| Personality
Principles of Career Success |
| |
| The
traditional view of what it takes to have a successful
career is that you need the right skills and the
determination to stick it out until success comes
along. While generations have gone to work and spent
their career "just sticking it out" this
path is not likely to generate career success. |
| |
What
is Career Success?
Career success is much more than just finding a
job and not being fired. True career success combines
skill, motivation, determination, and personality
to create a livelihood that is fulfilling as well
as financially rewarding. You may weight each of
these things differently than other people, but
they are all in there somewhere if you have a truly
successful career. |
| |
What
Does Personality Have to do With It?
Wait a minute. You parents may have told you that
if you work hard, follow the rules and stay focused
you will be successful. They told you to develop
marketable skills, a strong work ethic and find
a good job. They didn't mention personality at all.
What does personality really have to do with career
success? |
| |
| A
great deal, as a matter of fact. If you take on
a career that does not suit your personality type
and provide some sense of personal fulfillment,
you will constantly struggle to stay motivated and
enthusiastic about your job. In other words, you
may perform your job in a satisfactory manner but
you probably hate it and have to force yourself
to meet your job performance requirements. |
| |
| If
you take on a career that fits with your personality
type, you will have far fewer troubles staying motivated,
fulfilling your responsibilities and feeling satisfied
with your job. Even during difficult times and the
inevitable challenges of life, if your career fits
well with your personality you will do well. |
| |
Personality
preferences to consider
Everyone has certain personality preferences and
attributes that affect their likes, dislikes, and
motivation. When you pursue a career that does not
fit your personality type, no matter how strong
your skills may be your will eventually struggle
to stay motivated. |
| |
| So
what personality preferences should you consider?
Here are a few examples: |
| |
| Structure
- Do you like working in a structured, rules-oriented
environment? Or would you prefer to be in a more
flexible, variable environment?
Rules
- Do you follow the rules no matter what? Do you
follow the rules for a while until you get bored
with them and then start to ignore them? Or do
you detest any kind of rules and prefer to make
up your own as you go along?
Creativity
- Do you like the freedom to be creative and come
up with new, innovative ideas? Or would you rather
leave that "dreaming" stuff up to someone
else?
Regimen
- Do you get a sense of safety and satisfaction
from following a particular routine each day?
Or does doing the same thing more than one day
in a row bore you out of your mind?
Freedom
- Do you have the motivation and self-discipline
to handle the freedom to set your own schedule,
develop your own performance goals or work from
home? Or do you need someone else to set the boundaries
for you and perhaps even guide you along the way?
Formality
- Do you like being in formal situations with
specific etiquette and behavioral expectations?
Or do you prefer a more casual environment where
you can be more relaxed and let your personality
emerge?
|
| |
The
Importance of Self Knowledge
Assessing your personality type is all about self
knowledge. Nobody else can do this for you; it takes
honest and sometimes brutal examination of your
inner self to truly uncover your personality type
and preferences. Once you do this, though, you will
be well on your way to matching your personality
with a career that is rewarding and successful. |
| |
| Remember,
skills and motivation are simply not enough because
eventually your personality preferences will take
hold and cause you grief. It is far better to balance
personality, skills and motivation right from the
start to make a good career choice that will lead
to success for you. |
| |
| |
| |
