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Know thyself to find career that fits

To find a new career, decide what you want, maintain focus

Some people are born ballerinas.

Others are destined to be doctors.

And you probably had one high-school chum who always knew her talents and had a clear focus of what she would become one day.

By Michele Himmelberg
The Orange County (Calif.) Register

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2002039552_careers19.html

They are the exceptions. Most people wander their way into their life’s work.

They dabble in a few jobs, take some courses and then seem to stumble upon a career.

Their friend’s dad hires them, or they answer a want ad one summer and stick at that company.

"Really, everyone knows what they are meant to be," says Tarin Frances, author of a career guide.

"It’s a matter of discovering it."

The most satisfied workers are those who align their personality, values and interests with their work, Frances and other experts say.

But not everyone takes the time to identify those traits and marry them to a career.

It usually requires wading through the alphabet soup of personality types, talking to real people in your potential field and dispelling negative messages that discourage you from chasing your dreams.

That process allows you to choose a career with a long-lasting fit.

It’s not as easy as some Web sites suggest: "Select the traits on this list that describe you, click and we produce a list of occupations just right for you." In fact, you might not fit one profile exactly.

Plenty of books and counselors can lead you through the career-choice process.

"You need to go within and look at all aspects of yourself," Frances said.

"When you’re really true to yourself, you discover your choice."

The trouble is most people bypass this self-examination.

They look at money or the job market without first asking: Who am I?

What’s my purpose?

What are my values, skills and characteristics?

Frances is the author of "Magical Quest, Six Steps to Career Success" and has taught people how to begin their journey in a career-exploration course at Golden West College, in Orange County, Calif.

"About half the students come in thinking I want to do ‘X,’ and then they see if it fits," Frances said.

"About 20 percent stick with that choice, based on what they learn about themselves. The other half don’t have a clue what they want when they start."

Some people are naturally gregarious, analytical or cooperative.

These are some of the individual gifts that are measured in personality type indicators.

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, one of the most popular, has been administered by counselors for more than 40 years.

It uses 16 combinations of letters, representing your preferences, to identify your "type."

When someone is identified as an ESFP, it describes the way they behave and relate to the world.

But unless you’re someone who studies these letters, they can be confusing.

Donna Dunning makes the types more practical by giving them names in her book, "What’s your Type of Career? Unlock the Secrets of your Personality to Find your Perfect Career Path."

Dunning uses names such as Assimilator, Explorer and Visionary to describe a person’s natural way of working.

But even she acknowledges that fitting yourself into one of these groups can be painstaking.

When answering questions like those in her book’s worksheets, Dunning says, think of your natural preferences about what you like to do, not necessarily what you have become adept at doing.

"I tell people to think of the room in their home where they feel most comfortable," Dunning said.

"You can venture into other rooms, but you develop from that place where you feel best. Those are your natural strengths."

Once you understand your personality type, it’s easier to choose a profession that would be a good fit.

Explorers, for example, are naturally skilled communicators, which could lead to work in teaching, consulting, sales or negotiating, depending on their interests and the work environments they prefer.

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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