CAREER COUNSELLING

Life is a dynamic process. We change from one stage to another. At a specific point in time, we have to
make decision, choices that will best fit us. But sometimes we get it wrong. We encounter ourselves in
situations and places that we have never dreamt of being. This is all about life. It is a mystery.

But let me ask you one questions:

What are you doing at present?

Do you like what you do each day?

How to Choose a Career

In making a career decision you have to take into consideration three basic principles of good decision
making:

1. Know yourself–your strengths, values, personality, and skills. This will help you decide which choice
best fits you.

Summary of Holland's theory:

In our culture, most people are one of six personality types: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social,
Enterprising, and Conventional. Some refer to these as Holland Codes or RIASEC. There are six basic
types of work environments: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, Conventional. "Work"
includes doing things to achieve a purpose, like paid and unpaid jobs, volunteering, sports, or hobbies.

People search for environments where they can use their skills and abilities and express their values and
attitudes. For example, Investigative types search for Investigative environments; Artistic types look for
Artistic environments, and so forth.

People who choose to work in an environment similar to their personality type are more likely to be
successful and satisfied.

For example, Artistic people are more likely to be successful and satisfied if they choose a job that has
an Artistic environment, like choosing to be a dance teacher in a dancing school -- an environment
"dominated" by Artistic type people where creative abilities and expression are highly valued.

How you act and feel at work depends to a large extent on your workplace (or school) environment. If
you are working with people who have a personality type like yours, you will be able to do many of the
things they can do, and you will feel most comfortable with them. In summary, you are most likely to
choose a satisfying work if you choose to do something that fits your personality type.
Holland's Hexagon

John Holland created a hexagonal model that shows the relationship between the personality types and
environments.

Notice that the personality types closest to each other are more alike than those farther away. You can
see this most clearly when you compare the personalities opposite each other, on the hexagon.

When who you are matches the choice you make, you're more likely to be successful. We show you how
to do that.

The Realistic Personality Type

Likes to work with animals, tools, or machines; generally avoids social activities like teaching, counseling,
nursing, and informing others; has good skills in working with tools, mechanical drawings, machines or
animals, values practical things you can see and touch -- like plants and animals you can grow, or things
you can build or make better; and sees self as practical, mechanical, and realistic.

Realistic Type Work Environment

Persons having a Realistic personality type "dominate" this environment. There are more of them than
there are people of other personality types. For example, at a construction site there will be more
persons having a "Realistic" personality than there will be people who have a Social or Artistic type.
"Realistic" people create a "Realistic" environment. For example, they particularly value people who are
practical and mechanical -- who are good at working with tools, mechanical or electrical drawings,
machines, or animals.

Examples of occupations that have a Realistic environment are:

Carpenter Forester

Diesel Mechanic Locksmith

Electrician Locomotive Engineer

Farmer Pilot

Fire Fighter Police Officer

Flight Engineer Truck Driver

Investigative Personality Type

Likes to study and solve math or science problems; generally avoids leading, selling, or persuading
people; Has good skills at understanding and solving science and math problems; values science, and
sees self as precise, scientific, and intellectual.
Investigative Type Work Environment

Persons having an Investigative personality type "dominate" this environment. There are more of them
than there are people of other personality types. For example, in a scientific laboratory there will be
more persons having an "Investigative" personality than there will be people who have an Enterprising
type. "Investigative" people create a "Investigative" environment. For example, they particularly value
people who are precise, scientific, and intellectual -- who are good at understanding and solving science
and math problems.

Examples of occupations that have an Investigative environment are:

Biologist Electrical Engineer Pharmacist

Chemist Mathematician Physician

Computer Programmer Medical Technician Surveyor

Dentist Meteorologist Veterinaria

The Social Personality Type

Likes to do things to help people - like teaching, counseling, nursing, or giving information; generally
avoids using machines, tools, or animals to achieve a goal; has good skills at teaching, counseling,
nursing, or giving information; values helping people and solving social problems; and sees self as
helpful, friendly, and trustworthy.

Social Type Work Environment

Persons having a Social personality type "dominate" this environment. There are more of them than
there are people of other personality types. For example, in a hospital, school, or counseling service
there will be more persons having a "Social" personality than there will be people who have a Realistic
type. "Social" people create an "Social" environment. For example, they particularly value people who
are helpful, friendly, and trustworthy -- who are good at good at teaching, counseling, nursing, giving
information, and solving social problems.

Examples of occupations that have a Social environment are:

Athletic Trainer Librarian Physical Therapist

Counselor Nurse Social Worker

Dental Hygienist Parole Officer Teacher

Likes to do creative activities like art, drama, crafts, dance, music, or creative writing; generally avoids
highly ordered or repetitive activities; has good artistic abilities - in creative writing, drama, crafts, music,
or art, values the creative arts - like drama, music, art, or the works of creative writers; and sees self as
expressive, original, and independent.

Artistic Type Work Environment

Persons having an Artistic personality type "dominate" this environment. There are more of them than
there are people of other personality types. For example, among a group of professional musicians there
will be more persons of an "Artistic" personality than there will be people who have a Conventional
type. "Artistic" people create an "Artistic" environment. For example, they particularly value people who
are expressive, original, and independent -- who have good artistic abilities in creative writing, drama,
crafts, music, or art.

Examples of occupations that have an Artistic environment are:

Actor Comedian Graphic Designer

Art Teacher Composer Musici

Book Editor Dancer

Clothes Designer Disk Jockey

Enterprising Personality type

According to Holland's Theory of Career Choice, a strong enterprising personality type:

Likes to lead and persuade people, and to sell things and ideas; generally avoids activities that require
careful observation and scientific, analytical thinking; is good at leading people and selling things or
ideas; values success in politics, leadership, or business; and sees self as energetic, ambitious, and
sociable.

Enterprising Type Work Environment

Persons having an enterprising personality type "dominate" this environment. There are more of them
than there are people of other personality types. For example, in a business or legal setting there will be
more persons having an "Enterprising" personality than there will be people who have a Investigative
type. "Enterprising" people create an "Enterprising" environment. For example, they particularly value
people who are energetic, ambitious, and sociable -- who are good at politics, leading people and selling
things or ideas.

Examples of occupations that have a Enterprising environment are:

Auctioneer Bank President Camp Director

Customs Inspector Recreation Leader School Principal

Hotel Manager Real Estate Agent Travel Agent

Judge Sales Manager TV Newscaster

The Conventional Personality Type

Likes to work with numbers, records, or machines in a set, orderly way; generally avoids ambiguous,
unstructured activities, is good at working with written records and numbers in a systematic, orderly
way; values success in business; and sees self as orderly, and good at following a set plan.

Conventional Type Work Environment

Persons having a Conventional personality type "dominate" this environment. There are more of them
than there are people of other personality types. For example, in an office of a bank or real estate
company there will be more persons having a "Conventional" personality than there will be people who
have a Artistic type. "Conventional" people create a "Conventional" environment. For example, they
particularly value people who are orderly, and good at following a set plan -- good at working with
written records and numbers in a systematic, orderly way.

Examples of occupations that have a Conventional environment are:

Bank Teller Secretary

Bookkeeper Timekeeper

Court Clerk Title Examiner

Mail Carrier Typist

Post Office Clerk

2. Know your options and learn about each one