| This section contains the most important issues for you to consider as you explore different careers. These issues are likely to determine how happy and successful you are in your career. Interests You have a notable interest in two core elements of business work:
However, an interest in Application of Technology is not identical to an interest in engineering as such. While most professional engineers have an interest in Application of Technology, many people who have never studied engineering do have this interest. In the workplace, you would likely enjoy activities such as:
You are also strongly interested in Counseling and Mentoring, one of the elemental activities in business work. You enjoy developing relationships -- and people -- and view this activity as an integral part of business work. A strong interest in Counseling and Mentoring is expressed by helping people reach their fullest potential. The emphasis is more on relationships than achieving concrete goals, and on relationships with individuals rather than with groups. That said, a strong interest in Counseling and Mentoring does not imply that you want to be a psychotherapist or a counselor as such. This interest is clearly to be expressed in a work setting. With this core interest, you're likely to be highly attuned to your company's mission and culture. You may also gravitate toward organizations that:
Of course, having strong interests in Application of Technology and Counseling and Mentoring doesn't necessarily mean you have the skills you need to succeed in a career in which those activities are a predominant part of the work. But people often develop abilities where their interests lie. So don't let a lack of training or prior experience with technology or as a coach, counselor, or mentor keep you from gaining the knowledge or strengthening the skills you'll need to express these interests. Preference for Structure Some people function better, and prefer, working in organizations that are more structured, while others enjoy a looser, less predictable work environment. Preferring structure doesn't mean wanting work that is repetitive or unchallenging, and it doesn't imply that a person doesn't enjoy autonomy in his or her work. "Structure" doesn't mean micromanagement; it means knowing what the structure is, and being able to depend on its being more or less the same tomorrow. Your score on this scale indicates that you are more or less in the middle on this dimension. This means that you'll probably feel comfortable in organizations that are fairly highly structured, pretty unstructured, and anywhere in between. It doesn't mean that you will thrive in an organization that falls at the extreme high or low end. But with those exceptions, you have a high degree of flexibility in choosing a position. |
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| Organizational Culture You would fit best in a work culture that values an even, reserved, professional demeanor and that values, as well, workers who are more independent. In such companies, departments, and teams, a lot of the work is done independently, behind closed doors -- or at least with some privacy and allowance for focus and concentration. Boisterousness and the deliberate display of aggressive behavior are not usually the norm in this kind of culture, but that doesn't mean that people who thrive in it aren't competitive. They may be highly competitive, but refrain from showing it in an overt manner. People who thrive in such organizations generally view social and business "networking" as an unavoidable task, rather than as a fundamental -- and fun -- part of work. Your tendency in this regard is very strong, so pay close attention to this aspect of any organization you consider working for. For tips on how to examine an organizational culture in this regard, click here. You would feel most comfortable in an organization whose operations are characterized by savvy, time-tested pragmatism. In such companies, departments, and teams, people believe that minimizing risk is more important than trying something new that might backfire or result in only a marginal gain. (Companies and brands that dominate their markets often fit this description.) In these cultures, playing a conservative game, getting things done well -- and demonstrating competency in fundamental skill areas -- are the keys to career success. Stability and consistency also carry much weight. "Steady as she goes" could be the unspoken motto among people who thrive in such work environments. You have a very strong tendency in this direction, so pay close attention to this aspect of any organization you consider working for. For tips on how to examine an organizational culture in this regard, click here. Abilities You have a number of strengths, including:
Motivators (i.e. Work Reward Values) You place a very high value on these rewards:
You're also motivated by:
After assessing your business-relevant interests, motivators, and abilities, CareerLeader® compared your unique pattern of all three factors to algorithms representing the "perfect match" for each of more than 30 different business careers. Below you'll see those career paths that are at the top of the list of careers that could make good matches for you. These are careers whose demands match your abilities, that offer rewards you value, and -- most important -- where you'll find the work interesting and engaging.All of these careers match your interests and abilities and will give you the rewards you want -- so choosing one or two may be difficult. Learning More As you consider the career matches below, some may seem obvious to you, while others may strike you as surprising. Likewise, you may feel that a career that doesn't appear on the list should be included, because you've often thought about it in the past. We encourage you to learn more about careers that fit into any of these groupings. Use links below to find out more about the careers listed. As you learn more, you may find that a career you hadn't considered earlier is more appealing than you expected. Likewise, a career you thought would be wonderful may not hold as much appeal on closer examination. Career "Beacons" It's best to think of the careers listed below as beacons. They signal a good direction in which to "sail" your career -- rather than as the destination you should reach tomorrow. It takes most of us many years to reach our ultimate career destination -- regardless of where we're starting out. But knowing that this is your ultimate destination, you can chart a course that will land you there (or someplace close by) in five or ten years. Remember: a career is a path, not a point!
You didn't have many high matches with careers. This may be because you responded with a high number of "0's" and "1's" (and fewer "2's" and "3's") to questions on the Business Career Interest Inventory. In other words, you said that you didn't find many of the careers and activities very appealing. You might want to do that assessment again, this time moving some of your "2's" up to 3, a few "1's" to 2, and some "0's" to 1. Don't go overboard if you do this, and certainly, don't answer any questions in a way that doesn't reflect how you really feel: if you'd hate it, give it a 0! But if you could go either way, tilt toward the more positive response. |
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