Therapist explains how to choose a career

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In this video, I explain the four things career counselors/psychologists assess for when helping you decide on a career, the different theories of career development, and what I wish I'd known before picking a career.

Time Stamps:
0:00 Intro
2:18 Four questions that career counselors ask themselves
7:36 Theories of career development
12:48 My own career advice

Intro music: Church of 8 Wheels by Otis McDonald
Outro music: Lensko Let’s Go

[AnaPsychology]

Examples of how career assessments work:

1. Personality assessment:


2. Interest inventories: 




Also, I’m kind of annoyed that I forgot to do a conclusion section in the video, so I’ll do that here:
- During career assessment, it’s important to ask yourself the following: What are my personality traits, and what are compatible vocations? What are my interests? What are my skills? What are my values, and what are vocations with compatible values?
- Theories of career development usually emphasize either the life stages that influence your career or your personalty traits. Developmental theories start out through exploration, then making a decision, honing in on that career, and eventually putting it behind you. Trait-factor theories focus on goodness of fit between your personality traits and the traits required by certain vocations.
- I would argue that learning is a lifelong, continuous, and non-linear process. You don’t have to limit yourself to one thing. It’s okay to pivot to something else.
- Don’t choose a career based on what you DON’T want to do—rather, choose, based on what energizes and excites you, the thing you would like to do even past the age of 65. You shouldn’t spend your last few decades on this earth letting your mind disintegrate from disuse; if you can find something you truly love, then keep doing it every single day.

[wellingtonsboots]

I am 67 years old and just about to retire. When i was a kid i was bullied at school and when i came home it was my mother's turn. To escape, i used to go to the local public library and would read books about heroes. I remember at 7 years old I wanted to be a Librarian. When i left school, i got another job and stayed there for 10 years, so scared of the boss. An encounter with a psychologist led me to go to university and eventually a M.A. in Librarianship. I have been a librarian for almost 30 years and it feels like a job i was meant to do. For mine, i think the career chooses you. Thank you, enjoyed the video

[alexagozar]

Saying this as someone who almost has her master’s in I/O psych - While it’s great if someone can have a job that’s their passion, it’s important to recognize that people can also have fulfilling lives that involve a more traditional/stable career along with time to keep hobbies.
1 - Sometimes turning a hobby into work can be more stressful than a person can tolerate
2 - People can still find engagement and satisfaction in jobs that are not their “passions.” Even in a typical office job, someone can fulfill the three psychological needs from Self-Determination Theory, autonomy, belongingness, and competence. People can utilize meaning-making to focus on the meaningful aspects of their work
3 - Many people simply do not have the financial risk capacity to pursue a more risky career
So from a holistic perspective, people can still find meaning and satisfaction within their career while making time for their passions as hobbies. It’s perfectly okay if you’re working an office job - I am!

[hr]

The hard part for me taking career assessments it that I seem to morph my answers to whatever jobs I'm thinking I should do at the time. Like when I was in college, I took a career exploration class and I fooled myself into thinking I could be an engineer or a nurse because those were two high paying options that were constantly thrown around in my life at the time. I ended up switching majors constantly and ended up with a business degree that I still have yet to be able to use and now I'm back here trying to figure a career again.

[EmperorShang]

Pick a career that does at least two of the three:
1. It's easy
2. Makes a lot of money
3. You're passionate about it

[wilawitee]

I think not believing in retirement is a dangerous idea for some. Most of my life, both my parents were workaholics, and when they got home they were either too tired or too angry to engage with their children in a loving way. Once they retired, though, it's like we got new parents who are much kinder, who listen more, parents we needed as a child, and it's been so healing. Please, some people NEED retirement.

[jewelvang]

For me, it's hard because the only subject I explored as a kid and teen was art, I thought that was what I was going to do...then I found out I don't like people telling me what to draw and that I don't want my art hobby to be my job.

But I always still get art related suggestions because that's all I really know

[magicalpizzafarts]

I've been in the workforce for about 14 years now. In that time, I've done a wide variety of jobs, from retail, to sales, management, even broadcasting. Went to school initially for Radio Broadcast because I wanted to do voiceover. There have only been two constants between each job: 1) Even if was something I used to like doing and I took the opportunity to do if for work, I almost immediately began to loathe it. Not dislike, LOATHE. 2) My satisfaction with the work was tied directly to the money I was making and the security it provided. My goal always has been and always will be to retire as soon as possible because being a productive member of society is not how I want to live my life.

[NiNi.]

This video comes at such a good time. Dealing with depression for such a long time has made choosing a career because I no longer know what I like and don't like. I have very interests but my interest in them is so fleeting that I'm not sure they would be viable to choose for a career. Might have to get in contact with a career counsellor. Great video!!

[julia.]

Thank you so much for this video, Ana, it's come at such a good time for me. I'm 17, just out of high school, and I'm dealing with all these difficult questions at once. I've been thinking about my career options for a few years now. It's not a short, one-size-fits-all answer. But it's reassuring to know that I'm on the right track. I've received a few rejection letters so far, but I remain optimistic.
(Thanks again for all the videos. And I apologise for any spelling mistakes, English is not my first language)

[theimaginationcafe]

Best video out here! Thanks!
Excellent explaination and presentation. You are a great guide as I am so happen to be near a major crossroad in life.

[THElSEXlKEETTY]

thank you Dr. Ana, I always learn something from your videos and this came at a great time for me :)

[elizabeth]

Hey ana I remember discovering your channel when you were still a student, happy to see the Dr. in your name now! Cheers

[trixie_nuit]

Ana, I love your content! I'm autistic and have a very hard time making friends, but i feel like you're my Internet older sister: always bringing up something interesting and giving good advice ❤

[waterman]

I liked your summaries of the theories of career development. I'm a mid-30s grad student, so it sometimes feels like I'm arriving late to my career. It's reassuring to take a broader view, and I think I'll have the best impact in the field that I've crystallized on. Thanks for your great videos!

[kerfluffle]

Ana, thank you so much for this! I went through a really horrible layoff in July (needed a career change anyway) but apart from taking care of my mental health, I’ve been seriously stuck on what else I can do. This video comes at a perfect time and I’ll be checking out that book on Ikigai for sure ❤

[jacoboniaplay]

This is such a good overview! I really liked what you had to say about the MBTI. I think it's really overused, and I've definitely seen the discrimination against the introverted trait. I also love and agree with your vision of a career as something that is constantly evolving--it doesn't have to be a linear path. And the advice about not choosing based on fear is fantastic advice.

[vitoriamachadodeoliveirab]

Hi Ana, I'm so happy to hear you'll be publishing another book!!! Above all because I'll have acess to through the ebook!!! I was so sad when the jornal wasn't available as an ebook, because buying books in the US to ship to Brazil is very expensive, is there any chance you might release the ebook of the jornal?

[theodorevegh]

You have a great video here. I hope everyone will watch it. Thank you for the good information and advice.

[sofiariera]

I was waiting so much for this topic! Thank you Anna I love your channel!