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CHOOSING A CAREER-1:Ten Myths about Choosing a Career, Attitude toward and Perceptions about Myself

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Human Relations­ MGMT611
VU
Lesson 24
CHOOSING A CAREER-1
Quotations:
The best careers advice to give to the young is "Find out what you like doing best and get someone to pay
you for doing it."
Katharine Whitehorn (1926 - ) British journalist and writer.
The highest offer in money terms only makes sense in the context of an overall career plan.
Godfrey Golzen (1930 - ) British business writer.
Career depends upon human relations. We should do what we like doing. Though it is not always possible
to find a job of our choice, yet if there is compatibility between our career and our interest then we will be
personally and professionally successful. For example if we enjoy traveling, we can perform field jobs well.
Ten Myths about Choosing a Career
There are certain myths attached to the choice of career. We must know these are not always real.
1. Choosing a career is simple
2. A career counselor can tell me what occupation to pick
3. I can't make a living from my hobby
4. I should choose a career from a list of popular careers
5. Making a lot of money will make me happy
6. Once I choose a career, I'll be stuck in it forever
7. If I change careers my skills will go to waste
8. If a best friend (or sister, uncle, or neighbor) is happy in a particular field, I will be too
9. All I have to do is pick an occupation... Things will fall into place after that
10. There's very little I can do to learn about an occupation without actually working in it
Knowing Oneself
The most important thing while planning a career is the knowledge of our strengths and weaknesses.
These assessments may be helpful in knowing about ourselves.
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Human Relations­ MGMT611
VU
The Self-Knowledge Questionnaire
Directions:  Complete the following questionnaire for your personal use. You might
wish to create a computer file for this document. Enabling you to readily edit and update
your answers. The answers to these questions will serve as a source document for such
purposes as self-understanding, career planning, and resume preparation.
I.
Education
1.
How far have I gone in school?
2.
What is my major field of interest?
3.
Which are, or have been, my best subjects?
4.
Which are, or have been, my poorest subjects?
5.
Which extracurricular activities have I participated in?
6.
Which ones did I enjoy? Why?
II. Work and career
1.
What jobs have I held since 16?
2.
What aspects of these jobs did I enjoy? Why?
3.
What aspects of this job did I dislike? Why?
4.
What have been my three biggest accomplishments?
5.
What compliments did I receive from managers, coworkers, or customers?
6.
What criticism or suggestions did I receive?
7.
What would be an ideal job for me? (Give the job title and major
responsibilities)
I. Attitudes toward people
1. What kind of people do I get along with best?
2. What kind of people do I get along with the least?
3. How much time do I prefer to be in contact with people verses working
alone?
4. What are my arguments with people mostly about?
5. What characteristics of a boss would be best for me?
II. Attitude toward and Perceptions about Myself
1.
What are my strengths and good points?
2.
What are my areas for improvement or developmental opportunities?
3.
What is the biggest challenge facing me?
4.
What aspects of my life do I enjoy the most?
5.
What aspect of my life do I enjoy the least
6.
What are my key values (the things most important to me)?
7.
What do I do to defeat my own purposes?
Source: DuBrin, Andrew J. `Human Relations: career and personal success', Pearson Prentice Hall, 2005,
p412.
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Human Relations­ MGMT611
VU
I.
How People Outside of Work See Me
1.
What is the best compliment a loved one has paid me?
2.
In what ways would any of my loved ones want me to change?
3.
What do my friends like the most about me?
4.
What do my friends like the least about me?
II. Hobbies, Interests, and Sports
1. What hobbies, interests, sports, or other pastimes do I pursue?
2. Which of these do I really get excited about and why?
VII. My future
1. What are my plans for further education and training?
2. What positions would I like to hold or what type of work would I like to
perform in the future?
3. What type of work would I like to be doing at the peak of my career?
4. What hobbies, interests, or sports would I like to pursue in the future?
5. What goals and plans do I have relating to friends, family, and marriage or
partnership?
Source: DuBrin, Andrew J. `Human Relations: Career and Personal Success', Pearson Prentice Hall, 2005.
References:
Dubrin, A.J. (2005). Human Relations: Career and Personal Success. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey,
07458.
