Frequently Asked QuestionsCareer Beliefs
- There is one right occupation for me.
- Nobody else is undecided.
- My parents, a test, or an expert know better than I what I should do.
- Making a major or occupational choice is irreversible.
- Picking a Major or Minors will determine my career. Knowing my career will determine my major.
- Most people have known what they wanted to be since childhood.
- Everyone must climb the ladder of success even if it means doing things that are not interesting.
- If you can find out what you are interested in, you'll automatically do well at it.
- My occupation must be ideal in that it must provide for all of my wants and needs.
- You must thoroughly analyze all aspects of a choice before you implement it; otherwise, you're not really prepared.
- People are either successful or complete failures in their career pursuits.
- If I get away from the pressure to decide by taking some time off from college, or if I wait a little longer, I'll make a better decision.
- Go where the money is, regardless of the type of work it involves (money/security/status = happiness).
- The world of work is changing so rapidly that you can't really plan for the future.
- If things don't work out the way I expect, I'm a failure.
- In order to have a feeling of worth, I should be thoroughly competent, adequate, intelligent, and achieving in all possible respects.
- Having a career is the only real way to personal fulfillment.
- I can't go against the wishes of my parents or other significant people in my life (who support me and know what's best), because I'll be ungrateful and insensitive.
- A person should be in total control of his or her career.
- Life is always fair/unfair.
- There is one right occupation for me.
False. This belief creates a great amount of anxiety as you search for the one and only occupation. In fact, most people change occupations 5 to 6 times over the course of their working life. There will be a number of occupations that will suit you based on your values, interests, skills and knowledge. Life style choices including hours of work and kinds of rewards both monetary and otherwise will also help you to determine the various occupations that will meet your needs. Although some occupations are likely a better fit than others, it's highly probable that there are many good choices you could be happy with. To some degree, it doesn't matter so much what you decide to pursue as long as you commit yourself to do your best and have determined that your interests, skills, values, etc., are somewhat in line with this occupation.
- Nobody else is undecided.
False. Several studies have estimated that between 20 to 50 percent of students entering post-secondary education are undecided about their academic major and career. There is nothing wrong with being undecided as long as you are working on gathering the necessary information and experience that will help you make commitments at the appropriate times. There is some evidence to suggest that the more interests and abilities you possess, the more difficult it will be to eliminate some options and embrace others. Choosing may be more difficult for those with many different potential careers to think about.
- My parents, a test, or an expert know better than I what I should do.
False. Parents, tests, and career counselors can be great resources, but ultimately you need to make your own decisions. It is important to realize that it is your life, and no one except you has to live with your decisions. Thinking that others know what is best for you implies that you have little confidence in yourself to make decisions regarding your future. You may want to see a counselor if you experience a huge amount of anxiety surrounding decision-making. Some level of anxiety is to be expected, however, when making significant life decisions.
- Making a major or occupational choice is irreversible.
False. Your decision-making anxiety can be heightened by this belief. There may indeed be a cost involved in changing directions, but it's often worthwhile. Most people will change career paths several times over the course of their working life. As your interests, needs, skills and values change, often a change in career direction will facilitate a better fit between you and the demands of your chosen career path. Even if you know your major, you still have to determine your career.
- Picking a Major or Minors will determine my career. Knowing my career will determine my major.
Generally, at the bachelor's degree level, there is not just one specific major required to enter a career field. There are, in fact, many appropriate majors related to most careers. It is important to recognize that there are some professional fields that do have qualifying or licensing requirements that indicate the need to choose certain undergraduate majors. Most professional fields, however, do not have such specific requirements and therefore you have considerable flexibility in your major choice. For example, you can be admitted to law school or medical school with any undergraduate major. Other typical examples are the business management and marketing career fields. Corporations hire college-university graduates from a wide range of majors for various positions all the time. Thus, you should always determine whether the career field you plan to enter has any specific requirements that indicate certain major choices. At the same time, it is important to know that in most cases, there is not one specific major required and you can choose from all of Vancouver Island University majors and minors.
