SELF EXAMINATION

The Second Step to Finding the Work You Love: A Thorough Self Examination

Good career decisions have to be based on more than a casual look at the opportunities or on one’s aptitudes. The work we do should incorporate three critical areas: (1) Skills and Abilities, (2) Personality Tendencies, and (3) Values, Dreams, and Passions. The most common mistake people make in choosing a career is to do something simply because they are good at it. The Bible says, “That every man find pleasure in his work…this is a gift of God.” (Ecclesiastes 3:13) If you pursue work based only on your abilities, you likely will never feel that sense of fulfillment, meaning, and accomplishment that we all want. “Calling” is the word that embraces the big picture that many people never identify for themselves. It’s what God created you to do. It’s what you are doing in life that makes a difference for you, that builds meaning for you, and that you can look back on in your later years and see the impact you have made on the world around you. Frederick Buechner said, “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and world’s deep hunger meet.” We do not need to stop searching until we find our unique calling.

Successful career planning needs to include an understanding of one’s general characteristics, basic needs in the workplace, an ideal work environment, personal strengths and weaknesses, and a style analysis. These can be determined by taking the online inventory that is available through The BABBCENTER career counseling office.

There is no one like you anywhere, and there never will be. You are crafted individually by the hands of God. “For it was You who formed my inward parts; You knit me in my mother’s womb. I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. “ (Psalm 139:13)

It will be helpful to consider these five areas: (1) Background…your education and experience, (2) Abilities…your skills, talents, and knowledge, (3) Interests…things you enjoy doing, (4) Personality…natural traits and tendencies, and (5) Values…your standards, purpose, and passions. Ask people who know you well to tell you how they see you and what type of work they can see you doing. Once you have compiled this information you will be ready to identify what type of work will work for you! The Occupational Outlook Handbook 2006-2007 Edition can be accessed free on the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics website at www.bls.gov/oco. This website gives detailed descriptions of the 250 occupations that represent 85% of all jobs held by Americans. The O*NET Dictionary of Occupational Titles is the most concise source of detailed information about specific occupations available. The website is www.onetcenter.org, and you can explore more than 950 occupations based on your skills, work activities, interests, work styles, work context, organizational context, and experience and training.

Some of the information above was taken from “48 Days to the Work You Love” by Dan Miller.