One time, while counseling in prison, an inmate came to our office struggling with a high level of anxiety. This surprised my officemate and me because this was a strong, respected man within the prison population. He had several tattoos, was physically tough-looking, and rarely showed any emotion, let alone fear. But now he was afraid.
He admitted that as he approached the end of his sentence and imagined what life would be like back in the community, he did not know what he could do for work. He said, “I’ve been in prison since I was 15.” [He was now 31.] “I have never had a job other than dealing drugs. I don’t want to do that anymore. I don’t even know how to drive.”
So we asked him these questions:
Would you like to work indoors or outdoors? Do you like to work with your hands or with your mind? Do you like to work alone or with a team? Would you like to lead a group or have someone lead you? Would you like to persuade others to buy something or have others sell your products or services?
There are many tools for learning what jobs and careers might be the best fit. The Strong Interest Inventory helps individuals identify careers that match their interests. Another valuable tool is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. The MBTI provides insight into how an individual’s personality interacts with others and how they might approach their work. In addition, there are several versions of aptitude tests that measure a person’s ability to process verbally, numerically, etc. There are many more tests available. Even though a person might have a passion in a certain type of career, they might not have the personality, skills, or ability to perform that job. That’s when it’s important to seek education and training to increase their skills or it might be time to consider other career options.
The website of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics includes the Occupational Requirements Survey indicating such requirements as Education, Training & Experience, Cognitive & Mental Work, Physical Demands, and Environmental Conditions of different occupations. Their website also shows the Occupational Outlook Handbook for careers, including median pay, entry-level education, on-the-job training, projected number of new jobs, and projected growth rate.
Many people follow in the footsteps of a parent, family member, role model, or mentor. Others follow their passion and seek or create income in that capacity. Two books I have read that might be helpful are “Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived Life” by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans. Another is “What Color is Your Parachute” by Richard Bolles, first published in 1972 with regular updates.
The Life Help section on the Church’s website has an article entitled “Career Exploration: Finding the Right Career for You.” The article shares a quote from President Thomas S. Monson, who said, “My advice … is that you should study and prepare for your life’s work in a field that you enjoy, because you are going to spend a good share of your life in that field. It should be one which will challenge your intellect and which will make maximum utilization of your talents and your capabilities. Finally, it should be a field that will supply sufficient remuneration [salary] to provide adequately for your companion and your children” (President Thomas S. Monson, “Life’s Greatest Decisions,” Sept. 7, 2003).
For personalized help, you can connect with Church employment services: email: [email protected].
May the Lord bless you in your search for meaningful, fulfilling employment that will be both a temporal and a spiritual blessing for you and your family.
