Chapter 13 Careers and Work Choosing a Career, continued • Examining personal characteristics and family influences – Personal characteristics • Choosing a career is best managed by those whohave secure attachments and a self-efficacy about work • Intelligence predicts likelihood of entering particular professions but is not an absolute predictor of career success Choosing a Career, continued Personal characteristics, continued • Specific aptitudes (e.g., artistic talent) are more important than general intelligence • Social skills contribute to success in many careers • Careers ideally match one’s interests in the world and contribute to motivation • It is best to find a career that is compatible with one’s personality Choosing a Career, continued • Family influences – Career choices are influenced by family background because parents and children often attain similar levels of education Thus, • Middle income background is associated with high-paying professions • Low income background is associated with “blue collar” occupations Choosing a Career, continued Family influences, continued – Parenting style is also associated with socioeconomic status • Middle income families encourage their children to be curious and independent, traits well suited for professional roles • Low income families teach children to conform and obey, traits needed to survive in subordinate positions Choosing a Career, continued • Researching job characteristics – Sources of career information include • The Occupational Outlook Handbook – a government document that serves as a comprehensive guide to occupations • It is also helpful to talk to individuals who work in particular fields of interest Choosing a Career, continued Researching job characteristics, continued • Essential information about occupations – You should be aware of these key issues when considering an occupation: • The nature of the work – what are the day-to-day responsibilities? • Working conditions – is it high or low pressure? pleasant or unpleasant? Choosing a Career, continued Essential information, continued • Job entry requirements – what education and training are needed? • Potential earnings • Potential status • Opportunities for advancement • Intrinsic job satisfaction • Future outlook – will there continue to be demand for this occupation? Choosing a Career, continued • Using psychological tests – Occupational interest inventories – “measure your interests as they relate to various jobs or careers” – The primary focus is on job satisfaction, rather than success – Scores indicate how similar your interests are to the typical interests of people in various occupations – However, you must ultimately decide what is right for you Choosing a Career, continued • Important considerations You have the potential for success in a variety of occupations Don’t choose a career solely on the basis of salary There are limits on your career options Career choice is a developmental process that extends throughout life Some career decisions are not easily undone Occupational Hazards, continued Unemployment, continued – Effects of unemployment • Unemployment causes economic and health problems (physical and mental) • Middle-aged workers have more financial responsibility and fewer career options available • The stress of job loss can lead to violence Balancing Work and Life, continued • Workaholism – Workaholics devote nearly all their time and energy to their jobs – There are two types of workaholics: • The enthusiastic workaholic – one who works excessively for the joy of it • The nonenthusiastic workaholic – one who feels driven to work hard, but derives less enjoyment from it – The latter group reports lower job satisfaction and a lower sense of purpose Balancing Work and Life, continued Workaholism, continued – Nonenthusiastic workaholics report lower job satisfaction and a lower sense of purpose – However, both groups experience a higher degree of conflict between work and family Balancing Work and Life, continued • Work and family roles – There are more dual-earner households now than ever juggling multiple roles – Working parents are especially likely to experience work-family conflicts • This can create stress • However, multiple roles can also be beneficial for men’s and women’s health, relationships, and financial security Balancing Work and Life, continued • Leisure and recreation – 60% of workers say having leisure “unpaid activities people choose to engage in because the activities are personally meaningful” - is very important – Yet, American workers work longer hours and take fewer vacation days than Europeans (see Figure 13.14) Figure 13.14 American and European vacation days American workers average 16 paid vacation days a year Most European workers get considerably longer vacation Moreover, these are benefits mandated by law Adapted from Mischel, L., Bernstein, J., & Schmitt, J (2001) The state of working America 2000-2001 Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press Copyright © 2001 by Cornell University Press Adapted by permission of the publisher, Cornell University Press Balancing Work and Life, continued Leisure and recreation, continued – Leisure activities come in many forms: • Hobbies • Reading • Surfing the Internet • Travel • Games and puzzles • Sports • Volunteer activities Balancing Work and Life, continued Leisure and recreation, continued – Leisure activities are also beneficial to our well-being and are associated with • Increased job satisfaction • Improved physical and mental health • A sense of well-being and lowered incidence of depression in those over age 55 Application: The Job Game, continued • Putting together a resume – some tips Use high-quality white, ivory, or beige paper for hard copies Make sure there are no typographical errors Keep it short (one page only) Avoid full sentences, and avoid the word I Use action words • (e.g., “Supervised a team of 10 people”) Avoid superfluous personal information Application: The Job Game, continued Putting together a resume, continued • Effective resumes contain the following: – Heading – name and contact information – Objective – the precise kind of position you want – Education – degrees and dates – Experience – from most recent and working backwards • See Figure 13.15 for an example Figure 13.15 Example of an attractively formatted resume The physical appearance of a resume is very important This example shows what a well-prepared resume should look like (Adapted from Lock, 2005b) Application: The Job Game, continued • Finding companies you want to work for – Once you choose a setting you wish to work in, you can find companies by • Checking local classified ads • Searching nationally by using resources such as National Business Employment Weekly • Using a “headhunter” – a service that helps you find a job for a monetary commission Application: The Job Game, continued • Landing an interview – If applying to a listed position, submit a cover letter and resume • Researching the organization shows you have a real interest in them – Approaching companies with an advertised position: • Send a detailed cover letter explaining your interest in the company • Use network of personal contacts Application: The Job Game, continued • Polishing your interview technique – Send positive nonverbal cues (leaning forward, smiling, and nodding) – Remember, first impressions are crucial • Appear confident, enthusiastic, ambitious, and avoid humor – Don’t give more information than the interviewer requests Application: The Job Game, continued Polishing your interview technique, continued – Research the company before the interview – Avoid discussion of salary at first interview [...]... 2002) The Changing World of Work, continued The changing workforce, continued • Today’s workplace for women and minorities – Although illegal, discrimination against women and minorities still occurs – Women and minorities often face a glass ceiling – “an invisible barrier that prevents most women and ethnic minorities from advancing to the highest levels of occupations” (see Figure 13. 7) Figure 13. 7 The. .. currently unemployed but are looking for work” – is becoming more diverse (see Figure 13. 6) • More women are joining the labor force • The workforce is becoming more ethnically diverse Figure 13. 6 Increasing diversity in the workforce Women and minority group members are entering the workforce in greater numbers than before This graph projects changes in the share of the labor force by gender and by... groups These trends are consistent with the existence of a glass ceiling for women and minorities From Maume, D J (2004) Is the Glass Ceiling a Unique Form of Inequality? Work and Occupations, 31(2), 250-274 Figure 2, p 266 [Journal published by Sage] The Changing World of Work, continued The changing workforce, continued – When there is only one woman or minority in the workplace they may become a token,... goals to those of their husbands • Women’s careers are more likely to be interrupted by childrearing and family crises The Changing World of Work, continued • Workplace trends 1 Technology is changing the nature of work • Workers must train and adapt to keep up 2 New work attitudes are required • Workers must take a more active role to prove that they are valuable in order to attain job security 3 Lifelong... become a token, or “a symbol of all the members of that group” • This distinction may bring more scrutiny, stereotyping, or judgment – Women and minorities also are less likely to have mentors or role models of the same gender and/or race The Changing World of Work, continued The changing workforce, continued – The challenges of change • • • Cultural differences in managing time and people, identification... Occupational Hazards, continued Job stress, continued • Four key culprits that contribute to stress are 1 Handling “difficult” customers in service industries 2 An unpredictable economy 3 Keeping up with changes in technology 4 Learning to interact with more diverse coworkers Occupational Hazards, continued Job stress, continued • According to Karasek, two key factors determine occupational stress:... Lifelong learning is a necessity • Skills become obsolete every 10-15 years The Changing World of Work, continued Workplace trends, continued 4 Independent workers are increasing • Downsizing and outsourcing are creating more “free agents” 6 Boundaries between work and home are blurring, due to technology 7 The highest job growth will occur in the professional and service occupations (see Figure 13. 4) 8... Super’s model, continued 4 Maintenance stage – at midlife, focus is on retaining achieved status and protecting security and power 5 Decline stage – work activity decreases as retirement approaches – Retirement brings the occupational cycle to an end • See Figure 13. 3 for more detail and the substages Figure 13. 3 Overview of Super’s theory of occupational development According to Donald Super, people... Job stress, continued • Dealing with job stress – There are 3 levels of intervention: • Intervention at the individual level • Intervention at the organizational level • Intervention at the “individualorganization interface” level Occupational Hazards, continued • Sexual harassment – Sexual harassment – “occurs when employees are subjected to unwelcome sexually oriented behavior” – There are two types:... development over the lifespan Adapted from Zaccaria, J (1970) Theories of occupational choice and vocational development Boston: Houghton Mifflin Copyright © 1970 by Time Share Corporation, New Hampshire Models of Career Choice, continued • Women’s career development – 59% of adult women are in the labor force – However, there are still gender gaps in the world of work • Women still subordinate their career ... becoming more diverse (see Figure 13. 6) • More women are joining the labor force • The workforce is becoming more ethnically diverse Figure 13. 6 Increasing diversity in the workforce Women and minority... by Sage] The Changing World of Work, continued The changing workforce, continued – When there is only one woman or minority in the workplace they may become a token, or “a symbol of all the members... guide to occupations • It is also helpful to talk to individuals who work in particular fields of interest Choosing a Career, continued Researching job characteristics, continued • Essential information