Applications of Career Management Model: A Guide to Career Exploration

Chapter 3

Self Exploration
Valuesabstract outcome that a
person wants to attain, rewards, payoffs, other aspects of a career, interests, personality factors, talents or abilities, lifestyle preferences, and any weakness or short comings. o Learn values by analyzing life history, identifying the kinds of career decisions made, and examining the reasons behind these decisions

Self Exploration
Primary Life Values:
Theoreticaldiscovering knowledge Economic Aestheticcreating beauty in the world Religious Socialhelping others Politicalgaining power

A person with strong material and political values is unlikely to be happy in an occupation that pays poorly and provides little opportunity to exercise leadership qualities

Self Exploration
Interestslikes and dislikes attached to specific activities or objects which is derived from values, family life, social class, culture and physical environment. People who choose career fields compatible with their interests tend to be more satisfied than those whose incompatible

Self Exploration
Orientations by John Holland:
Realisticto be more practical and task oriented Investigativemore scientific, scholarly and research oriented Socialmore humanistic, personal, value oriented and show skill in interpersonal relations Conventionalstructure, tradition and detail Enterprisingpreference for entrepreneurial, managerial and goal centered activities artisticunstructured situations in which creativity and self-expressions are possible

Self Exploration
Personality influence career choices. Talent component referred to aptitudes or capacities and currently developed skills and proficiencies which can be appreciated by reviewing accomplishments in school, work and other parts of life.

Edgar Scheins Career Anchors

Cluster of self perceived talents, motives and values, that forms nucleolus of a persons occupational self-concept. Career Competence Anchors:
Technical/Functional: remain within their area Managerial: integration of efforts of others, accountability for total results, tying together of different functions.

Edgar Scheins Career Anchors

Career Competence Anchors:
Autonomy/Independence: decide when to work, on what to work and how hard to work Security/Stability: prefer stable and predictable work Service/Dedication: some valued outcome, improving the life of others Pure Challenge: solving unsolvable problems, seek novelty, variety and challenge

Edgar Scheins Career Anchors

Career Competence Anchors:
Lifestyle Integration: harmonious integration of family and career activities Entrepreneurship: want freedom to build and operate their own organization in their own way An accurate picture of work and non work aspirations produce an awareness of a desired life-style

Techniques for Effective Self-Exploration

Individual assessment instruments
Strong interest Inventory (SII) Vocational Preference Inventory (VPI) Self Directed Search (SDS) These instruments attempt to measure pattern of interest and link to specific occupation that are satisfying to individuals with same interest pattern

Techniques for Effective Self-Exploration

Individual assessment instruments
General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB) Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Sixteen Personality Questionnaire (16 PF) Fundamental Interpersonal Relations Orientation-Behaviour (FIRO-B) Lifestyles Inventory Rokeach Value Syrvey

Organization-Sponsored Self-Exploration Programs

It benefits both for individual employee and for the company Techniques:
Career planning Workshops: participants formulate, share and discuss with each other personal factors as strengths, weaknesses, values and other personal information

Organization-Sponsored Self-Exploration Programs

Techniques:
Career Workbooks: individual, selfdirected fashion rather than on a participative interactive basis. Assessment Centers: assess employee career potential. Gain feedback on personality styles, profeiciencies and weaknesses

Environmental Exploration
Occupations:
Task activities Ability/training requirements Financial rewards Security Social relationships Physical setting Life-style considerations
Time commitment to work Work stress

Environmental Exploration
Jobs:
Task variety Task significance Ability/training requirements Financial reward Security Social relationships Physical setting Lifestyle considerations Time commitment to work Work stress

Environmental Exploration
Organizations:
Industry outlook Financial health of organization Business strategies Career path flexibility Career management practices/policies Size and structure Reward system

Environmental Exploration
Families:
Spouses career aspirations Spouses emotional needs Childrens emotional needs Other family members need Familys financial need Familys desired life-style Self and spouse career stage

Important Features in Environmental Exploration

Industry Outlook Financial health, social, intrinsic rewards Business strategy Size w.r.t. mobility opportunities Org support through training, appraisal, job posting & seminars Availability of flexible career paths Cultural outlook

Techniques for effective Work Exploration

Two Categories
Externalgathering information on specific occupations, jobs, organizations and industries Internalgathering of career related information within ones own firm; include job posting programs career ladders/career path planning, career resource centers, in-house seminars and workshops

Techniques for effective Work Exploration

Key Sources of Information:
Industry profiles Annual report Family, Friend and former co-workers Reference materials about jobs and occupations Outplacement and career counseling firms Dictionary of occupational titles Internet

Obstacles to Career Management

Incomplete exploration
Accept status quo Dont Understand consequences Little importance to work role Low self-esteem need Premature halt to gain sense of security

Coerced exploration
Pressure from a superior, relative or friend Personal commitment

Obstacles to Career Management

Random and Diffused exploration
Unfocused and does not build on results of prior activities

Ineffective Forms of exploration

Speak to family member, attend a career day seminar, seek part time employment, contact professional organization or peruse activities in combination

Obstacles to Career Management

Defensive Self-exploration
Need to obtain information from an activity and process it accurately and constructively

Exclusion of Non-work Consideration

Time and emotion spent at work can affect quality of ones family or personal life.

Obstacles to Career Management

Occupations are chosen, jobs are sought and promotions are mostly accepted without consideration of consequences. Work, family, community, leisure and religion all need to be examined and incorporated into career planning programs

Assignment
Prepare a list of what you see as your interests, values, talents and weaknesses Ask a friend or a family member to review your list and give you feedback and point out any difference they see.