This is a pretty fun career "test" that uses an graphical-style interface, and allows you to slide the scale around, get the right fit, and filter results for salary, education required, etc.
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Marty Nemko is a very successful career counselor, among many other things. He wrote an interesting short piece for Time.com called "Why Following Your Passion Is the Worst Kind of Career Advice". He makes the very interesting -- but somewhat controversial -- point that. . . well, don't follow your passion. Instead, look for work that provides you with these 10 things and, in the end, you'll be happier:
Nemko's point reminds me of Cal Newport's thesis in "So Good They Can't Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love". But Newport's argument is a bit different. He argues that passion eventually comes to you as a result of developing great skill. But developing that skill can take years to master and may not always feel like passion along the way. And Newport points out that it will certainly be easier to hone your craft if it's something you have a knack for doing. He recommends that you start with something you know -- not something with which you have no experience but imagine would make you feel passionate.
Both Nemko and Newport conclude that following passionate feelings is probably not the best way to build and launch a successful career or ultimately lead to happiness/satisfaction. Rather, starting with what you know and working toward an environment that provides satisfying relationships, a reasonable income, and enough flexibility to allow for growth is a better strategy. Their recommendations remind me of Deci and Ryan's self-determination theory. The idea is that well-being and motivation spring from having three things:
1) autonomy -- feeling in charge of your actions
2) competence -- feeling able to complete tasks correctly
3) relatedness -- feeling connected to others
Thus, pursuing opportunities that allow you to build competence in work environments that bring relatedness and provide opportunities to exercise autonomy . . . may be the way to go with your career!
- Work that isn’t too hard or too easy
- Work that feels worthy and ethical
- A boss that treats you well
- Coworkers who you enjoy
- Moderate opportunities for learning
- Reasonable work hours
- Reasonable pay
- Reasonable benefits
- Job security
- A reasonable commute
Nemko's point reminds me of Cal Newport's thesis in "So Good They Can't Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love". But Newport's argument is a bit different. He argues that passion eventually comes to you as a result of developing great skill. But developing that skill can take years to master and may not always feel like passion along the way. And Newport points out that it will certainly be easier to hone your craft if it's something you have a knack for doing. He recommends that you start with something you know -- not something with which you have no experience but imagine would make you feel passionate.
Both Nemko and Newport conclude that following passionate feelings is probably not the best way to build and launch a successful career or ultimately lead to happiness/satisfaction. Rather, starting with what you know and working toward an environment that provides satisfying relationships, a reasonable income, and enough flexibility to allow for growth is a better strategy. Their recommendations remind me of Deci and Ryan's self-determination theory. The idea is that well-being and motivation spring from having three things:
1) autonomy -- feeling in charge of your actions
2) competence -- feeling able to complete tasks correctly
3) relatedness -- feeling connected to others
Thus, pursuing opportunities that allow you to build competence in work environments that bring relatedness and provide opportunities to exercise autonomy . . . may be the way to go with your career!
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