Is there a doctor in the house?

Thinking about how I originally made my journey to career guidance, lets see what my diagnosis is...

1) learning how to make career decisions

- being willing to career plan

I decided to do this course and the related work I did before it as an end in themselves. If I liked them I would stick with them and if I didn’t I would take the transferable skills and move on. I was hopeful and optimistic, but I know there are no certainties in life.

If I ever stop liking it or come across something fabulous I will drop it. I can plan for the next stage or two in advance but not for my working life. Not necessarily because I don’t want to, but because how can you?

half a point?

Having a method

Having a method. Hmmm. I originally came up with 'career guidance' by thinking about headhunting/recruitment, going for an internship and later a few interviews. I pulled out of the next stages because it didn't seem quite 'right', I would have had to 'fake it', I like people, I don't care about money/sales enough.
I came up withthe headhunting/recruitment idea because a) I thought it would be a 'sensible' idea to have an internship and the headhunting one was the only one I saw that I liked the looks of and b) because I am a nosey cow and like riffling through peoples cvs.

I then came up with career guidance. It seemed like a good idea. I thought in any case it would be a good idea to beef up my 'people skills' as I was really good at all the academic stuff and that tends to read as 'bookish and unsociable' when you are job hunting.

Was that methodical? Should it have been?


2) Making a career decision
Using a method: finding out about myself and the world of work

I already knew about myself. I have met me many times. I did not use a method. If anything I based my career decision on what I wanted to be like more than what I was like. I thought it would make things more exciting and give me room to grow (and it did!).

Half a point???

Find out about the world of work? What, all of it? Everything? Or does this mean ‘find out that you can’t chew gum at work?’.

3) Finding out about my chosen job or course

Knowing where to find information on jobs and courses

Google?

I also spoke to a career advisor before I applied for the course, full marks for me, go me!

4) Knowing how to apply

Covering letters, application forms and CV’s.

I can do all that.

5) Understanding interviews and assessments

Dealing with selection and outcomes

I always think that interviews are as much/more about me ‘interviewing’ them than them interviewing me. If it is the right job then it is easy and enjoyable but if I have my doubts or don’t like the atmosphere when I meet them then I know I don’t really want it.

Then I am either accepted or rejected a) because I was great but someone was better or b) because I was not so great because I didn’t really want it

Is it ‘technically’ a good idea to be so choosy? If I were unemployed for a long time/needing the cash then I would probably find more things desirable and so do ‘well’ more frequently.

Is that too subjective an answer??? It makes sense to me anyhow.

6) Developing my career

What to do when things change, promotion, keeping up to skills

Roll with the punches? Go with the flow? Don't stop moving to that funky funky beat?




So whats the diagnosis? Am I ill?