Monday, November 26, 2012

Blog 12


Chapter 11:

               It was interesting how Brown points out the importance of self-efficacy when it comes to finding employment.  In relation to previous chapters, chapter 11 notes that, “Gaining employment not only ensures economic stability but also validates the worth of an individual to some degree” (Brown 2012).  I definitely agree with this statement because I believe that whichever career you ultimately choose will define you as a person in one way or another.  Therefore, an individual should feel proud about the career they choose, giving them a sense of worth in their lives.  I would relate this idea to Super’s Life Span, Life Space Theory because his theory suggests how certain individuals are qualified to succeed in a number of occupations based on their personality characteristics (Brown 2012).  If an employer recognizes an individual’s skills as being adequate enough to perform the required job functions, then the job-seeker will ultimately feel valued as a person.  In accordance, Brown’s values-based theory recognizes how self-efficacy can be a limiting factor when choosing an occupation. 
 
               I thought the notion of a “hidden job market” was quite interesting, because this requires an individual to do research about the desired company beyond what they can see.  In this sense, networking skills can be very useful in order to find out pertinent information about the company that might be overlooked.  I believe that networking and investigating certain occupations in this manner is very important when finding a job today.  It takes more than a top-notch résumé these days to obtain employment in places nowadays.  Employability skills are definitely needed to secure the job offer, but in terms of first getting an interview, I think networking and finding out more about the hidden job market can place an individual a step ahead of the rest of the population. 

               Developing the skills needed when job-hunting takes time and the appropriate education on how to properly execute everything.  I definitely was fortunate enough to have gained the necessary skills required to obtain a job.  Contradictorily, I feel as if the old saying, “Practice makes perfect” can be applied here when it comes to finding a job.  Through continuous experience with dealing with employers and the interview process, an individual can learn and gain knowledge about what is important when applying for a job.  Some education and prior preparation is absolutely beneficial in hopes of not being rejected right away, but the entire process should be recognized as a learning experience. 

Brown, D. (2012). Career information, career counseling, and career development (10th ed.).    New York, NY: Pearson Education, Inc.

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