1 To win the career game, you need to develop strategies. Here’s how to find the job that fits your interests, skills, and values.
2 Debbie had been dragging herself out of bed every morning to go to a job she hated. An administrative assistant at a large automotive dealership, she felt pressured to please the general manager, the controller, the parts manager, the sales manager, and a whole bunch of salespeople. Then there were the customers, whom she saw only when they had a beef about something.
3 Before taking the job, Debbie thought she’d like being in an office, interacting with co-workers and customers. But now she knew the truth: She and her job were not a good fit. Yet she felt stuck — she had bills to pay and feared that the next job would be no better.
Examine Your Interests
4 No job is perfect, as most workers will tell you. A 1997 study by USA Today suggested that 94 percent of American workers either “mildly or strongly dislike their jobs.” Most claim they don’t find significant meaning in the work they do.
5 Sound depressing? Well, it doesn’t have to. You can find yourself among the lucky 6 percent who have careers that excite them. To do that, experts say, you have to examine your interests, strengths, and attitudes. Then find a job that matches them.
6 People who are miserable in their work often have “fallen” into their jobs. They had nothing specific in mind as a career; it just happened. Jobs were available, and they accepted one. They didn’t give much thought to the impact a particular job might have on their happiness. After all, a job is a job, right?
7 No way. Work plays such an important role in people’s lives that it would be foolish not to try to find a job that interests you.
What’s Your Type?
8 Throughout our lives, we learn to like or dislike different activities and situations. Some people enjoy working with data and numbers. Others prefer to work with their hands. Still others like to perform in front of an audience. Some people like to work alone. Others do their best in group settings. A job one person considers boring, another person may find exciting and fulfilling.
9 Dr. John Holland, a psychologist, came up with six personality types to help people determine their vocational interests — the types of jobs they might be suited for. He called the six personality types Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. Look at the description of each of these six general types, and then consider which describes you best.
10 Realistic people tend to be interested in working with machines and working outdoors. They enjoy working with things — as chefs, air traffic controllers, and carpenters, for example.
11 Investigative types like to explore ideas, analyze data, and use computers. They enjoy working with data — as computer programmers, engineers, medical technicians, and other science professionals.
12 Artistic personalities tend to be interested in such activities as reading, design, art, acting, singing, or taking photographs. They prefer jobs that allow them to be creative, such as graphic designers, musicians, and interior designers.
13 Social types like working with people. Occupations such as teacher, counselor, salesperson, and elder care worker are possible choices.
14 Enterprising people like working with people and data, as marketing professionals, entrepreneurs, or politicians.
15 Conventional types like working with data as accountants, administrative assistants, or paralegals.
16 Do all people fit neatly into one of these slots? No, but as you analyze your general tendencies, you may discover what kinds of jobs would make you happiest.
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