INTRODUCTION
What is that I like doing? If I do not like it, I get out of it, because I will be lousy at it. Career choice is the selection of a type of occupation or profession. My career choice is important because it determines my success in the next stages of my life. More importantly though parental guidance, vocational counselling and training opportunities have once influenced my career choice yet my INTEREST, SKILL(S), VALUES AND THE WORK STYLEare the factors that influence my career choice now.
Denis Waitley said “Don’t ever let economy alone determine your career or how you spend the majority of your time.” This is because money is not an end itself, it is only a means to an end. Hence, I chose a career that gives me fulfilment in the realization of my potentials to its fullest. Then, in the long run of doing what I love excellently—money will surely come. This is why love Thomas Edison grit in inventing the electric bulb which he derived fulfilment from doing. Then, this invention later brought him money.
A survey of 3, 000 British parents revealed that for many of today’s pre-teens, traditional careers have been superseded by the desire for fame, stardom and celebrity. This is why I detest and desist from rushing into making career choice based on the achievement of others. If I choose any career in line with my style, interest, values and skills, and I do it passionately and excellently—which will bring me fame in my niche. This is why Confucius said, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” This makes me chose a career that I can engage in throughout my life and I will still feel like working for just a day due to the passion and the fulfillment I will derive from it.
A father is asked by his friend, “Has your son decided what he wants to be when grows up?” “Yes, he wants to be a garbage collector,” replied the boy’s father. His friend thought for a moment and responded, “that’s a rather strange ambition to have for a career.” “Well,” said the boy’s father, “he thinks that garbage collectors only work on Tuesdays!”
I really like telling the above story because it informs me that there is nothing like ONE perfect career for me, that my major will not totally determine my career, my grades alone will not determine my employability, it is not compulsory for me to pick the “best career” list and that it is not the highest salary that will make me the happiest person but choosing a career based on my INTEREST, SKILL/APTITUDE, PERSONALITY, VALUES.
John Krumboltz, a professor at Stanford and a “career theorist,” emphasizes that passive learning—such as observing parents, family friends, and other significant role models—has a powerful influence on career decisions. Therefore, one data project has shown that for some careers, children are more likely to end up in the same profession as their parents.This is why over half of the 3, 000 students that responded to a GTI Media survey said their parents influenced their choice of career/course, with 69% saying their parents influenced their career choice in the university. It resulted to 20% of students currently enrolled at the university saying they would have chosen a different course if given the chance. Hmm! I cannot imagine myself in this mess! However, if such happens I will surely change my career towards my interest, talents, skills and values for fulfilment in life.
As a panacea to preventing confusion and bad career choices, it is advisory to take career choice test earlier. I took this career choice test at the age of 19 and it helped me to identify my style, value, skill,and interest in line with my career path.
SKILLS
What are your personal strengths and weaknesses? I really have penchant for interacting with others, ability to train and counsel, listening, speaking, and working with others
INTEREST
I really like working in a classroom because I derive fulfilment in teaching my students to know what I know and apply them for their success also. Moreover, arts interest me because it discusses humanity and the ways we do things and behave—which are realistic and easy to relate to.
WORK STYLE
I love the style of work in school environment, particularly seeing students and being in the classroom.I also love taking teaching responsibilitiesand building. Teaching makes me reliable, responsible and dependable and this makes me to set good examples. My interaction with many students of different emotions makes me to keep my temperament in check and avoid aggressive behavior against my students.
Especially, it makes me to exhibit my leadership prowess at the corridor of teaching. Hence, I make deliberate decisions to influence my students positively through deliberate guidance and counselling.
Moreover, I chose teaching because it enables me to be sensitive to my students’ feeling and needs. This engenders the statement of Dr. John C Maxwell, who said, “People do not care how much you know until they know how much you care.” I believe in this statement that I also live by it to be a teacher, a leader and a caregiver. Particularly,teachers relate friendly without unhealthy rivalry among one another.
VALUES
I really like teaching career because it make me to decisions thatimpact my students POSITIVELY. It makes me someone who builds tomorrow’s leaders in different fields.
CONCLUSION
Katherine Whitehorn said, “The best careers advice to the young is, find out what you like doing best and get someone to pay you for doing it.” Therefore, my personal interest, style of work, skills and values influenced my choice of teaching which give me fulfilment and success in the long run.
