Are You in the Right Career?
Greetings readers, it’s good to be back after a refreshing hiatus. Somehow the end of August gives us permission to wind down, say goodbye to summer and greet autumn with a fresh perspective. I have always been a fan of September. The ninth month of the year carries with it an air of renewal, the promise of harvest and the clear thinking of its birthstone, sapphire. Even though I fancy myself a seasoned professional, perhaps I have never really transitioned from the traditional school mode where everything starts anew in September.
I would like to thank Mark, an invaluable member of the APLS GROUP, for pinch hitting at Nanci’s Notions during my absence. Mark’s insightful views on transitioning from college to a career have given me a question to ponder. Are you in the right career? With unemployment in the double digits
in many areas across this country, having a secure job is enviable and daring to ask if my career fits me seems unthinkable. Yet making the proper career choice can be the catalyst for combined personal and professional success.
According to Kathleen Gage’s article “How to Know if You Are in the Right Career”, 80% of working people are misemployed. They are working in careers that are unsatisfying and unfulfilling. Mike Rowe, popular host of Discovery Channel’s Dirty Jobs, says on his website that popular culture has
demonized the idea of work and work is a place to be avoided at all costs. Unemployment and under employment figures would have us believe that the pride associated with a job well done is passé. Our country, our people and our economy are suffering. In the last thirty years we have lost or outsourced manufacturing jobs by the millions and discouraged our children from entering the trades. As a result, the college enrollments have swelled, the high school dropout rate has escalated and job dissatisfaction has increased. There are jobs in IT, building and construction trades, healthcare, and engineering but the lack of a skilled labor pool has caused a disconnect on the employment front. What’s wrong with this picture?
When I traced my own steps that led to the career that I currently have, I was pleasantly surprised that I am right where I want to be. Though I have rarely been reflective of my professional journey, the outcome has been more design than happenstance. I am in the career that suits my personality
and my skill sets. It is impossible to be misemployed when skill sets and personality are aligned. I did not always know that I wanted to be a consultant but I always knew that the study of human behavior was my passion. As a college student, I was fascinated by psychology and participated in numerous lab studies to test the cause and effect of human behavior. Later when I began my professional life I worked at NTL Institute where I was surrounded by the masters in the field of human behavior, training and organizational development. As my resume grew, I continued to pursue opportunities in organizations where human behavior was an integral part of my responsibilities. I developed a professional toolbox that keeps me invested and engaged in my career to this day.
Whether you are just starting a career or preparing for a change in career, consider the following tips to help you make a wise transition:
Make an investment in three assessments: personality, learning style, skills inventory
Research the industry you want to enter including outlook, pay, benefits
Interview people that are doing the job you think you want to do
Do not be afraid to switch from traditional “white collar” to “hands on” jobs
Concentrate on your strengths and seek employment that uses your strengths
Accurately assess your skills and outline what you have to offer an organization
Seek appropriate education to sharpen your skills in the field you are pursuing including job sector training
Network in the field (go to industry events including career fairs)
Meditate and visualize yourself as successful in the field (positive self -talk)
The next time you ask yourself if you are in the right career, let the answer be a resounding yes!
Visit the APL Group online store for additional material on this topic.
