Career and Self Development (Module 8)

Do you really like what you do?

    Careers are vital to the development of the self. An individual gives high regard to the influence of careers in boosting one's self-esteem and self-worth. Those who have jobs and are happy in their fields of careers are the ones with high self-esteem, while those unemployed individuals or those who are unhappy in their areas are associated with having low self-esteem and a low sense of self-worth. 

    Choosing a career is choosing something you want to a part of your life, wherein you want your life to have a purpose. The development of the career is a lifelong process of developmental experiences that emphasizes the obtaining, seeking, and processing of information about the self, lifestyles, and occupation. Different theories are associated with the development of the career. These include:

Psychoanalytic Theory of Career Development

    This theory entails that individuals tend to choose a career aligned to their psychological environments and experiences established in their childhood.

Developmental Theory of Career Development

    It entails that an individual undergoes a life learning and doing of new things and careers while changing roles in the process of a constant change in life. This theory believes that there are different characteristics an individual considers in developing a career in different life stages.

Person-Environment Fit Theory of Career Development

    This theory believes that our personality influences our career choice. In the different personality categories under this theory, a person can be described as a mix of all the different personality categories, which becomes parallel to a work environment that is also coded with the combination of the different types. 

Behavioral Theory of Career Development

    This theory states that social learning theory is the basis of our career decisions and development. What we learn in our experiences, from other people, and in the different institutions we belong, are all factors in the development of our careers. This includes the genetic influences, learning experiences, genetic influences, and goal-setting and decision-making skills. 

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    Although these theories have their ideas towards the development of a career on an individual, there is no one particular theory that fits all. Our career choices may change over time because of many external and internal factors since nothing is certain in life. Additionally, some different challenges and constraints could arise in career development. 

    Above all, in choosing a career path, we need to establish a solid self-concept not to get entangled in having difficulty in deciding what is and what is not. As much as we consider the opinion of others, we must always consider our personal preferences that are aligned to our skills and characteristics. In this, we can build up motivation and self-confidence vital in achieving a successful career.

Reflection:

If finishing a degree is already difficult, so is having a career in life. While some are blessed to choose a career path as early as college based on their personal choice, others cannot decide for themselves because of several constraints. In the end, what is essential in choosing a career is choosing something that we love and would describe and represent us and something that we would want to do for the rest of our lives.