Stage 5: WorkOffers and acceptanceSuccess at work
One of the most important factors in determining your happiness
and success in a job is understanding your personality, also
referred to as characteristics or attitudes. Have you ever wondered
what causes someone to study for years to enter a career such as
engineering or law while another person will look for the quickest
way to make money? What causes someone to switch his or her career
midstream? The answer to these questions is values. If you value
good health, you will make time for daily exercise and proper
nutrition. If you value career satisfaction, you will take time to
examine your values and make choices that are consistent with them.
A skill is a learned ability to do something well. Skills are the
currency used by workers. In the labour market you receive pay in
exchange for the skills that you offer and use at work. Individuals
who can describe themselves to a potential employer in terms of
their skills are more likely to find the work that they want and
enjoy. Career Interests - organize the information from the
previous sections; You will learn how to relate your vocational
personality to career planning it is also important to consider
your knowledge and learning style. Throughout your life, you have
learned information by attending classes, working on projects,
reading independently, traveling and many other methods. It is
important at this stage to assess what you know and how you like to
learn. Over the past decade an increasing number of individuals
have chosen self-employment or entrepreneurship as a career option.
Those who are self-employed or entrepreneurs are people who create
a new product or provide a service and then proceed to put form to
their dream by opening a small business. Consider the following
questions: Do you welcome challenges? Is achievement important to
you? Are you confident about your abilities? Do you like to be in
control? Do you consider yourself a realistic planner? Are you
persistent? Can you cope with uncertainty? Do you usually complete
any task you start? Are you willing to take moderate risks? Do you
consider yourself to be organized?
Psychologist who devoted his professional career to researching
issues related to career choice and satisfaction.
He developed a well-known theory when he found people needing
help with career decisions can be supported by understanding their
resemblance to six ideal vocational personality types. Work
settings can also be categorized by their resemblance to six
similar work environments. Because people search for environments
that allow them to express their interests, skills, attitudes and
values, and take on interesting problems and agreeable roles, work
environments become populated by individuals with related
occupational personality types.The descriptions of Hollands
personality types refer to idealized or pure types. They are
visually represented by a hexagonal model. The types closes to each
other on the hexagon have the most characteristics in common. Those
that are furthest apart (opposite) have the least in common.Most
likely you will fall into a combination of types.
He designed several assessments based on this theory - including
the Self-Directed Search.Hands-on such as building, mechanics,
machinery operation and athleticsWorking with things prefer to work
with things rather than ideas and peopleLearn by doing in a
practical, task-oriented setting, as opposed to spending extended
periods of time in a classroomCommunicate in a frank, direct
mannerValue material thingsSkilled perceive themselves as skilled
in mechanical and physical activities, but may be uncomfortable or
less adept with human relationsTech Preferred work environment
fosters technical competencies and work that allows them to produce
tangible resultsTypical realistic careers include those in the
military, electrician, engineer and veterinarian
Enjoy research, mathematical or scientific activitiesDrawn to
ambiguous challenges and may feel stifled in highly structured
environments.Enjoy using logic and solving highly complex, abstract
problems.Introspective and focused on creative problem solving,
therefore they often work autonomously and do not seek leadership
roles.Place a high value on science and learning and perceive
themselves as scholarly and having scientific or mathematical
ability but lacking leadership and persuasive skills.Preferred work
environment encourages scientific competencies, allows independent
work, focuses on solving abstract, complex problems in original
ways.Careers include - Original, intuitive and imaginative and
enjoy creative activities such as composing or playing music,
writing, drawing or painting, and acting in or directing stage
productions.Seek opportunities for self-expression through artistic
creation.Prefer flexibility and ambiguity and have an aversion to
convention and conformity.Generally impulsive and emotional and
tend to communicate in a very expressive and open mannger.They
value aesthetics and view themselves as creative, non-conforming,
and as appreciating or possessing musical, dramatic, artistic, or
writing abilities while lacking clerical or organizational
skills.Prefer work environments that foster creative competencies
and encourages originality and use of the imagination in a
flexible, unstructured setting.Typical careers - Humanistic,
idealistic, responsible and concerned with the welfare of
others.Enjoy participating in group activities and helping,
training, caring for, counseling or developing others.Generally
focused on human relationships, and enjoy social activities and
solving interpersonal problems.Seek opportunities to work as part
of a team, solve problems through discussions, and utilize
interpersonal skills, but may avoid activities that involve
systematic use of equipment or machines.Genuinely enjoy working
with people, therefore they communicate in a warm and tactful
manner and can be persuasive.View themselves as understanding,
helpful, cheerful, and skilled in teaching, but lacking mechanical
ability.Preferred work environment encourages teamwork and allows
for significant interaction with others.Typical careers -Energetic,
ambitious, adventurous, sociable and self-confident. Enjoy
