“I have been dreading work every day and I can’t see any meaning in it”
“I have tried five jobs in the past three years but nothing seems to fit me”
“I have not been working for the past five years, I want to get back but I’m not sure how to begin”
Does this sound familiar to you?
If so, you could benefit from a thorough exploration of your career interests. Career development and planning experts suggest that if your interests match the work environment, it can lead to improved motivation, satisfaction and performance at work.
If only there was a tool out there to inform us about what jobs might better match our aptitude and interests!
The thing is, there is!: Check out a profiling tool called “RIASEC” that provides an insight at what jobs are suitable for your personality. Simply follow these three steps developed by American psychologist John L. Holland.
1. Find out your RIASEC Code
Holland’s RIASEC profiling tool describes a person’s career interests as defined by six interest types: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, Conventional. Based on the descriptors in the diagram below, which interest categories do you best identify yourself with?
Your RIASEC code is a three-letter combination of your top three interests. For example, if your RIASEC code is [SEC], it means that Social: your need for social interaction is most preferred. This is followed by Enterprising; a desire to initiate, lead and persuade people, and Conventional: your preference to work with data, structured work, established guidelines and SOPs.
2. Match your RIASEC to careers
Once you know your RIASEC code, the next step is to ascertain the careers that would be suitable for your interest profile. The job posting or job description is one way to get “hints” on the RIASEC code of the job. Consider the following occupations and make a guess, what interests (based on RIASEC) would be a good match?
3. Further research on the careers you have shortlisted
While RIASEC is useful to get you thinking about the jobs that lead to a good fit, it is important to research your shortlisted occupations and the industries to understand the career progression pathways and to identify growth opportunities.
You can do this by looking up the job requirements on the job posting, looking through the company’s website, or even speaking to people who are familiar with the industry.
Finally, remember to cross-check your job interests with the skills you currently possess. While interests tell you what you find satisfaction in, transferrable skills ensure that you will excel in the work you do.
Looking for a right-fit career? You could benefit by speaking to a Career Coach to talk through your RIASEC profile, skills, and experiences to find a job you’ll love. Register your interest to speak to a Career Coach or call 6883 5885 today!
