Before we dive into the career exploration process, it is important to differentiate between a job and a career. These two terms are often used interchangeably however, they have different meanings.
A job is something you would like to have, especially if you want to pay your bills. A job lets you enjoy a minimal level of financial security. A job requires you to show up and do what is required of you; in exchange, you get paid. A job can lead to a career.
A career involves an occupation or profession requiring special skills or training; a progression of jobs followed as one’s life pursuit. A career involves holding jobs, but it is more a means of achieving personal fulfillment. In a career, your jobs follow a sequence that leads to increasing mastery, professional development, and personal and financial satisfaction. A career requires planning, knowledge, and skills. If it is to be a fulfilling career, it requires that you utilize your full set of analytical, critical, and creative thinking skills to make informed decisions that will affect your life in both the short-term and the long-term.
A career allows you to express your self-concept. Self-Concept is how you see yourself, your own self-awareness of who you are. Donald Super, a psychologist who made great contributions to the field of career counseling, influenced the idea that developing a sense of self and realizing that you change over time is important when planning your career. Self-concept changes over time and develops as a result of experiences. Super’s five stages of developmental Self Concept will be discussed in class in greater detail. Refer to the class handout titled "Donald Super’s Theory of Developmental Self-concept."
Understanding Super’s theory helps provide a framework for your career planning journey. Identify where you are in terms of Super’s five life and career development stages and keep this in mind as we continue with self-exploration in unit 2 and answer the question “Who Am I?”
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Activity 1.3 – My Job Experience
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Think of your current and past work experience, and all the jobs you have held thus far. Consider both paid and unpaid experiences including part-time jobs, volunteer work, and internship experience. Include any leadership roles you may have held as a club officer or part of a sports team.
In your job(s), describe your role(s). What tasks and responsibilities were you accountable for? What skills did you practice in this job? What did you enjoy about this job? What did you not enjoy about this job?
In some cases, a job can help guide you towards your career. Understanding what you like and don’t like is a very important part of career and life planning. You may come to find you love one aspect of your job such as helping people and may wish to incorporate that into your future career. Or you may come to learn you did not particularly like trying to persuade clients to purchase a particular item and may learn sales is not your passion. Your past work experience can help you learn a lot about yourself and your future career desires.
Your response to these questions sets the stage for PHASE 1 of the Career Exploration Process and unraveling the question “WHO AM I?” Get ready to engage in self-exploration in the next unit!
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