orgb 3,4

Chapter 4

Applications of the Career Management Model:

A Guide to Career Exploration

Key Points in this Chapter

 Career Exploration

 Interrelation of Self & Environmental Exploration

 Self-Exploration

 Techniques for Effective Self-Exploration

 Understanding One’s Preferred Work Environment

Career Exploration  Represents the collection of & analysis of

information regarding oneself & the environment  Promotes awareness of the self & the environment

& includes:  Self-Exploration

 What do you really want from a job or from life?  What do your past successes say about your talents?

 Environmental Exploration  What do people in your chosen occupation do on a day-

to-day basis?  What are some current job opportunities in your

chosen occupation?

3

Self & Environmental Exploration are Connected

 A particular exploratory activity may provide useful information about both the self & the environment

 Self & environmental exploration influence each other’s direction

 Environmental exploration without self-awareness is likely to be aimless

 Environmental exploration might highlight the need for more self-exploration

Self-Exploration

 Refers to seeking information about a variety of personal qualities & attitudes that are relevant to career decision-making

 Values: beliefs about the qualities of human life or the types of behavior that an individual wants to attain

 Interests: likes & dislikes attached to specific activities or objects

 Personality: relatively stable psychological characteristics that embody such elements as thoughts, emotions, interests, habits, & behaviors

 Abilities: the aptitudes, capabilities, or proficiencies that allow an individual to perform a wide range of tasks

Self-Exploration

 Also, includes nonwork needs  An accurate picture of work & nonwork aspirations

produces an awareness of a desired lifestyle  Consider the following questions:

 Which of my values, interests, & talents are best met in the world of work?

 Which of my values, interests, & talents are best met in outside of work?

Techniques for Effective Self- Exploration

 To enhance self-awareness, techniques require:  The collection of information about ourselves  The organization of that data into meaningful &

understandable themes (theme identification)  The interpretation of these themes in light of their

implications for career decision-making (environmental exploration)

 Some techniques include:  Collecting data through individual assessment instruments  Engaging in integrated vocational assessment methods

 Can be offered through classrooms, counselors’ offices, career placement offices, internet web sites, or HR departments in organizations

Understanding One’s Preferred Work Environment

 What types of tasks are most interesting to you?  What abilities do you wish to use in your work?  How much independence do you want in your work?  What type of working relationship with others do you prefer?  Do you prefer working alone or with others?  How do you feel about exerting power or influence over others?  What type of physical work setting is desirable (e.g., factory,

office, outdoors)?  What is the role of money & security in your life?  How important is work in your total life?  What types of occupations best fit your values, interests,

personality, abilities, & preferred lifestyles?

Summary  Self-exploration requires:

 Collecting information about values, interests, personality, abilities, & desired lifestyles

 Organizing this information into meaningful themes  Identifying the implications of these themes in terms of

work environments

 Environmental exploration can help us learn more about different occupations, organizations, & industries

 Self-exploration & environmental exploration go hand-in-hand with the ultimate goal of finding a work environment that “fits”