Choosing a future profession. What must be considered?

A good choice of profession allows a person to realize his or herself, to be needed and to be content with life. When choosing an occupation, the following apects must be taken into consideration: can, want, need.

«Want» – is our desires, interests, inclinations and personal disposition.

«Can» – is the knowledge, skills, psychological specifics and health condition.

«Need» – is the demand for the profession chosen at the labour market.

The search and understanding of every aspect expands the understanding of oneself, forms the concept of a future profession. When all three aspects are harmoniously united, a сonscious choice of profession is formed.

The adequacy of choice and the level of mastering the knowledge affect all apects of one’s life and its quality.
TO CHOOSE A DIRECTION, THE FOLLOWING CLASSIFICATION OF PROFESSIONS CAN BE USED:

• ENTREPRENEURIAL: related to activity depending on following personal qualities: entrepreneurial attitude, enthusiasm, proactivity, сloving risk and competitiveness, leadership and organizational skills, self-determination and flexibility in achieving goals.  Main goals and values: obtaining recognition and high social status (carreer), regular expanding of one’s influence in society, financial success. Typical professions: business and entrepreneurship, management, politics, legal and journalistic professions.

• TECHNICAL-TANGIBLE: related to  activity involving the use of tools (mechanisms, machines, equipment). The subject of labour are the tangible things (tangible assets and means of production), their creation, use and transformation. This sphere is closely related to the technical processes in various branches of industrial production and manufacture. Professional tasks have the exact and algorythmic nature. The result of labour must be anticipated. Main goals and values: implementation of new technologies, creation of material assets, things necessary or practical for society. Typical professions: engineering and technical, producation and technical, tele- and other communication, construction, transportation, workers.

• NATURAL-TANGIBLE: related to activity in the centre of which are the natural objects, processes or phenomena. The nature of professional tasks includes description and observation, research and practical transformation. The results of labour must be tangible or measurable. Main goals and values: preservation, accrual and reasonable use of natural resources, sustaining the balance between the nature and the technogenic civilization, environmental protection. Typical professions:  in medeicine and biology, health service and ecology, geology and geography, environmental protection,  mining and forestry engineering, agriculture, phyto-design and landscape gardening, decorative or commercial selection of plants and animals.

• CONVENTIONAL: related to well-defined activity based on the goals, tasks and values formed by the customs and traditions of society. The approach to problem-solving bears stereotypical, practical and definite nature. The content of professional task is usually the fixing and processing of information, or performing a certain activity in accordance with strict algorythms and instructions. Main goals and values: зpreservation and accrual of the spiritual-ethnic values and tangible assets, control over unconditional implementation of the generally accepted norms and standards. Typical professions: finance and economy, accounting and audit, jurisprudence (selectively), IT (selectively), office and operational, librarian, state service, fiscal service.

• INTELLECTUAL: related to activity of analytical and research nature, the purpose of which is studying and comprehension of events and objects in scientifical and theoretical aspect. The nature of professional tasks demands a high level of intellect, creative skills, developed abstract thinking. The labour result may be unanticipated. Main goals and values: gathering, assimilation and analysis of information, definition of objective laws, making hypothesis and concepts, development of new technologies and scientific methods. Typical professions: theoretical and practical scientific research in various fields of knowledge, teaching in higher educational establishments, development of new technologies, informational and analytical work.

• SOCIAL: related to varoius types of social work, service sector, pedagogy and medicine. The work requires regular personal communication, ability to make contact with people, to convince and to adapt, provide services, educate, assist, settle conflicts in a constructive manner, based on intuition and emotional contact.  The result of labour can not always be anticipated. Main goals and values: сsocail and psychological assistance and support, healthcare, provision of material goods and spiritual development of people. Typical professions: social work, pedagogy and education, information and communication sphere,  psychology, sociology, medicine, service sector.

• ARTISTIC: related to activity involving creative, unconventional approach to the solving of professional tasks. This requires a well developed fantasy and imagination, basing upon intuition and emotions, independency in decision-making. Main goals and values: self-expression through artistic means and creativity, opportunity for realization of one’s own individuality and esthetic ideals in the results if labour.Typical professions: art (literature, painting, music, theatre, cinema etc.), art study and criticism, stage entertainment and show business, architecture, design, decorative and utility arts.

• RISK-RELATED PROFESSIONS: include the types of activity which allow (and require) demonstration of the following qualities: vigor,  inclination towards risk and competitiveness, courage in dangerous situations, strenght of will and character, physical endurance and wit. Main goals and values: realization and development of personal potential in extreme conditions, protection of the state and society,  elimination of life hazards. Typical professions: law enforcement (selectively), military service, professional sports (selectively),  mountain and water life-saving, security, fire-fighting, reconaissance and expedition.

Psychologists often use career-guiding tests to determine the level of interest and internal motivation to various types of professional activity.

A high level of interest and internal motivatoin provides for successful self-fulfillment (in case if a person has the necessary skills and psychological inclination) within certain types of professional activity.

An average level of interest and internal motivation demonstrates their indefinite or controversial expression, as well as volatility and uncertainty related to some types of professional activity.

A low level of interest and internal motivation to certain types of professional activity hinders a successful self-fulfillment. Ignoring this fact may cause a regular feeling of psychological discomfort at the working place, increased fatiguability and irritability, and an often change of employment.

Yuliia Danylova, tutor, consulting psychologist on methods of positive psychotherapy. 

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