3 things to consider when looking for a new career

New Career New Year 2014 – New Career Factors to Consider (part 2)

There are many reasons why someone looks for a new career. But regardless of the reason, one should always consider three main factors when looking for a new career.

Employment Projections

First of all, it is always prudent to consider employment projections for the potential new career. Look for a new career which is forecasted to grow faster than the average. By doing so, you’ll improve your chances of getting hired, given that you have the right skills, experiences, and education or training. Check out the post on fastest growing industries by 2020. There’s also a post on the fastest growing jobs with low education requirements. The information here is a great place to get started to find data on growing industries.

Follow 3 steps to find best new career

Which new career is right for me?

However do not choose a new career based on employment statistics alone. People who choose a new career solely on external factors such as employment projections often find that they are not well suited to their new career. As a result, it’s hard to succeed. They don’t get chosen for promotions, get a small bonus pay, and are often the poorest performers. In addition, when lay-offs come around, these employees are usually the first to go. Therefore, it is equally if not more important to consider personal, internal factors when deciding on a new career.

Career Interests

Secondly, finding out how your career interests (what you like) correlate to occupations is the best way to find a career you will enjoy and commit to in the long run. Most new career tests measure only interests. This is fine if you’re in the early stages of your career.  High school and college students should definitely complete at least one such test before choosing their college major. On the other hand, for working adults, an interest test can give them “clues” about where to begin their search for their new career. It is, however, typically inadequate as a stand-alone new career test. Why? Because no one chooses a new career based on “likes” alone. This is just a helpful starting point.

Internal Factors

Lastly, similar to the second point, your values, personality, and abilities or aptitudes play a large role as well. Let’s look at abilities or aptitudes first. Oftentimes we “like” careers for which we possess a natural ability. In other words, we enjoy work that we are naturally good at doing. Maybe you’ve had a carer that felt like an uphill battle, where you couldn’t master the techniques and nothing came easy. When this happens, it will be very difficult for you to be successful or happy in this carer. Therefore, it is useful to consider your abilities when choosing a new career. To find out more about these, read the blog post on the career abilities test.

Many people have “demanding” abilities. These abilities unconsciously “demand” expression for themselves in a new career. If these abilities not not expressed, the worker will probably feel discontent or dissatisfied. Over time, this can slide into depression. Should you be one of the individuals with “demanding” abilities (and most have at least one), it is absolutely imperative to take one of the two ability career tests that measure these abilities before choosing a new career.

Your personality also plays a significant role in choosing a career. Personality career tests identify suitable careers based on more than your interests. They identify your career preferences. Career preferences account for the tendencies and predispositions of your working style. Therefore, your natural style of operating in a job is a crucial factor to consider when choosing a career.

Values play a subtle but powerful secondary role. What I mean by this is that you only notice how important your values are when you experience a career dilemma. The two most common career dilemmas are:

  1. Feeling unsure about why a career does not sound perfect even though it should
  2. When you can’t decide between two job opportunities.

Clarifying your values is the step that enables you to sort through the career dilemmas to reach a decision.

It’s a new year; I’m ready for a new career. What’s next?  

  1. Get in touch with The Career Profiler to start your journey in understanding yourself. I will help you find the right tests to measure your abilities, personality, and interests. With all of this information we’ll make a career plan guaranteed to get you a job that makes you happy and successful. If you want to get a head start, take a new career test.
  2. Find a career in which you can actually gain employment. Consult any of the blogs I’ve written about finding a career in a growing industry. Don’t forget to combine the results of steps one and two. It is wisest to choose a job you will love and succeed in, as well as one where the likelihood of being hired is highest because it’s a growing industry.

Career Personality and Career Personality Tests: part 3

What is Career Personality? Part 3: Theories

There are two prevalent theories that address the origin of career personalities. These are like two different lenses through which we understand career personality.

Type theory classifies collection of career traits that persist over time into broad general categories. These categories are associated with various occupations. Therefore, a person’s trait collection determines a well-fitting career. The Myers Briggs type Indicator is a good example of a test based on type theory.

Trait theory classifies specific individual characteristics in terms of effectiveness in a particular occupation. It assesses the degree of each characteristic in a person. An example of this is John Holland’s theory which assesses interest factors.  Career tests that use trait theory are the Strong Interest Inventory and the Self-Directed Search. You can see samples of those tests by clicking the links.

 

Other Career Theories

Within trait theory, some tests do not measure personality characteristics. Instead, they measure abilities, aptitudes, and values. These tests are less common, but they are available at Testets.

In addition to type and trait theories, there are factor and life span career theories. An example of the first is Holland’s typology. It classifies occupations by certain task factors. Donald Super constructed the life span and life space career theory. It identifies the important influences on a person in different roles and at different life stages. There aren’t many career tests based on life span theories, but a paper and pencil assessment can measure this. If you’re interested in this you can also set up an interview with a career counselor or career coach who can assess you in this way.

What more would you like to know about career personality theories, or career theories in general? Shoot me an email and I’d be glad to answer.

dream career career reality

Success Story: Dream Career Starts in Career Reality

Career Success Story #3

Here’s another story from a former client who came to me for help. If you are already on your way to your dream career but feel stuck, this is the lesson to learn. To achieve your future dream, focus on the present reality! The Career Profiler can help you stay motivated, focused, and working towards your career goals.

“I couldn’t seem to get my career jump-started. I was stuck had a job that bored me and was desperate to escape. Then I finally decided to work with The Career Profiler. We began by identifying my talents through some career tests to find my dream career – the job I’d  love doing most. Then we formulated a career strategy to move towards my dream career.

However, I continued to be frustrated by indecision – re-analyzing and perfecting the career choice. The Career Profiler applied her career coaching expertise to help me understand that dream careers begin in the present – in reality. Once I stopped struggling with and resisting my present circumstances, I was able to focus on my career search. And that’s when career opportunities showed up.

I am so thrilled to finally be working in a fulfilling and challenging career. It uses my talents and captivates my interests. I love what I do now and I can finally see the beginnings of my dream career becoming a reality for me in the future. I learned this career secret: Act and move forward in the present career situation – don’t be immobilized by the grandeur of the dream.”  Keith M.