The problem of the career is one of the vital problems in a human life. In general, the career holds one of the most important places in a traditional set of values of different peoples. Very often people say that there are only two things that make the sense of their lives, they are: their family and their job. And when asked what is more important the family or the career people answer differently. A traditional answer is the family but some people say that their job, their career is on the first place. As for me, I wouldn’t divide these two notions because they are equal for me. The only thing I would like to underline is that a person has to enjoy his or her job because it brings psychological and, certainly, financial stability and harmony in our life. So, a person must do what he or she likes to do or is apt to do. Also it is noteworthy that nowadays it is not an easy task to find a good, well-paid job because usually to get such a kind of a job a person has to have a definite abilities and some basic knowledge and education. Unfortunately, not always employers can find an employee who would correspond to their demands and very often the problem is the lack of a good education. So, I have just mentioned the role that the career plays in our life and the principal conditions which permit to have a good job. Now I’m going to project these ideas on my present career and my prospects in the future.
Firstly, I want to underline that when I think of my present job I realize that it doesn’t satisfy me and there are a lot of reasons which explain such a situation. I work in a Chinese travel agency as an A/R and marketing assistant. I have quite a big experience (five years) that helps me understand all nuances of the agency policy and the attitude of the administration to average employees. Actually, what I don’t like the most is that I have to do a lot of routine but my boss doesn’t pay well for this work. For I have to do a lot of fare sheets for the promotion of some air tickets, I need to work skillfully on the computer as well as I need to fix some pictures and then to fax them out. Moreover, my personal income highly depends on the quantity of people traveling via our agency because the boss can reduce our salary and then we work part time without pay. Finally, it is boring for me to do all the same work over and over again. Such an unbearable situation led to my desire to change the job but, unfortunately, for any good job I need a BS degree but I haven’t got a good education that make the fulfillment of my desire highly problematic.
One more reason that contributes to my decision to change the job is a different job that I adore. This job is in the field of the information technology that is why I study this field of science. Generally speaking, I like to work on the computer and it is interesting for me to create some web pages or databases and I could gladly help those who need it. And I really like to help people if they have some problems with their computers I like to fix them and to find solutions to all problems concerning programs and computers, especially very difficult ones. I can give a good piece of advice if necessary because I know what is worthy to buy and what is not. My dream is to work in a team of people who are just like me. We would generate new ideas and share information about all new technology information and all achievements in this field. But this is my dream that is not so easy to realize because to do this, as I have already said before, I need to be a well-qualified specialist and have at least a BS degree and without studying it is absolutely impossible.
As a result, I came to the conclusion that I have to return to my education. Now I understand how important it is to continue to study because otherwise I won’t achieve what I want. It is also necessary for me because my further education will prepare me for work and communication with other people and not only those who are in the information technology.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
Is my job right for me?
As a psychologist and career counselor, I have worked with thousands of people over the years who are choosing or changing careers, and who are wondering whether they would really like to be in a particular career. Based on this experience, I believe that most people who want to go into a career they think they’d like do not really explore the questions they need to in order to be sure that it’s the right career for them.
Here is a list of 20 questions to find answers to before concluding that a career you think you’d like is really right for you, followed by 9 sources of information for answering these questions:
Questions:
1.In general, why do you think you’d “like” this career?
2.Why is going into this career important to you? What values, needs, and goals does it satisfy?
3.What do you actually know about this career?
4.Do you have any direct experience in this career? Have you had any jobs or volunteer experiences?
5.Have you talked to people who are in this career?
6.Have you done any reading on the career?
7.What are the opportunities? What kinds of money can you make in this field, and where are the openings?
8.What would your typical day be like in this career?
9.What are the drawbacks, disadvantages, and roadblocks of this career?
10.Do your interests match the interests of others in this career?
11.Do you have the aptitudes, skills, and abilities to be successful in this career?
12.Do you have the education or training to get into this career?
13.Do you have the personality characteristics that will make you successful in the new career?
14.Do you have the motivation and energy to follow through and do what you would need to do to get into the new career?
15.
What are your “transferable” skills? That is, what skills or knowledge do you now have that you can use in the new career?
16.What skills or knowledge do you have that would not only be transferable, but that would also be a unique advantage in the new career?