- Most people have known what they wanted to be since childhood.
False. Those who have known what they've wanted to be since they were young are a small minority. Even these individuals will have some deviations from their earlier thinking. You are in the majority if you are trying to figure out what you want to pursue for an occupation. You are only cautioned not to allow yourself to stay undecided for an unreasonably long period of time before making some occupational, major, and career decisions. Do some informational interviews with people working in an occupation that you think you would enjoy or do some volunteer work. These uses of time are almost always extremely worthwhile in helping you to decide what direction you would like to pursue.
- Everyone must climb the ladder of success even if it means doing things that are not interesting.
False. If you go into an occupation you don't like just because it is socially accepted as a successful track, it will almost assuredly lead to dissatisfaction and a lack of fulfillment. Sometimes we are forced into unpleasant tasks, but when we have a choice, we should be doing things we look forward to. You must determine your own definition of success. The socially acceptable definition of success often includes money, status, power, or fame. It has been suggested that we may "struggle though life, perhaps missing both fame and fortune, to finally learn that we can succeed without possessing either; or we may one day have both and learn that neither is basic to the recipe for true success and complete happiness." (Boyd K. Packer, "The Decision of Life." New Era. August 1989: 4).
- If you can find out what you are interested in, you'll automatically do well at it.
False. Your interests do not always match up with your skills and abilities. You may be interested in basketball, but may not be an outstanding player. You may be interested in music, but not play very well or at all. There are some things that we are interested in that require abilities that we may not possess or have a difficult time gaining. We need to realize that interests are important in choosing an occupation/major, but that there are other factors to assess as well, such as skills, abilities and value compatibility.
- My occupation must be ideal in that it must provide for all of my wants and needs.
False. This kind of thinking is fantastical. All occupations have some positive as well as negative factors. If you set a standard that suggests that your occupation must meet all or even most of your needs, you may find your self quite disappointed. You will have many different roles in life and different relationships that will serve to meet the different needs that you have. No one single role that you play or relationship that you have will provide satisfaction and fulfillment for all of your needs. Be careful; avoid idealizing your occupation too much. Remember there are likely many things that you could be happy doing. What you can hope for is an occupation that satisfies many of your needs, interests, and desires while allowing you to make a contribution and develop your talents.
- You must thoroughly analyze all aspects of a choice before you implement it; otherwise, you're not really prepared.
False. We can't know everything there is to know about an occupation before we go into it. We can, however, gain a reasonable understanding of our options by relying on both primary information sources (talking to people who are doing what we hope to be doing in our career) and by checking out secondary sources of information (written and on-line resources regarding various occupations (Click on Explore the World of Work to find out more about the occupations that you are thinking about). At some point you will need to just take a step forward and put a foot in the water and move in the direction of your career choice. Doing too much research can be paralyzing.
- People are either successful or complete failures in their career pursuits.
False. Success and happiness do not depend upon being the best in your field, but rather doing your personal best. Each of us will have our share of personal successes and failures. It is often the failures that provide the most significant learning lessons and plant the seeds for future successes. Perhaps you have chosen an occupation that matches your interests but not your skills. Either work toward developing the skills needed or move towards something that both will hold your interest and in which you have some skill. Learn to evaluate your career in relative terms rather than all-or-nothing definitions of success.
- If I get away from the pressure to decide by taking some time off from college, or if I wait a little longer, I'll make a better decision.
False. Some think that escaping from the pressures to decide on a major/occupation will clarify their perspective and make their judgment more sound. Unless the break is designed to be a time of gathering relevant information and experiences, it is unlikely that getting away from the pressure will help you make a decision. It will just prolong the decision-making process without making it any easier to decide.
- Go where the money is, regardless of the type of work it involves (money/security/status = happiness).
