly, they equate a healthy tree canopy with the Usual, adaptable behavior, or how they show up when things are going well. A tree with stripped branches from drought or a freeze easily translates to Stress. However, it’s the roots that reveal Needs that really gets their attention and only Birkman unearths Needs! We dig into what they need from their environment and the people around them. Some Needs may be different than the Usual behavior, so the roots make it easier to understand. If Social Energy Usual is high and a student agrees they are outgoing but their Need score is lower, their Aha moment affirms they need time to get away from the crowd and recharge. Learning that a low Assertiveness score still conveys leadership but with a more low-key approach, relieves their stress and lets us explore how to be sure their voice is heard. The Components are explained individually, but the conversation integrates all of the behaviors for context, so teens see why they show up one way but may have some hidden Needs. Another question we then explore, “Will the major, college, career, or type of industry you select allow both your Interests and Needs to be met?” TBM gives them relatable data to evaluate their choices.
The Birkman Job Families report incorporates Interests and Components. It provides direction for related majors and careers used alongside of the student’s academic strengths. Knowing college majors, minors, and emerging careers is essential. I always review the neighboring Job Families to expand potential careers. The sample Job Titles are just the tip of the career iceberg. For example, when Business-Finance is flanked by Computer-Mathematical Science & Protective Service, Forensic Accounting and Cyber Security may be new options. Food Prep next to Management could lead to Hospitality Management. Arts-Design-Sports-Media produces another Aha moment when students discover that Marketing may be found in either a Business or Communications major. TBM strategically reveals emotional fit, fit to major, and career fit. To paraphrase e. e. cummings, TBM gives students the Aha awareness and courage to grow up and become who they really are.
Guest Blog by Wendy Andreen
Learn more about Wendy and her practice at the links below!