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Table of Contents:
  1. HUMAN RELATIONS:Some Guidelines for Effective Human Relations, Communication has 3meanings
  2. CULTURE AND PERSONALITY:Definition of sub culture, Definition of Personality, Types of Persons
  3. PERSONALITY AND STRESS:Personality, PERSONAL TOOLS TO CONTROL STRESS
  4. PERCEPTION AND INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIOUR:Three concepts of personality, Bias in Perception
  5. PERCEPTION AND GROUP BEHAVIOR:Characteristics of Groups, Individual and Group Behavior
  6. ATTITUDE AND BEHAVIOUR:Types of Attitudes, Steps to turn attitude into action
  7. PERSONAL MOTIVATION AND ACHIEVEMENT:Needs and Motivation, Self-discipline and motivation
  8. SOLVING PROBLEMS SKILLFULLY:Problem solving and cognition, Ways to solve problems
  9. CREATIVITY IN PROBLEM SOLVING:Barriers to creativity, Tips to solve problems creatively
  10. HANDLING PERSONAL ISSUES:Self-Defeating Behaviour, Positive attitude to tackle personal problems
  11. CONFLICT RESOLUTION:WHY SO MUCH CONFLICT EXISTS, TECHNIQUES FOR RESOLVING CONFLICTS
  12. COMMUNICATION AND HUMAN RELATIONS:Process of communication, Improving gender barriers to communication
  13. ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION:To improve listening skills, Types of organizational communication
  14. UNDERSTANDING COMMUNICATION STYLES:Modeling communication style, Sociability continuum
  15. SELF-ESTEEM:Building process of self-esteem, Self-esteem and public image
  16. BUILDING SELF-CONFIDENCE:The importance of self-confidence and self-efficacy, Balanced Self-Confidence:
  17. BECOMING A LEADER-1:Assessing leadership role, Traits and Characteristics of Effective Leaders
  18. BECOMING A LEADER-II:Theories of leadership, Developing leadership potential
  19. GLOBALIZATION AND CROSS-CULTURAL DIFFERENCES:Religious Values and Bicultural Identities
  20. IMPROVING CROSS-CULTURAL COMPETENCE:Strategies to improve cross-cultural relations, More steps to improve Cultural Relations
  21. BUILDING GOOD RELATIONS WITH MANAGERS:Impressing your manager, Coping with a problem manager
  22. BUILDING GOOD RELATIONS WITH CO-WORKERS:Make Co-workers feel important, Maintain Honest and Open Relationships
  23. BUILDING GOOD RELATIONS WITH CUSTOMERS:Salesperson Represents the Business, Approaching the Customer, Excuses vs. Objections
  24. CHOOSING A CAREER-1:Ten Myths about Choosing a Career, Attitude toward and Perceptions about Myself
  25. CHOOSING A CAREER-II:Choosing a career and developing a portfolio Career, Suggestions for career Preparation
  26. FINDING A JOB:Targeting your job search, The Internet and Résumé Database Services, Extreme Job Hunting
  27. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESUME:Major types of resumes, Electronic Submission of the Résumé
  28. IMPROVING INTERVIEW SKILLS:Successful interview, Knowing the employer or Organization
  29. IMPROVING WORK HABITS-1:Reasons of procrastination, Techniques for Reducing Procrastination
  30. IMPROVING WORK HABITS-2:Developing the proper attitudes and values, Time-management techniques
  31. NEW MODEL OF CAREER ADVANCEMENT:Career portability, HUMAN RELATIONS SELF-ASSESSMENT
  32. TAKING CONTROL OF YOURSELF:Develop Outstanding Interpersonal Skills, Business etiquettes
  33. EXERTING CONTROL ON OUTSIDE ENVIRONMENT:Important communication tip, Exerting control over the outside world
  34. MANAGING PERSONAL FINANCES-1:Your personal financial plan, Steps in budget making
  35. MANAGING PERSONAL FINANCES-2:Basic investment principles, Tolerance for Investment Risks, Types of investments
  36. ACHIEVING HAPPINESS-1:Finding happiness and enhancing your personal life, The key to happiness
  37. ACHIEVING HAPPINESS-2:The Five Principles of Psychological Functioning, Your mind and Happiness
  38. ACHIEVING HAPPINESS-3:Need for intimacy, Working out issues with relationships
  39. APATHY AND ITS REMEDIES:Let us try to understand the various definitions of apathy, Coping strategies for apathy
  40. ENHANCING PERSONAL ETHICS-1:Influence of Culture, Common ethical problems
  41. ENHANCING PERSONAL ETHICS-2:Common ethical problems, Guidelines for Behaving Ethically
  42. HELPING OTHERS GROW:Being a Nurturing, Positive Person, A list of mentoring behaviour, Coaching skills and techniques
  43. REVIEW-I:What is a Human Relation?, Meanings of Communication, Two types of stress, Some personal problem, Communication style
  44. REVIEW-II:Steps to build self-confidence, Globalization, Building Good Relations with Co-workers, Good work habits
  45. REVIEW-III:New model of career advancement, Choosing your investment, Tactics for Dealing with Difficult People