10 myths about career planning

10 myths about career planning

Myth: Career testing is good for me

Fact: No test can provide infallible predictions. Test results can be confounded by many things: cultural differences, unrepresentative samples, and unintentionally biased items etc.

Myth: There is one perfect occupation waiting for me somewhere out there.

Fact: Many occupations have the potential to satisfy your career goals. Once you have more clearly defined what you are looking for in a career, you will find that there are a number of occupations that match these criteria.

Myth: Most people know their major and career goals when they enter college

Fact: Majority of college students change their minds about majors and careers several times before graduation.

Myth: My major leads directly to my career. If I pick the wrong major, I’ll end up in the wrong career

Fact: Most employers care more about your work related experience like part-time jobs, internships etc. and the “real world” skills that you have obtained than they do about your major. One major can lead to many different careers, and one career can be reached through many different majors.

Myth: Arts and Sciences majors are usually unemployable

Fact: Arts and Sciences majors usually have valuable training in areas such as writing, research, and critical thinking. These are called transferable skills; that is, skills that are learned in one area can be transferred to other areas. Arts and Sciences majors are employed in a wide range of careers. However, their job title may not be obviously related to the titles of their academic majors.

Myth: I will only have one career in my lifetime

Fact: Career planning is an ongoing process. You will probably re-address your career plans several times during your life. At this time in history, the typical person entering the work force will have as many as five or six different occupations by the time he or she retires. Many occupations that will be available within your lifetime may not even exist yet

Myth: Most people’s knowledge of occupations is complete

Fact: People’s knowledge of occupations is often incomplete. The media often provides a glamorised and unrealistic picture of occupations. Most of what passes as knowledge is really based upon stereotypes. As you narrow down your occupational options, be sure you are getting a balanced and accurate picture of the occupations you are considering

Myth: I should choose an occupation based on my strongest skills

Fact: It is risky to consider only your skills for a career decision because skills are only one of the components of a full self-evaluation; interests and values are equally as important in the decision making process. Just because you are good at something does not mean that you will enjoy doing that activity for a living.

Myth: The best place for me to start looking for an occupation is where employers are doing lots of hiring right now

Fact: The job market fluctuates constantly. Employment opportunities can change dramatically as a function of economic conditions, advances in technology, and the labour supply.

Myth: I can trust in fate to bring me to the right occupation

Fact: Most people can benefit from a systematic investigation and consideration of different occupations. You won’t just “run into” the occupation that will match your skills, be compatible with your interests, or reward you in terms of your values.

The more information you gather about the occupations you are considering, the more likely it is you will make a wise career decision. It is true that some things are beyond your control, but you have an active role to play in determining your own fate