How People Choose Occupations

Self – Concept

• Dr. Donald Super states that a person chooses an occupation according to the type of person you think you are.

– Example:• Rugged, masculine and

tough = logger, heavy duty equipment operator

• Clever and a good talker = sales person

• Artistic and creative = fashion

• How you feel about yourself, your self-concept, is extremely important

• Newborn child – no initial concept• Child grows – self-concept develops based on life

experiences and social interaction• Awareness of self-concept – helps you become the

person you want to be• How you believe others feel about you is part of your

self-concept– Person tends to become the kind of person others expect– For example, if your teacher or supervisor says you have lots of

potential you may work harder to fulfill this expectation– Everyone thinks of you slightly different– For example, your employer may see you as responsible and

quick learning, but lack in organization abilities, where as a friend may see you as good listener and a fun person to be with

Poor self-concept

• often lower expectations and unconsciously fulfill these expectations– For example, if something bad happens to them, these people

tend to blame themselves even if the situation is not their fault. If something good happens to them, they may assume it was due to chance.

• People who think that they will not succeed may influence their success in a negative way – Self-fulfilling prophesy

• may also constantly criticize others – “build themselves up by tearing others down”

• consider themselves to be better than anyone else

Positive attitude

• Tell themselves they can accomplish their objectives• Tend to develop a good self-concept• Ideally – see yourself in a realistic and favourable

light• If you think well of yourself, you will be better able to

fulfill your expectations of success• When relating to others and yourself, remember that

everyone is unique and has value as a person in spite of slight imperfections

• We all have enormous potential and are capable of accepting others and of being accepted by them

Personality

• Dr. John Holland believes choosing an occupation is just a way of expressing your personality.

• People who go into an occupation tend to have similar personalities.

• In order to make a good occupation choice one must match it with their personality.

• According to Holland there are six personality types.

Thinker (Investigative) • Scientific orientation• Task-oriented, all wrapped up in their

work• Introspective and asocial• Think through rather than act out

problems• Strong need to understand the world • Enjoy ambiguous (theoretical) tasks• Prefer to work independently• Have unconventional attitudes• See themselves as lacking in

leadership skills• Analytical, curious, reserved,

independent• Confident of their intellectual abilities• Great dislike for repetitive activities• Buy telescopes, calculators, electronic

equipment

Organizer (Conventional) • Prefer well-ordered environments• Like systematic verbal and numerical

activities• Avoid ambiguous situations and

problems involving interpersonal relationships

• Conscientious, efficient, practical• Identify with power• Value material possessions and status• Orderly, persistent, calm• Adverse to free, unsystematic,

exploratory behaviour in new areas• Do not seek out leadership• Stable, well-controlled, dependable• Most effective at well-defined tasks• Save their money or buy conservative

things (furniture, houses)

Doer (Realistic)• Robust, rugged, practical, physically

strong• Uncomfortable in social settings• Good motor coordination• Weak verbal and interpersonal skills• See themselves as mechanically and

athletically inclined• Stable, natural, persistent• Prefer concrete to abstract problems• Have conventional political and

economic goals• Rarely perform creatively in the arts or

science• Like to build things with tools• Cool to radical new ideas• Like to work with big, powerful

machines• Buy boats, campers, snowmobiles,

motorcycles

Creator (Artistic)• Like art, music, drama, other creative

interests• Prefer free, unstructured situations• Impulsive, nonconforming,

independent• Adverse to rules• Deal with problems through self-

expression• Like to work in free environments• Like small, intimate groups• Willing to take risks to try something

new• Dress in freer styles than other people• Have need for individualistic

expression• Not assertive about own capabilities• Sensitive and emotional• Spend money on art objects, books,

paintings

Helper (Social)• Sociable, responsible, humanistic,

religious• Like to work in groups• Have verbal and interpersonal

skills• Avoid both intellectual problem

solving and physical exertion• Enjoy curling, training, or

enlightening others• Understanding, helpful, idealistic• Dislike working with machines or

in highly structured situations• Like to discuss philosophic

questions• Concerned with welfare others• Cooperative, friendly, generous• Attend lots of workshops, other

groups

Persuader (Enterprising) • Good verbal skills, persuasive• Strong leaders• Avoid work involving long periods or

intellectual effort• Strong drive to attain organization

goals• Concerned with power, status, and

leadership• Aggressive, popular, self-confident,

sociable• High energy level• Adventuresome, ambitious• Enjoy making things happen• Value money and material

possessions• Dislike science and systematic

thinking• Buy big cars, nice clothes, country

club membership

Process• Ginzberg, Ginsburg, Axelrad & Herma argue that vocational choice is

a slow, complicated proves that occurs in clearly marked periods. • Four variables identified in making vocational choices

– Environmental Factors – responding to pressure of your environment

– Educational Factors – the amount and kind of education you receive

– Emotional Factors - how a person responds to his or her environment

– Individual Values – what an individual perceives as important to them

• Occupational choice takes place over a period of approximately 11 to 13 years from age 11 to 22 or 24 years.

• During this time frame a young person makes a series of decisions which gradually reduce the number of choices that are left.

• A person goes through 3 major periods as well as a number of minor stages in this process of vocational choice.

Fantasy period – 8 to 10 years

• The child thinks they can be anything they want to be

• A time of make believe

• Children “play at working”

Tentative Period – 11 to 18 years

Interest Stage – 11 to 12 years• Child begins to recognize the

need to identify a career direction

• Child identifies activities that they like or dislike

Capacity Stage – 12 to 14 years• Introduction of the notion of

“Abilities” into career choice• Starting to evaluate their ability

to perform in areas of interest

Value Stage – 14 to 16 years

• Introduction of the notion of “service” to society

• Awareness that work offers more than just the potential of satisfying their own needs

• Begin to develop a broader time perspective than had before

• Begin thinking of a career in terms of day-in, day-out activities for years

• Becoming sensitive to the imminence of vocational commitment

Transition Stage – 16 to 18

• Individuals begin to face the necessity to make immediate concrete and realistic decisions about vocational future

• Individuals assume responsibility for these decisions

• The amount and kind of preparation for career is studied

• The recognition of varying financial awards is keen

Realistic Period – 18 to 22/24 years

• Exploration Stage• Starts at post secondary education• Marked by narrower goals, compared

to broader goals earlier• General indecisiveness continues

because interests are still changing• Selects a path to follow from 2 or 3

strong interest areas• Crystallization Stage• Have become involved in specific

major field• Have a clear idea of what occupational

tracks they wish to avoid• A commitment to a career choice has

become strong• Specification Stage• Final point in career development

Chance

• “It just happened!”

Self – Assessment• Self-assessment is a process of determining who you are and how

you change over time. • As you progress through your school and work experience, you will

continue to develop and to learn new things about yourself. – For example, a person who becomes successful in several

sports may develop confidence in his or her physical abilities and build a strong competitive nature.

– A person who is forced into temporary unemployment may better understand the importance of work in his or her life.

• Awareness of who you are physically, mentally, and emotionally and how you are changing will help you to make decisions about your future lifestyle and career.

• You need to examine your characteristics, motivations, values, skills and interests so you can better form career goals that suit you.