Choosing a career path is one of the most important decisions youll ever makebut how do you decide what is right for you? You may take a career path that uses the skills you have or the education youve gotten. You may even choose a career based on what you think you should dobecause of what your parents or teachers have told you is right for you. But you may not know that you are naturally more suited for some careers than for others. Why? Each of us has an individual personality type that affects how much well like a job.
Think, for instance, about a carpenter versus a counselor. A carpenter works with concrete objects, according to specified procedures, and has a tangible result. A counselor works with people and their feelings; she has to judge success and the results of her work based on abstract concepts. Which of these sounds more appealing to you? Do you have a strong preference for one or the other?
Now, imagine if you had to make your less-preferred choice your career, and you will get an idea of the impact that your personality has on your job satisfaction. There is quite a bit of variation in how people think and process information, what they see as important, and how they make decisions. All of this variation can affect how happy or unhappy someone is in a work environment. Each one of us has different criteria for what a great job is, and to find your own perfect career, it is crucial to identify what is important to you.
The first step is to figure out your personality type. The most common personality test used for career counseling is called the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. This personality test measures four facets of personality:
ExtrovertedIntrovertedDo you get your energy from being with people, or being alone?
SensingIntuitionDo you see whats actual, or whats possible?
ThinkingFeelingDo you make decisions with your head or your heart?
JudgingPerceivingDo you like to make decisions, or keep your options open?
There are many ways to find out what your personality type is. Some people prefer to read about the types and choose what seems to fit best. There are also free quizzes on the internet based on the principles of the Myers-Briggs that can give you an idea of where you may fit.
However, if you are serious about finding out what type you are, the most reliable and accurate method is to take the official Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. This is a scientifically validated instrument that will identify where you fall in each of the categories. This assessment can only be administered by someone trained in its application, and must include a consultation with a trained coach or consultant according to its licensing guidelines. You can take the personality tests through a career counselor in your area, or online. If you take it online, you will typically get the results the same day, and you can usually request a special report that will go into detail about what is important to look for in a career.
Once you have figured out your personality type, you will want to look at the careers you are considering and evaluate whether they fit whats important to you. Some questions to ask yourself:
How much time will I spend interacting with people? Will it be too muchtoo little?
To what extent will I be expected to follow standard procedures? Will I feel restricted by too much structure? Will I feel frustrated by too little?
Will this job require me to use logic and reason things out? Will it require me to use compassion and consider how decisions will make people feel? Am I comfortable with the extent to which I will have to act based on thinking or feeling?
How much latitude will this job give me to make my own schedule? Is it too little? Too much?
Its important to be realistic about what a job entails, and to ask as many questions as possible about prospective jobs so that you can evaluate how well theyll fit you. As you learn more about yourself, you will become more able to judge which jobs will bring you satisfaction.
Young people report that family members wield a lot of influence when it comes to choosing a career. They also think super hero, whale trainer and princess are still some of the coolest jobs around.
These are just some of the key findings revealed in a survey conducted by Adecco, the world’s largest staffing company. The survey asked 245 children ages 6 to 14 about their career expectations.
The coolest job in the universe? The more intriguing choices include Disney World employee, super hero, whale trainer, roller coaster designer and princess. One family-oriented boy thought the coolest job is being a dad.
Many girls 13-14 are drawn to the health sciences (42 percent), especially physical therapy and veterinary medicine. Teenaged boys opted for such pursuits as psychiatry, herpetology, and acting.
Girls 10 to 12 are interested in medicine (37 percent), teaching (33 percent), and the performing arts (10 percent). The most popular choice for boys 10 to 12 is athlete (23 percent).
Boys 6 to 9 have varied goals, the largest block (17 percent) opting for police work. Sports and acting were popular choices, and possibly reflecting world events, several plan to join the Army. A budding paleontologist is preparing for his job by “digging the chips out of chocolate chip cookies.”
For 42 percent of girls 6 to 9 years old, teaching was the winner. Medicine, the most popular choice in the previous survey, was runner-up in this survey.
Since President of the United States is perhaps the biggest job there is, the survey asked children the most important things they would do as president. Priorities included housing the homeless, ending world hunger, and protecting the environment. Homeland Security issues such as “making sure that everyone in the country is safe” and “ending all wars” were mentioned.
Other answers included “make healthcare free for everyone,” “build more Krispy Kreme doughnut shops,” and “try to be ready for everything.”
This survey, while not the most scientific, clearly shows that career considerations begin early. Based on this survey, Adecco foresees that tomorrow’s workforce will contribute greatly to society with their intelligence and wit, and that they understand the importance of balance between work and family.
In a recent survey of young people’s opinions about careers, one boy thought the coolest job is being a dad.