Career Choice
"Boring!" "Oh no!" "Excellent!" These are some common responses to "It's time to get up for work."
Have you ever wondered why some people find great satisfaction in their work while others want only to put in their time? As with other personal financial decisions, career selection and professional growth require planning. The average person changes jobs about seven times during a lifetime. Most likely, therefore, you will reevaluate your choice of a job on a regular basis.
The lifework you select is a key to your financial well-being and personal satisfaction.
You may select a job, an employment position obtained mainly to earn money. Many people work in one or more jobs during their lives without considering their interests or opportunities for advancement. Or you may select a career, a committment to a profession that requires continued training and offers a clear path for occupational growth.
Trade-Offs of career decisions
While many factors affect daily living habits and financial choices. your employment situation probably affects them the most. Your income le\el. business associates, and available leisure time are a direct result of the work you do.
Like other decisions, career choice and professional development alternatives have risks and opp0l1unity costs. In recent years. many people in our society have placed family values and personal fulfillment above monetary reward and professional recognition. Career choices require periodic evaluation of trade-offs related to personal, social, and economic factors. For example:
- Some people select employment that is challenging and offers strong personal satisfaction rather than employment in which they can make the most money.
- Some people refuse a transfer or a promotion that would require moving their families to a new area or reducing leisure time.
- Many parents opt for part-time employment or flexible hours to allow more time for their children.
- Many people give up secure job situations because they prefer to operate their own businesses.
Career Training and Skill Development
Your level of formal training affects your financial success. The statistics in this exhibit do nN mean you will automatically earn a certain amount because you have a college degree. They imply that more education increases your potential earning power. Other factors, such as field of smdy. also influence future income.
In addition to formal career training. successful managers, employers, and career counselors stress the importance of traits adaptable to most work situations. While some of these traits can be acquired in school. others require experiences in other situations. The traits that successful people usually possess include
An ability to work well with others in a variety of settings. A desire to do tasks better than they have to be done.
- An interest in reading a wide variety of materials.
- A willingness to cope with conflict and adapt to change.
- An awareness of accounting. finance. and marketing fundamentals.
- A knowledge of technology and computer software such as word processing, spreadsheet. database. web search. and graphics programs.
- An ability to solve problems creatively in team settings.
- A knowledge of research techniques and library resources. Well-developed written and oral communication skills.
- An understanding of both their own motivations and the motivations of others.
- These competencies give people flexibility. making it easy to move from one organization to another and to successfully change career fields. How are you working to develop these traits.
Personal Factors
You might be able to identify a satisfying career using guidance tests that measure your abilities. interests. and personal qualities. Aptitude tests, interest inventories. and other types of career assessment tests are available at school career counseling offices. You can use a book that allows you to take these tests at home. For a fee. testing services will mail you the results of your completed test. or tests may be taken online.
Aptitudes are natural abilities that people possess. The ability to work well with numbers. problem-solving skills. and physical dexterity are examples of aptitudes.
Interest inventories determine the activities that give you satisfaction.
These instruments measure qualities related to various types of work. People with strong social tendencies may be best suited for careers that involve dealing with people. while people with investigative interests may be best suited for careers in research areas.
Test results will not tell you which career to pursue. They will only give you an indication of your aptitudes and interests. Another important dimension of career selection is your personality. Do you pelform best in structured or high-pressure situations, or do you prefer unstructured or creative work environments? The financial aspects of the career are also likely to be a concern.
Many people are able to obtain employment based on various interests and experiences. A person with volunteer experience might be hired as executive director of a community organization. Or a person who enjoys planning parties and other events may work as a meeting planner.
Career decision making
Changing personal and social factors will require you to continually assess your work situation. As you can see. the different entry points depend on your personal situation. Your career goals will also affect how you use this process. If you desire more responsibility on the job. for example. you may obtain advanced training or change career fields. This process is a suggested framework for planning, changing, or advancing in a career.
