Guide to Career

Archive for February, 2006

Choosing a career path is one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make—but how do you decide what is right for you? You may take a career path that uses the skills you have or the education you’ve gotten. You may even choose a career based on what you think you “should” do—because of what your parents or teachers have told you is right for you.  But you may not know that you are naturally more suited for some careers than for others. Why? Each of us has an individual personality type that affects how much we’ll like a job.

Think, for instance, about a carpenter versus a counselor. A carpenter works with concrete objects, according to specified procedures, and has a tangible result. A counselor works with people and their feelings; she has to judge success and the results of her work based on abstract concepts. Which of these sounds more appealing to you? Do you have a strong preference for one or the other?

Now, imagine if you had to make your less-preferred choice your career, and you will get an idea of the impact that your personality has on your job satisfaction. There is quite a bit of variation in how people think and process information, what they see as important, and how they make decisions. All of this variation can affect how Happy or unhappy someone is in a work environment. Each one of us has different criteria for what a great job is, and to find your own perfect career, it is crucial to identify what is important to you.

The first step is to figure out your personality type. The most common personality test used for career counseling is called the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. This personality test measures four facets of personality:

• Extroverted/Introverted—Do you get your energy from being with people, or being alone?
• Sensing/Intuition—Do you see what’s actual, or what’s possible?
• Thinking/Feeling—Do you make decisions with your head or your heart?
• Judging/Perceiving—Do you like to make decisions, or keep your options open?

There are many ways to find out what your personality type is. Some people prefer to read about the types and choose what seems to fit best. There are also free quizzes on the internet based on the principles of the Myers-Briggs that can give you an idea of where you may fit.

However, if you are serious about finding out what type you are, the most reliable and accurate method is to take the official Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. This is a scientifically validated instrument that will identify where you fall in each of the categories. This assessment can only be administered by someone trained in its application, and must include a consultation with a trained coach or consultant according to its licensing guidelines. You can take the personality tests through a career counselor in your area, or online. If you take it online, you will typically get the results the same day, and you can usually request a special report that will go into detail about what is important to look for in a career.

Once you have figured out your personality type, you will want to look at the careers you are considering and evaluate whether they fit what’s important to you. Some questions to ask yourself:

• How much time will I spend interacting with people? Will it be too much/too little?
• To what extent will I be expected to follow standard procedures? Will I feel restricted by too much structure? Will I feel frustrated by too little?
• Will this job require me to use logic and reason things out? Will it require me to use compassion and consider how decisions will make people feel? Am I comfortable with the extent to which I will have to act based on thinking or feeling?
• How much latitude will this job give me to make my own schedule? Is it too little? Too much?

It’s important to be realistic about what a job entails, and to ask as many questions as possible about prospective jobs so that you can evaluate how well they’ll fit you. As you learn more about yourself, you will become more able to judge which jobs will bring you satisfaction.

http://www.career.moneybizhome.com

An online MBA program is perfect for working professionals who are looking at building their career opportunities. A good online MBA program will include a comprehensive learning module and a flexible study ambience where you can develop your skills and potentials. Getting an executive mba online is a great way to move ahead in your professional career and learn the vital leadership skills that are so essential for professional success. The MBA degree represents a leading management qualification that creates highly competent professional managers. The MBA degree can help increase an individual’s salary. After obtaining the MBA degree, many graduates either gained a promotion with an increase in salary or found better paid jobs. Ultimately, many of them went on to climb impressive career ladder. They enjoyed success in both rank and salary. Apart from two year regular MBA course, students also have option of going for part time MBA degree program. Normally, this is of three year duration which also provides student with option of earn while learn. Students have other options as well to earn MBA degree. Besides, regular and part time courses, candidates can opt for distance learning and online MBA programs as well which are relatively cheaper and more flexible.

An MBA (Master of Business Administration) is a graduate degree obtained at a university or college that offers both theoretical and practical training to provide graduates general knowledge about general business management functions. The MBS degree may have a specific focus as: accounting, marketing or finance. The mba degree courses offer students knowledge on economics, organizational behavior, marketing, international business, finance, government policy, accounting and information technology management. There are several ways of attending MBA courses. Nowadays MBA degrees can be accessed through online, distance learning or e-learning as the program offered by the Open University Business School. Due to the large variety of MBA degrees offered worldwide, the elite business schools are being accredited by independent bodies as the Association of MBAs. This association acts as a global network for the MBA community: MBA students, MBA graduates, schools, businesses and employers.

Many young professionals who have started their career with their undergraduate degree tend to shun pursuing a graduate degree or higher education beyond a bachelor degree. They think they have spent 4 to 5 years at college, and it’s time to earn their way through their career, and going back to study for a graduate degree is a waste of time and money. Although it’s true that a strong education background is only one of many contributing factors in a success career, it may become your key determination factor to successfully secure a career opportunity that you meet along your career path. Owning an MBA degree would prove to be an advantage especially if you are vying for high level position. One of the main reasons to opt for an MBA degree is to increase your salary earning potential and advance your career. When applying for certain jobs, you will soon realize that an MBA is a necessity. Some employers might not even consider you eligible without one. An MBA degree helps you acquire a range of management and people skills and prepares you for positions of leadership. By virtue of the curriculum, training and research involved in an MBA program, your educational horizons expand and your overall vision remains longsighted. This is exactly what employers are looking for when they choose an MBA graduate over another applicant.