activities that require them to persuade others, such as sales, and
seek out leadership roles.Invigorated by using their interpersonal,
leadership, and persuasive abilities to obtain organizational goals
or economic gain, but may avoid routine or systematic
activities.Often effective public speakers and are generally
sociable, but may be viewed as domineering.View themselves as
assertive, self-confident, and skilled in leadership and speaking
but lacking in scientific abilities.Prefer work environments that
encourage them to engage in such activities as leadership,
management, and selling and rewards them through the attainment of
money, power, and status.Typical careers - Efficient, careful,
conforming, organized, and conscientious.Comfortable working within
an established chain of command and prefer to carry out
well-defined instructions over assuming leadership roles. Prefer
organized, systematic activities and have an aversion to
ambiguity.Skilled in and often enjoy maintaining and manipulating
data, organizing schedules, and operating office equipment.Rarely
seek out leadership roles, but are thorough, persistent, and
reliable in carrying out tasks.View themselves as responsible,
orderly, efficient, and possessing clerical, organizational, and
numerical abilities, but also seem themselves as unimaginative or
lacking in creativity.Preferred work environment fosters
organizational competencies, such as record keeping and data
management in a structured operation and places high value on
conformity and dependability.Typical careers - When making career
decisions, it is important to remember that your choices must fit
into the realities of the working world. It is possible to use
trends to your advantage by utilizing those aspects of your
personality and experience that are most compatible with employment
demands. It will be up to you to gain a basic understanding of
these trends so that you can adjust your career preparation and
take advantage of emerging possibilities.
The world of work is very complex. New occupations are emerging
while other occupations are on the decline.It is possible to
discover career opportunities by learning what it is important to
search for and where to search for it. Information from State 1
will help you to identify opportunities as you conduct your
research. The what includes the characteristics, values, skills and
knowledge requirements of the occupational role. Additional
material you will want to know includes: duties and
responsibilities, working conditions (e.g., hours, physical demands
of job, physical environment and level of stress), salary range or
compensation for work, opportunities for advancement, related
occupations and future outlook predictions.
One of the most effective methods of obtaining more detailed
information about a particular career is to conduct an information
interview with someone who holds a position that interests you.
Information interviews are beneficial because they allow you to:
Explore careers and clarify your career goal, Expand your
professional network,Build confidence for your job interviews,
Access the most up-to-date career information, Identify your
professional strengths and weaknesses, See the organization from
the inside
The goal of job shadowing is to gather critical information
during your information exploration process.
Gaining experience in an actual work role is the best way to
determine if the nature of the work is an acceptable fit or match
with your personality. There are several ways to gain experience
such as part-time and full-time paid work or volunteer work. The
sponsorship can be through co-operative education, casual
employment, summer jobs, contract work, regular employment,
work-study arrangements, internship, or volunteer positions. In
addition to the job content knowledge you will gain, there are
extra benefits including: Referrals for future jobs through the
network that you build, Knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses
of your work-related skills, The potential to demonstrate skills
such as communication, analysis and problem-solving, Demonstration
of your initiative and establishment of a track record for
potential employers
The time has come for you to clarify your career objectives. If
you knew you would succeed, what is the type of work that you would
do? This is the time to make a commitment. In order to begin the
next phase, you need to have a sense of direction, some general
goals to work towards. Organize your ideas into 3 groups:
long-term, medium-term and short-term. By having longer-term goals,
you will be able to set your course to becoming successful in your
career. Then by working backwards to the present, you will be able
to take a step at a time toward your ultimate goal. This is why
your personality and attitudes are the most important predictors of
success in your career and in your life generally. You cant
accomplish more than you believe you can. Your thoughts, positive
or negative, come into play (self-fulfilling prophecy). How you
accept your own abilities will define whether or not you achieve
your goals. In conjunction with your career objectives from the
section above, decide upon your goals in other areas of your life:
family and friends; sports and physical fitness; leisure activities
including travel; and finances including retirement funding, etc.
Physical: nutritious food, safe water, healthy air, exercise
Mental: intellectual challenges, knowledge, thoughts Emotional:
feelings, belonging, security Philosophical: authenticity,
spirituality, meaning, attitudes Social: relationships with others,
friendships Career: finances, fulfillment Recreational: leisure,
fun, sports Change is everywhere in the world, in all
organizations. Individuals will need to change to keep pace. That
means continuous learning and updatingan ongoing adjustment to your
portfolio of skills and knowledge. Motivation can come from several
benefits: increased job satisfaction, better prospects for work,
personal satisfaction, and increased pay. A goal is an aim or an
end towards which effort is directed. A goal is where you want to
be. Developing one requires conscious projection into the future in
order to bring clarity to the direction you should take now.
