Choosing a Career Direction

No matter what decision you are making, the best decisions are made when you are well informed of the options available and secondly, when the decision feels right. This is also true for career decisions.

It’s easy enough to become informed about the options available by doing a little exploring, but it is often more difficult to act on what feels right. This is because most people are not confident about acting on their feelings.

Think about any two people making a choice about their career. Both may be in similar situations and their career research may reveal that both have equal opportunities available to them. Reason would suggest that both should make the same decision. But, they are different people - they feel differently about the world. The decisions they make must take their personal characteristics into consideration if they are to get to a place where the decision feels right.

Knowing how you feel and what you care about matters a lot when it comes to career decisions. This is why the first step in choosing a career direction is having a good understanding of who you are.

Visit the Choosing a Career section on careersportal.ie for lots of useful information on Knowing Yourself, Doing the Research and Exploring Your Options.

 

What are your Career Interests?

The idea of career interests has been made famous by the work of John Holland, an American psychologist who has been researching this area for over 30 years. His theory is based on the following main ideas:

Bullet People can be generally described using six categories of interests and attitudes that capture the spirit of the individuals they profile.
Bullet People are best described using combinations of these categories. Most people can be best described using two or three categories.
Bullet The categories that represent an individuals interests are the result of many influences, including family, upbringing, cultural environment, educational opportunities, school and work experience and so on.
Bullet Occupations can also be described using the same six categories.
Bullet Work environments also have distinct characteristics, and can equally be classified using the same six categories
Bullet People who work in occupations and environments that have related characteristics are more likely to feel comfortable and motivated with their work and develop satisfying careers

 

Click on the category titles to get further information.

Name Code Summary

Realist 
R 
 Realistic occupations involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outdoors. 
Administrative 
A 
 Administrative occupations involve working with data and details more than with ideas and people. These people like clear routines and instructions, and enjoy checking facts and figures. 
Enterprising 
E 
 Enterprising occupations involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business. 
Investigative 
I 
 Investigative occupations involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally. 
Social 
S 
 Social occupations involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others. 
Creative 
C 
 Creative occupations involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules. 
Linguistic 
L 
 Linguistic types enjoy work involving the creation and exchange of information through writing, electronic media or the spoken word. These people prefer unstructured environments where there is time to use their imagination to compose their thoughts. 
Naturalist 
N 
 Naturalists' like work that involves 'doing' something to 'organic things', i.e. plants, animals and their produce (e.g. food). Like Realists, Naturalists enjoy a hands-on approach, and like to see tangible results. 

 

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