17.What will it take to get into the new career? What kind of additional training, education, or experience would you need?
18.Have you developed a specific plan, including timetables and specific goals to be accomplished?
19.Do you have a network of support from family, friends, co-workers, or significant others?
20.Having answered all of the above questions, do you still “like” the career and think it’s a good idea to get into it, and why?I think you’ll find that there are many resources you can use to help you answer the above questions. Among them:
1.Reading.
This would include not only the hundreds of books and pamphlets on careers and career choice, but also publications describing careers (such as the Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the U.S. Department of Labor and available on the Internet).
2.Practical experience.
Not only is it possible to get a full-time or part-time job, but one can also volunteer at an organization or a company a couple of hours a week, just to get exposure to the area. Usually, any organization is glad to have this kind of help (unless they think you’re an investigative reporter from some newspaper or TV program).
3.Job search counseling.
Anyone changing career directions needs a highly competitive job search strategy. This should include resume, cover letter, and job interviewing strategies that are specific to your situation. This may also include advice on researching the job market.
4.A thorough self-assessment.
This is not an assessment BY yourself, but an assessment OF yourself. A good career counselor can provide this kind of assessment, which would include counseling and testing.
5.Career tests.
In general, tests divide into three categories: 1) aptitude, ability, and skills tests, 2) career interest tests, and 3) personality and motivational tests that focus on characteristics related to the career world.
6.Career coaching.
Guided discussions with an expert can help you to clarify your goals, strategies, and commitment.
7.Education and training.
Before you launch
Here is a list of 20 questions to find answers to before concluding that a career you think you’d like is really right for you, followed by 9 sources of information for answering these questions:
Questions:
1.In general, why do you think you’d “like” this career?
2.Why is going into this career important to you? What values, needs, and goals does it satisfy?
3.What do you actually know about this career?
4.Do you have any direct experience in this career? Have you had any jobs or volunteer experiences?
5.Have you talked to people who are in this career?
6.Have you done any reading on the career?
7.What are the opportunities? What kinds of money can you make in this field, and where are the openings?
8.What would your typical day be like in this career?
9.What are the drawbacks, disadvantages, and roadblocks of this career?
10.Do your interests match the interests of others in this career?
11.Do you have the aptitudes, skills, and abilities to be successful in this career?
12.Do you have the education or training to get into this career?
13.Do you have the personality characteristics that will make you successful in the new career?
14.Do you have the motivation and energy to follow through and do what you would need to do to get into the new career?
15.
What are your “transferable” skills? That is, what skills or knowledge do you now have that you can use in the new career?
16.What skills or knowledge do you have that would not only be transferable, but that would also be a unique advantage in the new career?
17.What will it take to get into the new career? What kind of additional training, education, or experience would you need?
18.Have you developed a specific plan, including timetables and specific goals to be accomplished?
19.Do you have a network of support from family, friends, co-workers, or significant others?
20.Having answered all of the above questions, do you still “like” the career and think it’s a good idea to get into it, and why?I think you’ll find that there are many resources you can use to help you answer the above questions. Among them:
1.Reading.
This would include not only the hundreds of books and pamphlets on careers and career choice, but also publications describing careers (such as the Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the U.S. Department of Labor and available on the Internet).
2.Practical experience.
Not only is it possible to get a full-time or part-time job, but one can also volunteer at an organization or a company a couple of hours a week, just to get exposure to the area. Usually, any organization is glad to have this kind of help (unless they think you’re an investigative reporter from some newspaper or TV program).
3.Job search counseling.
Anyone changing career directions needs a highly competitive job search strategy. This should include resume, cover letter, and job interviewing strategies that are specific to your situation. This may also include advice on researching the job market.
4.A thorough self-assessment.
This is not an assessment BY yourself, but an assessment OF yourself. A good career counselor can provide this kind of assessment, which would include counseling and testing.
5.Career tests.
In general, tests divide into three categories: 1) aptitude, ability, and skills tests, 2) career interest tests, and 3) personality and motivational tests that focus on characteristics related to the career world.
6.Career coaching.
Guided discussions with an expert can help you to clarify your goals, strategies, and commitment.
7.Education and training.
Before you launch
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