Specific means detailed, particular or focused. A goal is specific
when you know exactly what is to be achieved and accomplished. A
simple goal is easier to understand. Imagine your goal as
specifically as you can. Ask: Who, where, what, when,
howspecifically? Measurable goals are quantifiable. Think of the
evidence that will let you know you have achieved it. For example,
words like better or faster are not quantifiable. Increase my
course grades by 10% provides a clear measure for a goal. Action
oriented consider the language you use when writing your goals.
Avoid wording goals in terms of, I hope to have a job in a field
related to my area of study. Rather, use wording such as I will
complete 10 information interviews in the financial services
industry by January 31, 20XX. Realistic goals are practical and
possible. Realistic goals are a balance between what is hard and
what is easy to achieve. They require a stretch. Its that little
bit extra in performance that makes people progress and improve. Is
your goal realistic and reasonable? goals are self-maintained; the
achievement of the goal is up to you alone. There are many aspects
of life that involve dependent relations with others. Your goal
should clearly speak to things that you have control over. Timely
goals mean that they are scheduled. There is a finite duration to
your effort, a deadline. People can put off doing things if no
deadline is set because human nature usually finds something else
to do on the way. For example, by the end of June is more specific
than toward the end of June. However, the most precise statement
is: June 30, 20XX.
Typical and creative job search techniques ads, internet, word
of mouth, blind lettersYou will want to do some employer research
to: (1) see if you are interested in working for a particular
company or organization, (2) find out about different types of jobs
or work that you may be hired to do, and (3) prepare for an
interview. Networking is making connections with individuals and
groups of people, and can be accomplished by personal meetings,
through the telephone or fax, on paper, or via the Internet. It is
estimated that 65-90% of jobs are found through networking. An
informal survey among your employed friends would reveal that many,
if not most, found employment this way. You can't begin networking,
however, until you have defined the type of work you want.The
purpose of the resume is to get an interview. It is like an
advertisement: it should attract attention, create interest,
describe accomplishments and invite a person to contact you. The
average amount of time an employer takes to initially scan a resume
is 30 seconds. It is very important that the resume be brief, one
page if possible and two pages the limit. The resume tells a
potential employer what you can do and have done, who you are, and
what you know. It also states what kind of work you seek. The key
is that the resume must provide enough information for the employer
to evaluate your qualifications and interest the employer enough to
invite you for an interview.
Effective letter writing is an essential aspect of your job
search. Do you want to convince a potential employer not to hire
you? Send a resume with no cover letter. Send a form letter
addressed to The Hiring Manager. Or address your letter to Dear
Sir, and have it opened by a female manager! Good writing takes
time. Compose letters that reflect your own personality. Do not
copy someone else's letters. Send handwritten correspondence only
when requested by the employer. A Cover or Broadcast letter
accompanies your resume to introduce you to a prospective employer
as a knowledgeable and capable applicant. You may wish to send your
application package by overnight delivery to show the urgency and
importance you place on being of service to the company. The
interview is a mutual exchange of information between an employer
and a candidate for a position. The primary objectives are to:
Supply information about yourself that is not contained in your
resume Show that you understand yourself and have a sense of
direction in your career Enable the employer to evaluate your
personality and attitudes in terms of the demands of the
organization and the position Allow you to gain information about
the organization and the job, which is not available through other
sources Give you and the employer an opportunity to discuss the
desirability of further contact or an offer of employment
Before you accept an offer for employment, take the time
necessary to evaluate the offer. Don't jump at the first job offer
you get. If you make a mistake, you might end up stuck in an
unsuitable position. With the negative feelings that would likely
arise, you will find it difficult to talk about that job in
interviews for other positions in the future. However, weigh the
fear of being unemployed with the reality of the job market. You
may decide that taking a job for now is not a choice.
After you have successfully completed those critical steps to
finding your job (whether paid or volunteer), there are steps to
take to ensure that it will be a pleasant experience. During your
first few weeks or months you will go through an orientation and
probation period. No matter what your experience, any new job can
be tiring at the start. Everything is new and there is much to
learn. You will also be meeting many new people. Plan for this
transition by allowing adequate leisure time and by taking care of
your health needs. These changes can be overwhelming, particularly
if you havent prepared for them. Whatever your work experience is,
take time to reflect. Write your thoughts in a journal to keep a
permanent record. Work provides excellent opportunities to learn.
To motivate learning while you are engaged in work, set learning
objectives. Writing your objectives provides a reminder of what you
wish to accomplish.
