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News ArchiveDoes Your Career Suit Your Personality?03 Feb 2009Whether you are in Grade 12 or you've already started with your chosen tertiary studies, it is important to stop and consider whether your career will ultimately suit your personality. Recent studies show approximately 40% of people are extremely unhappy in their jobs - that's a lot of people who've spent many years studying and working at something that ultimately leaves them cold! Says Johan Wasserfall, CEO of Edu-Loan, South Africa's dedicated educational financial services provider: "Students could also run the risk of dropping out of varsity if they suddenly realize they're barking up the wrong career tree but can't afford to start over in a new field of study." The Human Sciences Research Council's recent study of about 34,000 students showed that of this amount, only 14,000 students graduated, with some 20,000 dropping out of their courses, most of them being either in their first year or midway through their second year of study. "Whilst this is due to various factors, with lack of finances topping the list," says Johan, "there is an alarming proportion of students who drop out as they realize they are on the wrong career track entirely, at which point it is too late to go back and start over - either due to familial pressures or lack of funding." So how do you know if the career you fancy is ultimately going to fancy you? Start by drawing up your personal "Career/Personality Guide", listing the following headings: 1. Skills Examine your Grade 12/first-year varsity subject list and mark-off those subjects in which you excelled, those that you handled reasonably well and lastly, the subjects that you completely flopped. 2. Interests List all of the activities that you enjoy doing, both in and out of school, and then rate those in order of importance as well: • People (teaching, networking, helping, etc)
Next, mark off, in order of importance, the characteristics that most describe you (and add in any not on the list if pertinent to your personality): • Relaxed Choose the top three items in each section, group them together and examine them closely. Simple as this exercise is, it's remarkable how it puts ‘two-and-two together' and clarifies your options, leaving you with a shortlist of possible career choices. In the interests of objectivity, it's a very good idea to give a copy of your assessment and career shortlist to close family and friends, and even past teachers or mentors if possible, to get their opinion on whether they agree or disagree with your selected personality traits and shortlisted career options. As an example, just because you consider yourself an energetic extrovert doesn't mean you'll be the perfect PR person, as you might also be highly impatient with a quick temper - not the perfect combination to manage a high-stress industry and what can be very demanding clients. "Once you have your short-list of possible careers, it is your responsibility to do your homework: use the internet, library and anyone suitable in your community and find out more about what each career entails and can offer you in the long-term," says Johan. "Also, don't be afraid to contact people or organisations in your shortlisted fields and ask for information on internships, part-time work or volunteering in order to experience the ‘real-time' environment. This will enable you to get first-hand knowledge of your chosen career and a chance to change direction if you find that it actually isn't suited to you at all. And of course this is the perfect way to build up hands-on experience that could prove invaluable down the line, and could count in your favour for any bursary applications you may undertake. " Whatever you do in life, it is your choice to do it with passion and love - by studying something that really feeds your soul and is in harmony with your basic personality, you are setting yourself up for a career - and a life - of excitement, reward and fulfillment. This article is brought to you courtesy of Edu-Loan, who wishes all their current and future students good luck in 2009! For more information, please visit www.eduloan.co.za or call their Client Services Department on 0860-55-55-44.
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