CAREER DECISION MAKING

The following are the key areas to examine in making sound career decisions, according to noted career author Beverly Kaye. They are organized under three basic questions:

What do you do best?

• Your skill and knowledge. Acquired through education and experience of all kinds, skills and knowledge are your principal assets in the job market.
• Your personal characteristics. These elements of personality are in born or developed early in life. They include abilities, talents, or a predisposition in a certain direction.

What do you like to do?

• Your interests. Your professional objective should be something you are interested in as well as something you are good at. After all, life is more pleasant when you do things you truly enjoy. You are also more likely to succeed when the work interest you.
• Your values. These are your core beliefs about what is most important and least important in your life. They usually evolve slowly and may have changed since your last major career decision.

What are your priorities?

• Your personal preferences. Your professional objective should be consistent with your career vision and lifestyle needs.
• Your motivation. These are the drives or needs which propel you along in your chosen career direction. With high motivation you move quickly; with low motivation more deliberately. Some career choices require high motivation.