There is a major disconnect between the preparation provided by the educational system and the selection of career. Every one knows that one needs to study beyond high school. However, help with developing a thoughtful career plan is totally absent.

The world we live in today is one of unprecedented change. It is mainly driven by technology and economics. Jobs are highly impacted by the interaction of these twin factors. Knowledge and skills are becoming obsolete every 3 to 5 years. So, education as is taught in school and college alone is insufficient to have a career.

The World of Work

The world of work is vast. Careers in major organisations, government, health or manufacturing, education or leisure, agriculture or transportation, communication or safety, energy or spirituality are all based on societal need. Choosing a career in this work field is really an adult lifestyle choice; yet, one is required to make this choice as a young adult and often as a teenager.

Knowing why businesses exist can help one evaluate the interest areas better. The advances in science and technology, globalisation and geopolitics are creating new specialised careers. An understanding of the skills and abilities needed for each type of career helps one to focus better in choosing a career. What is required now and what is needed in the future is also a huge factor that needs to be kept in mind.

Understanding the Self

Knowing oneself is the starting point of any selection. This awareness helps identify one’s strengths and weaknesses, interests and values and also temperament. This is generally arrived at on the basis of past achievements (one writes well and so can become a writer). Another way to learn about ourselves is through a comprehensive, objective assessment and interpretations derived from the results in terms of their implications for studies and work.

Typically, four aspects of an individual are useful for considering careers: 1. Aptitude; 2. Interests; 3. Personality, 4. Values.

Aptitude Tests: These tests are designed to objectively measure an individual’s potential to acquire skills needed to perform certain tasks - Dentist, Architect, etc.

A couple of well known tests are the Differential Aptitude Test (DAT) battery and the Ball Aptitude battery. The DAT measures Numerical ability, verbal, diagrammatic, spatial, mechanical, clerical, etc. The Ball aptitude battery identifies various aptitude traits. There are various other tests that measure reasoning styles, numerical, memory, perceptual, speed and accuracy, etc., to identify specific abilities needed for specific careers. There are measures of creativity, both as a process and in terms of the product.

Many schools in India have provision for testing the aptitudes of the students and then providing them with suitable career suggestions. There are private testing centres in major cities too.

Interest Inventories: These yield information on what an individual likes or dislikes. These include activities, subjects, occupations and work environments. A well known instrument is the Strong Interest Inventory and the Self-Directed Search. These are two assessments on the basis of which further explorations can be made.
Personality Instruments: These assess personal characteristics and preferences. This helps students understand themselves and certain work activities and settings that are appropriate for their careers. Some of the typical personality traits derived from these tests are:

Extroversion – how a person reacts towards other people;

Tough-mindedness – the way in which a person goes about getting things done; Anxiety – how relaxed and comfortable a person is internally;

Independence – how a person responds to variety and change;

Self-organisation – the way a person chooses to structure and manage life.

Basically, there are Five dimensions of personality that are significant. They are: how people relate to others, approach new situations, control their emotions, regulate their actions, and reason or think. The 16PF and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) are two well known personality scales.

Value Inventories: These instruments help an individual to rank principles, qualities or work characteristics in terms of their level of importance. Super’s Work Value Inventory is a well known value test. There are some value sorting card activities that are available online. Values provide some insight into the types of careers that people need to give importance to in selection. These tools highlight talents and preferences and offer suggestions that assist children and parents make informed career decisions with greater confidence.

Caution for Indian students: In India, the opportunities in terms of careers have widened considerably with the impact of globalisation and faster economic growth. New and offbeat careers are now available, as also new kinds of regular opportunities for pursuing one’s dreams.

Ample independent business opportunities too have emerged. Newer careers involve combining two or more established careers like medical journalism, sports psychology, community medicine, cosmetic dentistry, beauty and wellness clinician, organic farming, various types of entertainment, safety careers and newer forms of life style management.

Students and parents considering careers need to pay attention to the type of education needed, the costs involved, the risks that are inherent in certain careers and above all consider the suitability of certain careers in the context of the cultural ethos of the society. Finally, the money factor cannot be ignored either, despite the presence of other value orientations in terms of preferences.  

In conclusion, the best way of deciding on a career is to understand the work, oneself, and then take suitable tests. Talking to people already in a profession is worth considering and above all else doing a paid or voluntary internship in the field that one wishes to enter. Also important is to keep more than one option open even at the planning stage itself because no individual is one-dimensional in his thinking or abilities and it is a valuable back-up strategy as well. Even in cases where the tests show an individual has a minimal level of aptitude but the individual is hugely motivated to choose a certain career, he should go for it. It is worth remembering that all careers demand perseverance, organisation, time management, effective team participation and commitment and a willingness to learn and grow. These are the ingredients for success, anywhere, any time!