Week 3

In terms of last week’s class discussion, I was interested in Holland’s six personality types. I took an online test that determined that I fit the characteristics of social, conventional, and enterprising personality types. I am not surprised that social was dominant, as I am currently pursuing a helping profession. Conventional made sense to me as well, because I tend to prefer structure and routine. Enterprising seems like a bit of a stretch, though I believe I possess the skills necessary for directing and planning, I just don’t do it often. I don’t know how useful this test really was however, because it simply consisted of a list of questions about my interests. Just because I am interested in something, does not mean I am an appropriate fit for a particular line of work. For example, in my current job, I encounter students within the education major who are interested in teaching. Often enough, students may realize in their final semester of student teaching that this is not the right work for them. Our interests do not always align with our skills or abilities. Some level of self-efficacy is necessary in order to enjoy a career choice.

I really did not care for some of the data included in the Duffy (2006) article. While I can understand the ascertains the author made, I believe additional explanations can be made. For example, the article emphasized that spirituality and religiousness are predictive of career decision self-efficacy (Duffy, 2006, p. 55). I believe this is likely true but requires an in-depth analysis into what this information means. This information is correlational and not causal in nature. I don’t believe if I were religious, I would have any better insight into my prospective career path. Instead, I believe I would appear to be more satisfied because I have forfeited some degree of personal choice by placing my future and a degree of responsibility in God’s hands. I would be more inclined to believe that a career is right for me and less likely to focus on any dissatisfaction. This belief would free me of ownership and responsibility for the decision I’ve made. I am less vulnerable, therefore I feel more secure. I am likely to feel more reassured through religion, but ultimately that does not genuinely mean I have chosen the correct career pathway. In any case, I do think it is important to consider how spirituality and religion may influence an individual’s career pathway, and it is always necessary to be cognizant of diversity within this area.

Holland emphasizes that career satisfaction is accomplished through congruence between an individual’s personality and work environment, but more than ever, job satisfaction is also related to job security, benefits, and the opportunity for growth and promotion. Career satisfaction is multifaceted a very complex.

References

Duffy, R. (2006). Spirituality, religion, and career development: Current status and future directions. The Career Development Quarterly, 55, 52-63.