Careers are different than just a job. It’s a job type that you do for a very long time. This can be something you do as an employee for a contract company or direct hire for a company. It can also be something you do as a self employed person. Since it is a thing you are going to do for a very long time instead of just “something to get income for now”, you are going to want to plan for it to some degree. Figuring out what you want to do for a career can be difficult if you don’t know a method to the madness.
Some initial thoughts to consider are that you will want to work to live, not live to work. This means that your work should serve your living needs and wants. The work is to earn an income. That income or money is not the end goal. The money is an instrumental goal to achieve so that you can fulfill terminal goals which would be your needs first and your wants second.
Do not expect that the top pay in the field is what you will be earning because it is not what everyone can earn. Even if everyone was perfect at the job, there is only so many needs for the top positions in a career field. All career fields will need workers at every level to fulfill the goals they have for the products and services they are driving to deliver. Expect to be paid what rank in that field a person can typically reach most probably if they work as with as much time and effort you believe you can put in without sacrificing your personal needs and wants in the “live” part of the “work to live” equation. This means that you should not get into a career that will not allow you to have the time to spend with your spouse and children if you are interested to have a spouse and children at any point in life. A career is a long term thing and it should be planned around your life. Your life should not be planned around your work. If you plan your life around your work then you are living the “live to work” equation where work is the goal of your life. Please look into how much time a spouse takes to be happily married. Please look into how much time children take to have a good relationship with them and so that you do not neglect their needs. Children are not things you get to take care of when you want. They have needs that must be met if they are to not be harmed.
All career fields are based on either needs or wants. If you go into a career that is based on needs you will have a much more stable demand career. If you go into a career that is based on wants, then in times of economic downturn your livelyhood will suffer because people won’t spend as much money on those things. People have to take care of their needs before their wants in order to survive.
All career fields have a certain amount of people needed in them to serve the market demands of the society you live in. Some fields are going to have a low quantity demand compared to the population of people that are wanting to do that career. Any career where you can be famous is going to be one that people want to be in but not as many people get to be in. This would be things like professional sports, music, acting. There are some less popular careers but that have the same kind of supply and demand problem when it comes to people to do that work. It’s important to know what kind of demand there will be for the work you want to do. If you are passionate about playing sports, doing music, or acting but you don’t have a probable way into that market and staying in that market, it’s good to know that you can do those activities without them being in a career. A career is how you survive and thrive economically. You have to like it to some degree or you are going to be awful at it and keep getting fired. It’s a balance. More will be talked about this.
Discover Your Ikigai: Finding Purpose and Fulfillment in Your Career
In our quest for a fulfilling and rewarding career, we often seek alignment between our passions, skills, societal needs, and financial sustainability. The Japanese concept of “Ikigai” offers a holistic framework for this pursuit, guiding us to find our unique intersection of purpose and fulfillment.
At the heart of Ikigai lies the idea that true fulfillment comes from discovering:
- What you love: Identify your passions and interests, the activities that bring you joy and fulfillment.
- What you are good at: Recognize your strengths, skills, and talents, the areas where you excel and thrive.
- What the world needs: Consider the needs and challenges of society, the opportunities to make a meaningful impact and contribute to a better world.
- What you can be paid for: Explore the market demand and opportunities for monetizing your skills and contributions, ensuring financial sustainability.
By exploring these four dimensions and understanding how they intersect, we can unlock our true calling and embark on a path that brings us joy, meaning, and satisfaction.
- Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life 2017
- Amazon: Book: 4.5 of 5 stars with 58,033 ratings as of May 18, 2024
Unlock Your Potential with CliftonStrengths: Discovering Your Unique Talents
In our journey towards personal and professional growth, understanding our strengths and leveraging them effectively can be transformative. The CliftonStrengths assessment, developed by Gallup, offers a powerful tool for identifying and maximizing our innate talents.
Rooted in decades of research and backed by the expertise of renowned psychologist Dr. Donald O. Clifton, the CliftonStrengths assessment is designed to uncover your top talents and provide insights into how you can apply them to thrive in various aspects of your life.
By completing the CliftonStrengths assessment, you’ll gain access to a personalized report highlighting your top strengths out of 34 unique themes. These themes represent recurring patterns of thought, feeling, and behavior that drive your natural talents and potential for excellence.
Join millions of individuals and organizations worldwide who have embraced the CliftonStrengths framework to:
- Gain clarity on your unique strengths and talents
- Cultivate a strengths-based mindset for personal and professional development
- Enhance your self-awareness and understanding of others
- Improve team dynamics and collaboration by leveraging diverse strengths
Embark on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment with CliftonStrengths, and unlock your full potential to thrive in all aspects of your life.
- StrengthsFinder 2.0 from Gallup – Discover Your CliftonStrengths 2007
- Amazon: Book: 4.1 of 5 stars with 8,291 ratings as of May 18, 2024
- CliftonStrengths For Students – Your strengths journey begins here 2017
- Amazon: Book: 4.4 of 5 stars with 1,400 ratings as of May 18, 2024
Navigate Your Career Journey with “What Color is Your Parachute?”
In the ever-evolving landscape of career development and job search, having a reliable guide can make all the difference. “What Color is Your Parachute?” by Richard N. Bolles has long been regarded as the go-to resource for individuals seeking clarity, direction, and success in their careers.
Since its first publication in 1970, this seminal book has empowered millions of readers worldwide to navigate the complexities of the job market, discover their passions, and land fulfilling employment opportunities. Bolles’ holistic approach goes beyond mere job hunting, emphasizing self-discovery, introspection, and proactive career management.
“What Color is Your Parachute?” offers practical exercises, insightful advice, and actionable strategies to help you:
- Identify your unique skills, interests, and values
- Clarify your career goals and aspirations
- Conduct effective job searches and interviews
- Navigate career transitions and changes
- Cultivate resilience and adaptability in today’s dynamic job market
Whether you’re a recent graduate, a mid-career professional, or someone contemplating a career change, this timeless classic provides invaluable guidance and inspiration to help you thrive in your career.
Join the millions of individuals who have found direction and fulfillment through “What Color is Your Parachute?” and embark on a journey towards meaningful work and professional success.
- What Color Is Your Parachute? – Your guide to a lifetime of meaningful work and career success 2022
- Amazon: Book: 4.6 of 5 stars with 384 ratings as of May 18, 2024 (multiple revisions over the years)
NOTES:
- Corporate Office Guide
- Job Fair Online – You need exposure to jobs that are possible to have for you to know what you may want to go into. It’s like trying to know what foods you like without having exposure to foods that you could like. This will be a series of jobs and videos that are about those jobs and what they are like and what skills are needed. Also need to be listed with demand/supply, difficulty level, entry bar, etc.