Psychology 2035A/B Chapter Notes - Chapter 13: Occupational Outlook Handbook, Strong Interest Inventory, Job Satisfaction
8 Jan 2013
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CHAPTER 13: CAREERS AND WORK
“Love and work… work and love, that’s all there is.” – Sigmund Freud
Famous for: love & sex
Another element in understanding human condition: work
Work is defining characteristic in lives of many
“What do you do for a living?” tell a lot about person
Social status, educational background, lifestyle, personality interests, aptitudes
Rate work as “important” or “very important” unemployment is devastating
Industrial/organizational psychology: study of human behaviour in the workplace
Increase dignity & performance of workers
Better organizations where they labour
Others: worker motivation & satisfaction, job performance, occupational hazards, leadership, personnel selection,
diversity
Main concern: how individuals balance work & family
CHOOSING A CAREER
Typical weekday
Sleep 6 – 8 hours
Commute 1 – 2 hours
Work 8 hours
Prep/eat meals 2 hours
TV/Internet 1 – 3 hours
Others 1 – 2 hours
Try doing this for 5 days a week, 50 weeks a year, 40 – 45 years find something that you enjoy doing..!
Education to break into field Career other aspects of life (i.e. employment, financial security, happiness, etc.) choose
the right career!
To make a successful career
1. Have clear grasp of personal characteristics
2. Need realistic information about potential careers
3. Select occupation that is good match for personal characteristics
EXAMINING PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS AND FAMILY INFLUENCES
Lower class Limited job skills + qualifications limited job options take whatever is available
Middle + upper class choose career personality & family influences
Personal Characteristics
Secure attachment + self-efficacy easier to make career choices
Intelligence (academic success) likelihood of entering fields
Holds well for men
Specific aptitudes: special talents make person more suited for certain occupations
Social skills team work (especially important for trend in integrating networks)
i.e. social-emotional & interpersonal intelligence
interests motivation for work & job satisfaction
personality compatibility with job
Family Influences
jobs appeal to people tend to be like those of their parents
middle-class high-paying professions (i.e. law, medicine, engineer)
low-income blue-collar jobs (i.e. construction, office work, food services)
family background career choice
1. number of years of education: parents & kids often attain similar levels of education
2. socioeconomic status: educational aspiration & attainment
3. ethnicity (i.e. Chinese & Asian American students choose investigative occupations more influenced by parents)
parenting practices:
middle-class: encouraged to be curious & independent essential to high-status occupations
lower-status: conform & obey
RESEARCHING JOB CHARACTERISTICS
Sources of Career Information
Occupational Outlook Handbook
Published by US Bureau of Labor Statistics
Job descriptions, education & training requirements, salaries, employment outlooks
Essential Information about Occupations
Nature of work: what do you do day-to-day?
Working conditions: pleasant or unpleasant? Low-key of high pressure?
Job entry requirements: training & education?
Ongoing training or education: need more education once you get in the field?
Potential earnings: starting? Minimum? Cap? … Fringe benefits?
Potential status: social status associated with occupation? Does it satisfy you?
Opportunities for advancement: how do you move up in this field? Are there a lot of opportunities?
Intrinsic job satisfaction: what do you get personally out of the job? What does it allow you to do?
Future outlook: projected supply & demand for occupational area?
Security: will job sustain itself if economy takes a dive?
Having degree will get you a higher paying job
BUT, grades you earn during degree are more important in determining whether or not you get position
High GPA ability to be training job performance salary level promotion
Future belongs to those who are better educated
USING PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS FOR CAREER DECISIONS
Occupational interest inventories: measure interests as they relate to various jobs/careers
1. Strong Interest Inventory (SII)
2. Self-Directed Search:
SII likelihood of job satisfaction; show how your interest scores are similar to those of other occupations
Interest inventories food for thought; careers you might never have thought of (seek vocational counselor?)
Caution
1. Don’t dismiss test results just because you’re sure that few specific scores are “wrong” and that you won’t like the job for sure.
2. Don’t let test make career decisions for you. Let it be a guideline.
3. Beware of gender bias in occupational interest inventories – these things were created 30-40 years ago when there was much
bias towards women.
TAKING IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS INTO ACCOUNT
You have the potential for success in a variety of occupations
Be cautious about choosing a career solely on the basis of salary
Meaning & purpose, NOT MONEY, lead to happiness & well-being.
Too often chase money doesn’t fit personality mismatch unhappy affect other parts of life.
There are limits on your career options.
You choose the job, BUT you have to get employer to choose you.
Limitations: economy + job market.
Career choice is developmental process that extends throughout life.
Average 10 jobs throughout life.
Choice is not limited to youth.
Some career decisions are not easily undone.
Law med school? It happens.
Have to take into consideration children, elder care, family, etc.
Document Summary
Love and work work and love, that"s all there is. sigmund freud. Another element in understanding human condition: work. Work is defining characteristic in lives of many. What do you do for a living? tell a lot about person. Social status, educational background, lifestyle, personality interests, aptitudes. Rate work as important or very important unemployment is devastating. Industrial/organizational psychology: study of human behaviour in the workplace. Others: worker motivation & satisfaction, job performance, occupational hazards, leadership, personnel selection, diversity. Main concern: how individuals balance work & family. Try doing this for 5 days a week, 50 weeks a year, 40 45 years find something that you enjoy doing! Education to break into field career other aspects of life (i. e. employment, financial security, happiness, etc. ) To make a successful career: have clear grasp of personal characteristics, need realistic information about potential careers, select occupation that is good match for personal characteristics.
