CHOOSING A CAREER-II:Choosing a career and developing a portfolio Career, Suggestions for career Preparation

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Human Relations MGMT611

Lesson 25

CHOOSING A CAREER-II

A career is a series of related job experiences that fit into a meaningful pattern. A general strategy for

making a sound career choice is to understand first the inner you, including what you have to offer, and

then match that information with information in the outside world.

The Self-Esteem Checklist

Indicate whether each of the following statements is Mostly True or Mostly False as it

applies to you.

Mostly

True

False

1. I am excited about starting each day.

1. Most of any progress I have made in my work or school

can be attributed to luck.

2. I often ask myself, "Why can't I be more successful?"

3. When my manager or team leader gives me a

challenging assignment, I usually drive in with

confidence.

4. I believe that I am working up to my potential.

5. I am able to set limits to what I will do for others

without feeling anxious.

7. I regularly make excuses for my mistakes.

8. Negative feedback crushes me.

9. I care very much how much money other people make,

especially when they are working in my field.

10. I feel like a failure when I do not achieve my goals.

11. Hard work gives me an emotional lift.

12. When others compliment me, I doubt their sincerity.

13. Complimenting others makes me feel uncomfortable.

14. I find it comfortable to say, "I'm sorry."

15. It is difficult for me to face up to my mistakes.

16. My coworkers think I am not worthy of promotion.

17. People who want to become my friend usually do not

have much to offer.

18. If my manager praised me I would have a difficult time

believing it was deserved.

19. I'm just an ordinary person.

20. Having to face change really disturbs me.

Scoring and Interpretation: The answers in the high self-esteem direction are as

follows.

Human Relations MGMT611

1. Mostly True

8. Mostly False

15. Mostly False

2. Mostly False

9. Mostly False

16. Mostly False

3. Mostly False

10. Mostly False

17. Mostly False

4. Mostly True

11. Mostly True

18. Mostly False

5. Mostly True

12. Mostly False

19. Mostly False

6. Mostly True

13. Mostly False

20. Mostly False

7. Mostly False

14. Mostly True

17-20 You have very high self-esteem. Yet if your score is 20, it could be that you are

denying any self-doubts.

11-16 Your self esteem is in the average range. It would probably be worthwhile for you

to implement strategies to boost your self-esteem (described in this chapter) so

that you can develop a greater feeling of well-being.

0-1

Your self-esteem needs bolstering. Talk over your feelings about yourself with a

a trusted friend or with a mental health professional. At the same time, attempt to

implement several of the tactics for boosting self-esteem described in this chapter.

Source: DuBrin, Andrew J. `Human Relations: Career and Cersonal Success', Pearson Prentice Hall, 2005.

Ten steps for choosing a career

We can identify a career following these ten steps which is more compatible with our interest

1. Begin with your values

2. Identify your skills and talents

3. Identify your preferences

4. Experiment

5. Become broadly literate

6. In your first job, opt for experience first and money second

7. Aim for a job in which you can be committed

8. Build your life style around your income, not your expectations

9. Invest five percent of your income, energy, and money into furthering your career

10. Be willing to change and adapt

Data, people, things, or ideas

Knowing your preferences for working with data, people, things, or ideas can help you find a career that

matches those preferences. Most managerial, professional, and technical jobs provide some opportunity for

working with data, people, and things.

Job satisfaction is likely to increase when the individual engages in work that fits his or her interest in the

four factors. (Ideas is somewhat restricted because it involves high-level innovation.)

Choosing a career and developing a portfolio Career

This lesson describes the process of finding a first career, developing a portfolio career, and career

switching. (A portfolio career refers to making money in several different ways at the same time.)

Portfolio career and career switching

It is becoming increasingly common for people to either switch the emphasis in their work or switch careers

entirely. People modify their careers for a variety of reasons, all centering around the idea that something is

missing in their present one. Here we look at two different approaches to changing direction in a career.

Human Relations MGMT611

Developing a Portfolio Career

Many people would like to change careers yet not be confined to focusing on one major type of job activity.

To accomplish this, a growing number of people develop a portfolio career, in which they use a variety of

skills and earn money in several different ways.

A portfolio career also helps deal with the trend toward part-time positions. A portfolio career also spreads

the risk of unemployment by earning money in several ways.

An important part of developing a portfolio career is to keep your occupational skills current while not in

active use.

Career Switching

Many people switch careers to find work that fits their major values in life. It is important to be thorough

when contemplating a career switch. A new career should be built gradually, such as phasing into the new

type of work. An increasingly popular path for the career switcher is to move from salaried employment to self-

employment.

Finding about occupations

A fundamental rule of career planning is to gather relevant occupational facts. Few people have valid

information about careers they wish to pursue.

Printed and Web-Based Information

Computer-Assisted Career Guidance

Speaking to People

Firsthand Experience

Choosing a Growth Occupation

Strategy to choose a career

The Importance of Skills in Choosing a Career

Knowing which skills and abilities you possess and enjoy performing can be the basis for a successful

career. A skill is a learned, specific ability such as writing a report or negotiating well. Skill identification is

also important for job finding. Your best skill represents your core competency, or whatever you do best.

As these skills are developed, they may become a person's core competency.

Getting Help from a Career Counselor

A career counselor provides a professional approach to finding a first career or career switching. A

counselor usually relies on a wide variety of tests plus an interview to assist a person, make a sound career

choice.

Suggestions for career Preparation

To prepare for a career is to be ready to meet the challenges that lie ahead in whatever career the person

chooses. Nine useful suggestions follow:

Be flexible about exploring different fields.

Develop interpersonal skills.

Think globally, such as studying another language and culture.

Develop your information technology skills.

Get an edge (employers can still be choosy).

Keep learning after you have chosen a field.

Be less concerned about promotions; it is what you know and how you apply it that really counts.

Strive for high-quality work. "Do it right the first time."

Recognize that several different concepts of a career are possible. (The same career model, such as

climbing the ladder, does not fit everyone, everywhere.)

References:

Dubrin, A.J. (2005). Human Relations: Career and Personal Success. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey,

07458.

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