How To Find Your Dream Career:
Myths & Realities
Most people make assumptions about careers. Often these assumptions are based
on impressions they get from relatives and friends, from television shows and
from workers and jobs that they see in their daily lives.
Impressions are a good place to start when looking for a career because they
help people to identify possibilities. But at the same time, impressions can
be misleading. They show only a small portion of reality, or worse: no reality
at all.
That's when career impressions become career myths.
People make all kinds of false assumptions because they have limited information.
For example many people think that there are no opportunities in the manufacturing
trades, that all high-paying jobs require a college degree, and that most teachers
earn below-average salaries. Non of these myths is true. And believing myths
like these limits career choices unnecessarily.
Some career myths are less about occupations that about the working in general.
Myths like these can derail a career search and sap motivation.
Here are five common myths and realities, about careers.
Myth #1: There Is One Perfect Job For Me
Reality: There are many occupations and many jobs that you could enjoy. Focusing
on finding a single, perfect career is not only intimidating, it's limiting.
Myth #2: I will use all my talents and abilities in this job.
Reality: No one job uses all of your talents. And trying to find one that does
will derail your career search.
Myth #3: No one will hire me because I lack experience, have low grades,
hace gaps in my work history etc.
Reality: People overcome all kinds of challenges to find satisfying work. Experts
say that how you handle adversity is a good indicator of your ability to persevere.
Myth #4: My job has to match my college major or vocational training.
Reality: You need not to restrict your job search to careers related to your
degree or training. Most jobs do not specify which college major is needed,
even if they require that workers have a college degree.
Myth #5: It's too late to change my career.
Reality: It's never too late to change careers. Workers who change careers come
from many backgrounds, age groups, and situations.
Career & Personality Tests
There are a lot career and personality tests online that can help you find
fullfiling work, and create a profile for you. The tests should be designed
using psychometric knowledge and should be approved by qualified scientists.
Career tests help you identify potential careers, based on your answers to
specific questions. Some measure how closely your answers match to those of
workers who are already in an occupation. Others match occupations to your personality
type, skills or interests.
A good test should provide you with a personalized career strategy. These days
things are changing so quickly, that unless your strategy is pesonalized and
takes this highly dynamic environment into account, then you are vulnerable
to the changes sweeping the job market.
Informational Interviewing
Talking to people about their work is one of the best ways to get accurate information
about what a career is like. After all, who would know better about what it
takes to a job well or what's a job's benefits and drawbacks are that someone
who's already working in it?The goal is to get the facts about an occupation.
Just remember that one person's experience is not universal. Whether a worker
talks glowingly or disparagingly about his or her job, another worker in the
same job almost surely disagrees. You will need to speak to more than one person
and verify the perspectives.
Getting Experience
They say that the best way to get a feel for what a career would be like is
to get work experience with it. Of course, it takes a while to get solid, relevant
experience, but internships, volunteer work and entry level jobs provide a start.
Employers value the skills learned through experience.
Remember that your own experiences are the least likely to fool you. Base your
career perceptions on these. Even if you don't start in the job you want, view
these opportunities as a chance to get an inside track on the career you covet.
Listen. Learn. All experience can work in your favor.
Here's what you should know when trying to find your Dream Career:
1. What are Your top 3 "Fields of Work"
2. Which is the Career Personality Type you fit into and what types of work
you are best suited to.
3. What are your dominant career abilities and career intelligences
4. What are your 6 key skills.
Always bear in mind that discovering your true vocation is a journey
of self-discovery.
Discovering your true vocation is a journey of self-discovery. Here's a completely free career test that will get you started. Don't fall for career myths. Be realistic and go for reality.
By Mary Markella
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