Personality Theory

5.2 Discussion. Your Ideal Job

Getting Started

If you haven’t noticed, many people dislike their jobs. To give some perspective, we can look to a recent survey conducted by the Gallup organization. It found that only 15 percent of workers feel engaged in their job, which translates into having a passion or deep connection with the actual work they do. The other 85 percent are either moderately unhappy and walking through their jobs in a zombie-like state (62 percent) or they down-right hate their jobs (23 percent). Of course, there are many reasons why people do not like their work.

One important reason people lack contentment in their work is that many don’t like the actual work they do. They slave away at an office job that is mind-numbing, or they spend countless hours trying to sell a product they don’t care about. Worse yet, many of these people don’t know what type of work most interests them. If we frame it in the context of this course, we might say they don’t understand the type of work that is best suited to their personality. Many people take jobs or start businesses because they need the money without giving adequate consideration to whether the work itself is satisfying. Of course, money is important. You have to meet your financial obligations. But giving some consideration to who you are and attempting to match the type of work you choose with your personality might be the difference between loving and hating your job.

In this discussion, you have the opportunity to review and update your Odyssey Plans that you began in PSY-520, and explore the type of work that may best suit your personality. It doesn’t mean there is just one perfect job out there for you. Instead, you are looking for broad pathways that point you in a general direction. In this discussion, you are going to elicit the help of a few people who know you well. You are going to ask them what type of work they can see you doing, based on your personality. Sometimes getting an objective point of view can enlighten us in ways that our own perception misses. After you get that feedback, you are going to choose one of the options and dig further into that possibility by sharing some of your thoughts in the discussion. You will also have the luxury of learning how others in the course are sorting through some of their career-related options. Who knows; this little exercise may be your start down a path that allows you to become one of the 15 percent who love their work.

Upon successful completion of this discussion, you will be able to:

· Assess feedback given by others regarding an ideal job to help facilitate movement toward that type of work.

Resources

· Textbook:  Personality Psychology: Understanding Yourself and Others

· Video & Transcript: The Happy Secret to Better Work

· Website: Academic Writer

· Website: OCLS Evaluating Sources Page

Background Information

Before you participate in this discussion, you will need to read Chapter 12 in your textbook and view the video, "The Happy Secret of Better Work." You will then need to ask at least three people who know you well to consider your personality and suggest a type of work they think would suit you well. Choose people who you believe will be honest and objective and not just tell you flattering things about yourself. To get the most benefit out of this experience, you should explain to each of these people that you want their suggestions to be based on your personality traits and not on earning potential or other financial perks like health benefits, bonuses, vacation time, etc.

Instructions

1. Review the rubric to make sure you understand the criteria for earning your grade.

2. Read Chapter 12 in your textbook.

3. Watch the video,  The Happy Secret to Better Work  (12:16 min)

a. Transcript of the video .

4. Navigate to the discussion topic and respond to the following:

a. List the three types of work that were suggested to you by those who know you well.

b. Of the three mentioned, which one seems most appealing to you? Explain in some detail why this one is most appealing to you. How does this type of work align with what you know about your personality and your Odyssey Plans from PSY-520?

c. What would you need to maintain or change in your current career path to enhance the likelihood of being able to do this type of work?

d. How would you go about making these changes in the near and distant future?

5. Your initial post should be between 400 and 500 words.

6. Your initial post is due by the end of the fourth day of the workshop.

7. Read and respond to at least two of your classmates' postings, as well as instructor follow-up questions directed to you, by the end of the workshop.

a. For information on how to cite sources and format a paper properly, review the  Academic Writer  website or the  OCLS APA Style Page .

b. For information on the criteria for credible Internet research websites, review the  OCLS Evaluating Sources page .

i. All references and citations should be in APA format.

8. Your postings should also:

a. Be well developed by providing clear answers with evidence of critical thinking.

b. Add greater depth to the discussion by introducing new ideas.