False. Research suggests that money, security, and status in and of themselves do not insure happiness. Some people think it really doesn't matter what they do as long as they get rich, since money will provide the things that make them happy. Lack of money or security can interfere with happiness, but an abundance of money or security does not insure happiness. It appears that happiness comes more from a sense of achievement, satisfying interpersonal relationships, opportunities to influence, and being able to meet a certain level of your interests, needs, and aspirations.
- The world of work is changing so rapidly that you can't really plan for the future.
False. The world of work is constantly changing, but you can take advantage of opportunities by preparing and planning. Knowing about yourself can help you determine which opportunities will best meet your needs, and understanding the world of work and future work trends can help you to position yourself for opportunities. You must continually develop an array of skills and an attitude of flexibility. Those who plan will have an advantage over those who are unprepared. In the words of Raymond Berry (football player) "the most prepared are the most dedicated".
- If things don't work out the way I expect, I'm a failure.
False. Success and happiness stem from building on the foundation of toil, persistence, and rising every time we are knocked down. Many of the great successes have come after a history of many failures. Most careers are only seen dimly from your vantage point at this early time in your life, but you may find that even when things don't work out as planned, you may be experiencing things that are even more valuable. Some of the most valuable lessons come from early failures. Don't give up on your dreams, for you will achieve more than people without them, even if your dreams are not all fulfilled. Setting goals is half the work of achieving them.
- In order to have a feeling of worth, I should be thoroughly competent, adequate, intelligent, and achieving in all possible respects.
False. This is a form of all-or-nothing thinking that suggests you cannot feel good about yourself until you are a finished product. If this is your standard, you might find it difficult to ever feel good about yourself, since most of us never feel completely and consistently competent, adequate, intelligent, and achieving. Some of our sense of worth should come from our efforts and striving themselves, not just from the outcome.
- Having a career is the only real way to personal fulfillment.
False. Leading a balanced life is one of the keys to a sense of well-being. It will help keep you from allowing undue pressures to make your career more important than it should be. Research has shown that people often invest a large part of their identity in their careers, and sometimes suffer a loss of confidence during times of unemployment or work-related difficulties. If you invest in your self-esteem in others ways in addition to your career, you will experience a greater sense of well- being even if you experience a period of job-less-ness.
- I can't go against the wishes of my parents or other significant people in my life (who support me and know what's best), because I'll be ungrateful and insensitive.
False. It is often wise to seek their counsel and advice, but ultimately you must make decisions you think are best for you. Your parents are usually interested in what you do and will often provide both emotional and financial support towards educational and occupational preparation. In some cultures, the family wishes are central and making a choice that is different than theirs would be viewed as disloyal. In this framework it is important to communicate with parents and let them understand your desires while still listening to them. If you feel that their wishes will provide greater happiness than following your own desires, then you may want to follow their counsel. Usually when there is a conflict between your desires and the wishes of your parents or other significant people in your life, you are better off choosing what you think would be best for you, and helping your loved ones know that you appreciate them and their support and that your choice is not meant as a rebellion.
- A person should be in total control of his or her career.
False. There are many things that you can control in your career, but some things you cannot. Some factors outside of your control may include the following: unemployment if your company fails or downsizes, poor health, economic crises, natural disasters, war, technological and other world of work changes, and legislation. You may find that your career will take unexpected twists and turns, which can be seen as either opportunities or as burdensome roadblocks. Develop flexibility and adaptability with a wide range of skills that might be applied in numerous settings.
- Life is always fair/unfair.
False. You will experience things that are not right, just, or fair. Someone may get promoted because they are a relative or a friend of the boss, although you are more qualified. You may work much harder than others and still earn less or receive less recognition than they. You may do all you can do to remain physically fit and still experience sickness and disease. To a certain degree, we create the realities we experience. The more you see the negative in life, the more likely you will experience negative things in life, while those who look for the good, wholesome, and healthy, will in all probability experience more of those things. If you mistakenly think I called you a "cheat" when what I really said was "sweet", you will most likely have a negative view of me even though in reality I was saying something positive about you. Create a reality that allows for the possibility that life is both fair and unfair.
Adapted with permission from Brigham Young's Career Belief Information.